Take these steps toward a more pet-friendly home – starting with upcoming pet expo
Take these steps toward a more pet-friendly home - starting with upcoming pet expo
This piece was originally posted by Pigeon 605.
Emily Connolly knows what it means to design a home around pets.
The senior interior designer at Montgomery’s has a 110-pound golden retriever and a 90-pound goldendoodle — plus, at times, foster dogs that she says can act like “little beavers” on her furniture.
“I definitely make selections based off of the dogs, so I can keep my sanity,” she said.
That kind of real-life experience will be part of the focus on Sept. 19, as Montgomery’s hosts a new Paws for a Cause Pet Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at its Sioux Falls store.
The event will include local pet vendors, food trucks, pet flooring demonstrations and a pet photo booth. Montgomery’s also will make a $1,000 donation to the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.
For pet owners, the event is designed to offer practical ideas for creating a home that can stand up to dogs, cats and everyday life while still feeling stylish and comfortable.
That starts with one of the biggest investments in a living space: sofas and chairs.
“There is so much to know about fabrics and their wearability and cleanability,” Connolly said.
One of the first things pet owners should check is the cleaning code on upholstery. Fabrics with a “W” cleaning code can be spot cleaned with water, making them a stronger option for households with pets.
“Things in my experience to stay away from as a pet parent are fabrics with the cleaning code ‘S’ as they are solvent only,” Connolly said. “That means a cleaner with no water in it. It makes it much more difficult to clean small areas.”
Performance fabrics also have changed what is possible for pet-friendly furniture.
Connolly recommends looking for durable, stain-resistant options such as Revolution, Crypton, Sunbrella and WearProof fabrics, which are designed to hold up to everyday wear from both kids and pets.
“What is amazing in the fabric world is that they have come out with extra-durable fabrics that can withstand the everyday wear and tear,” she said.
Leather also can be a strong option for pet owners, especially because of its cleanability. The key is choosing the right kind.
“When selecting your leather, make sure it is the top of the hide and is protected and aniline dyed all the way through,” Connolly said.
Dyeing the leather all the way through helps the color remain richer and reduces the risk of it wearing off, while the top of the hide is the toughest part. A protective finish helps with scratch and stain resistance.
Connolly recommends avoiding unprotected leathers, including waxed leathers, which can feel softer but are more vulnerable to scratching and staining.
Framing choices
Furniture frames matter too, especially for larger dogs or pets that love to jump.
For beds, Connolly recommends a solid base or slat system so the mattress has proper support. For sofas, look for frames that are blocked and tenon-joined with hardwood to support the weight and movement of people and pets.
Mattress selection also is important for those sharing the bed with furry family members.
“You want to select a mattress with the most support,” Connolly said.
She recommends looking for solid edge banding, especially for those who need extra space, and a higher coil count to reduce movement across the bed. A mattress protector also is essential.
Strategies for windows and floors
Pet-friendly design also extends to window treatments, especially in homes with cats.
“Animals love to bat at the window treatments and claw them,” Connolly said. “FOMO is a real thing with pets, and they always want to see what is happening.”
Wood or metal horizontal blinds, vertical blinds and roller shades can be good options depending on the pet. Roller shades offer a solid surface that can be harder for animals to destroy.
Connolly also recommends thinking ahead about details such as cords and maintenance.
“Being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to home decor is always the way to go as pet parents,” she said.
Rugs are another area where pet-friendly options have improved.
Montgomery’s vendors now offer more washable rugs, giving pet owners options that can be cleaned more easily. Connolly recommends paying attention to rug content and looking at options such as polyester, nylon, olefin and wool.
“Polyester offers easy cleanability, while nylon can handle the everyday wear and tear, and wool is durable with great stain resistance,” she said.
In general, pet owners should look for flatter weaves and less texture when choosing fabric, rugs or other coverings.
“Anything textured is going to hold onto hair and can also get snagged by animals,” Connolly said. “A lint roller is your friend.”
Flooring is another major consideration, said Steven Pass, Montgomery’s flooring manager.
For homes with dogs or cats, luxury vinyl plank and porcelain or ceramic tile generally are the top go-to flooring options because they offer a strong combination of water resistance, scratch defense and ease of cleaning.
“While both dogs and cats pose flooring challenges, the primary difference comes down to the nature of their impact,” Pass said. “Dogs typically cause more wear and tear through heavy foot traffic, muddy paws and skidding, whereas cats pose a higher risk of localized scratching or targeted messes.”
For households with puppies being trained or senior pets having accidents, cleanability becomes especially important.
Pass recommends luxury vinyl plank with a thick wear layer of 20 mil or higher because it helps prevent liquids from soaking through seams to the subfloor. Porcelain and ceramic tile also are strong options because they are dense and nonporous, meaning they will not absorb moisture, stains or odors from accidents.
Traditional wall-to-wall carpet generally should be avoided in homes with pets because it can trap odors, fur and stains. However, pet-proof carpets with specialized moisture barriers can help block liquid from reaching the carpet cushion.
Flooring choices also should reflect the size and habits of the pet.
“Your flooring choice should absolutely scale with the weight of your animal and how long you keep their nails,” Pass said.
Large and heavy breeds can put extreme pressure on flooring when they run, turn or jump, making traditional solid hardwood more vulnerable to dents and gouges. Hard tile or thick stone plastic composite vinyl can be safer options, though not impervious to scratching.
Small dogs under 20 pounds and cats often can do well with more flooring options, including engineered hardwood or standard laminate, though lighter surface scratching still can happen.
For older or heavier dogs, traction also matters. High-gloss finishes can be slippery, which can be hard on joints, while matte or textured finishes can provide better grip.
Fur control and cleaning insights
Pet owners dealing with heavy shedding also should think about how easily hair can be removed.
Hard surfaces such as vinyl, tile and laminate are ideal because hair cannot weave into the fibers as it does with carpet. For those who still prefer carpet, Pass recommends looking for newer carpet fibers designed so pet hair vacuums out more easily and choosing multi-toned or grain-textured options that blend with the color of the pet’s fur.
At the Paws for a Cause Pet Expo, visitors will be able to see some of those products in action.
Montgomery’s plans to feature Shaw Pet Perfect flooring, which is designed to be scratch-resistant, along with examples of turf that can be used in outdoor spaces to help keep areas clean and green.
From a flooring standpoint, visitors also can expect demonstrations showing product resilience, including scratch and durability tests and “mock messes” that show waterproof or stain-barrier effectiveness.
At the Paws for a Cause Pet Expo, visitors will be able to see some of those products in action.
Montgomery’s plans to feature Shaw Pet Perfect flooring, which is designed to be scratch-resistant, along with examples of turf that can be used in outdoor spaces to help keep areas clean and green.
From a flooring standpoint, visitors also can expect demonstrations showing product resilience, including scratch and durability tests and “mock messes” that show waterproof or stain-barrier effectiveness.
“Visitors can typically expect interactive, real-time demonstrations showcasing product resilience,” Pass said.
The goal is to help pet owners make informed decisions before investing in flooring, furniture or other home furnishings.
Visitors also can talk with Montgomery’s designers for more personalized advice based on their own pets, lifestyle and home.
“Come inside and talk to our interior designers to get a more one-on-one approach to your needs, considering all your family members,” Connolly said.
For more on the Paws for a Cause Pet Expo, visit here.
Click here to visit Emily Connolly's design page.
This article was originally published to the Pigeon605 website. Click here to read the original article.
