Our furry, four-legged friends are a big part of our family No one reading this will be surprised to hear that according to CNBC, Americans spent more than $99 billion on pets in 2020. We obviously love our furry friends, and with that we realize that pets create costs that have nothing to do with vet expenses, boarding bills, feeding, or grooming. When deciding to invite a pet into the family, be prepared to compromise your favorite furniture, finish, or accessory. But fear not, there are definitely some ways to minimize damage to your home and your relationships – with both the pets and the humans in the house.

Pet-Friendly Design Ideas

Install Dog Doors

Accidents aside, most scuffs and scratches to furniture and floors happen when our little buddies get bored. Access to outdoor space, fresh air, and playtime is your first line of defense in maintaining the home you’ve worked so hard to create, while allowing your furry friend to enjoy the outdoors. Doors that make indoor/outdoor access a snap are the best place to start. That doesn’t mean you have to find a way to incorporate the plastic and rubber construction elements into your design scheme. Consider a fix as simple as adding wood facing over the jamb of the door and some molding around that to give it a finished look.

Consider Flooring

Now that you’ve given your furry friend the time they need outside, remember they’re going to track some of the outside elements back into the house. Where flooring is concerned, serious dog and cat lovers should give strong consideration to tile, engineered hardwood, and laminate flooring, which are nearly impervious to normal day-to-day wear. For added softness, consider adding an indoor/outdoor area rug that can provide color and interest but also be taken outdoors and hosed off for cleaning if necessary.

Add in Pet Gates

Another kind of pet door that can really help you cut down on wear and tear are pet gates. Gates allow you to keep an eye on each other and still maintain some boundaries. The good news is that the gates come in attractive and warm wood finishes to match your style, and metal versions come in several finishes as well. These doors attach to the inside of the door jamb and allow you to walk through with the simple flip of the latch.

Create a Cozy Bed

One of the best ways to keep furry friends off of your furniture is to make sure that your dog or cat has furniture of their own. As long as you enforce the rules and give them a comfortable place to retreat, they will happily retire to a nice, cushy bed by the fire or outdoors. If your furniture and finish details are important to you, equip yourself with a simple pet bed. These days, there is no shortage of fabulous fabrics and great design in pet bedding. Whether your style is denim, leather, or linen, you’ll find pet beds that will actually contribute to the design of the room rather than detract from it.

Make Space

Strengthen and maintain those boundaries by creating spaces just for your pets with fun and stylish feeding stations in the kitchen. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little more cabinet space, you can install a feeding station that slides in and out as a drawer but with built-ins that are cut for food and water bowls. Pet food is certainly not a design-friendly element, and when bedtime is near or guests are dropping by, the ability to slide that food and water right out of the way goes a long way toward resolving your desire to be both a pet lover and design lover.

With over 25-years of experience, Kerrie Kelly is creative director for Kerrie Kelly Design Lab, an award-winning California interior designer, author and contributor; product designer and multi-media consultant, helping national brands reach the interior design market.