If you have a pet, odds are, they are integral to your life. They provide companionship, stress relief, and for some, a reason to get up in the morning. Affectionately known as “fur babies” by many, pets can relieve our feelings of loneliness, give us a reason to go for a walk, and can help decrease our blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Truly, pets are a blessing in our lives.
That being said, pets are animals, and animals can be messy. From tracking in mud from the outdoors to puking up hairballs at inopportune times (like when the turkey is being carved at Thanksgiving), cleaning up after our pets can be a chore as well. So how do you have a killer home with a show-stopping interior design when you have Fido rolling around on the carpets and Fluffy the cat rubbing up against every known surface?
J Turner & Co is an interior design company with locations in Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra to better serve you. Our mission is to help you create gorgeous spaces that you can’t wait to come home to and relax after a long day at work. Below, we’ll go over a few more tips on how to interior design when you have pets. Call us today to get started!
MORE IDEAS ON HOW TO INCORPORATE YOUR PETS’ NEEDS INTO YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN
Utilize Built-Ins
One way to still keep Fido and Fluffy happy is to utilize built-ins as much as possible. Built-ins effectively hide pets’ beds and crates, not affecting the overall design of your space and yet are still comfortable for your pets to use. For example, building in dog beds underneath cabinets has become quite popular. From your kitchen to your laundry room, you can easily take out the lower level of cabinets, throw a fitted dog bed or pillow down, and you’ve created an instant hideaway. The added bonus of this feature is that this effectively keeps Fido out of the way as well. Many people are also moving towards a built-in covered little box with a hinged door that not only cuts off the smell of your cat’s litter box, but it also can be installed with an automatic-cleaning box. Built-in gates into the walls that are retractable are priceless when you want to contain Fido when guests are over, but you don’t want the hassle of a dog gate.
Incorporate Your Dog’s Crate
Many people use dog crates every day, whether they are potty-training their new puppy, or their dog sleeps in their crates. However, dog crates are notorious for taking away from the amazing interior design of your room. After all, it’s hard not to notice a huge, wire crate in the room.
J Turner & Co recommends that you hide this dog crate as best as possible in your rooms. One common place is underneath a bench. Many people have benches in their entryway for putting on and taking off their shoes. This is a great place to put Fido’s cage, and if you put them in their crates during the day while you are at work, this is a convenient place to have it, so then you can let your dog out as soon as you get home. It’s also unnoticeable in your space. This is also a great way to hide your cat’s litter box from view as well if you don’t have any other out-of-the way spaces.
Another way to hide your dog’s crate is to get a cloth cover and match it to the decor of your room. This will not only hide the crate while it’s not in use, but it will also add an additional design element to your space.
Give Up the Curtain Fight
Cats are curious by nature, and being naturally outdoor animals, they love to look outside at the wildlife, especially the birds and the squirrels, which they have an instinct to chase. If you’re a cat owner, you know that there’s really no way to contain a cat. Thus, knowing that your cat will be jumping up onto your windowsill and into the windows when you have your windows open, you should invest in window coverings that are cat-friendly. If you have blinds, make sure you can effectively pull them out of the way. Invest in curtains that are lightweight, so your feline friend won’t have problems pushing them to the side, as well as curtains that are made of a material that is not clingy. The last thing you want is pet hair all up and down your curtains.
Fido might want to run and see you as well when you come home, so keeping your front windows accessible for all is a good idea all around.
Consider Tails
If you have a medium-to-large sized dog, you’ve probably experienced the whipping effect. The whipping effect is where you are pummeled by your dog’s tail when they are so happy to see you. You’ve probably also experienced items flying off your low-lying tables from this same effect. Thus, J Turner & Co in Ponte Vedra recommends that you’ll want to design your space from their level. Make sure there are no heirlooms or other precious items within reach of your dog’s tail.
This same advice also applies to cats who love high places because it makes them feel safe. Thus, if you have a cabinet with a precious plate or vase displayed on top, it’s best to move the item just in case. Cats can jump with a lot of force and they do slide, depending on the surface. Either move objects entirely and definitely move objects away from edges.
J TURNER & CO HAS ALL OF YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN NEEDS COVERED
J Turner & Co offers the best interior design for your home or office in Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville. Our two locations help to better serve your needs, especially when you need to set up an interior design consultation with one of our experts. We’ll design one whole room for you for the low price of $199. Interior design consultations include lighting design, paint colors, art work, rugs, local delivery, and furniture selections from our showrooms. If you order from our online furniture decor store, you’ll receive a custom shipping quote as well. We sell top-notch furniture as well, from ottomans, benches, and stools to bookcases and cabinets.
J Turner & Co desires to be your one-stop-shop for all of your interior design needs, including your pet design needs. With a passion to create beautiful spaces you can look forward to and an eye for incredible detail, our interior designers can help. Contact us today for your interior design consultation!
