{"id":1484,"date":"2022-10-31T11:30:28","date_gmt":"2022-10-31T06:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/?p=1484"},"modified":"2022-10-31T12:01:55","modified_gmt":"2022-10-31T06:31:55","slug":"how-to-create-a-happy-and-safe-home-environment-for-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/how-to-create-a-happy-and-safe-home-environment-for-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"How to create a happy and safe home environment for pets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Ridhi Kale\/ India Today Home<\/strong><\/a>: Now you can create an animal-friendly decor without sacrificing on style. \u201cHaving a pet at home is like having a child wherein you have to ensure that you give it a healthy and nurturing space to move around, grow and be happy. A space where it can feel at home,\u201d says Avani Khurana, co-founder and creative head, Beyond Dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, even a few small changes at home can ensure a happier and healthier life for pets. \u201cGet pet-friendly plants so that it\u2019s safe for your cats and dogs while keeping your green thumb alive and decor vibrant,\u201d says Supriya Suriyanarayanan, co-founder of Tesor Designs, adding, \u201cHide open wires, get trash cans with lids and use chemical-free, natural floor cleaners.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Choice of upholstery<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For homes with pets, it\u2019s important to pick tough fabrics that can withstand heavy use. \u201cChoose a fabric with a tight weave and thicker threads so that they don\u2019t unravel while our furry family members gallivant on them,\u201d says Suriyanarayanan. She recommends upholstering your pet\u2019s beds in fabrics similar to your decor so that it adds to the design. \u201cDon\u2019t go for fabrics such as velvets that are pet-hair magnets or fabrics which have that plush feel, like silks and art silks. Invest in quality textiles that will withstand the claws of the pets,\u201d says Khurana. Opt for pleather, denim, canvas or synthetic fibres. You can also use slipcovers or throws on your sofas as they are easy to wash. Floor cushions can easily double up as great dog-beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flooring makes all the difference<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAvoid hard-wood floors; instead use tiles, concrete or laminate flooring that are easy to clean and maintain. Also, avoid using floor-to-floor carpets or rugs that have loops. You can buy pet-friendly carpets that are stain-resistant and spill-proof,\u201d says Khurana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suriyanarayanan advises SPC, vitrified tiles and other low-absorbent surfaces for flooring. \u201cNatural stones with a slightly rough texture, like kota stone, would add plenty of character to the home while being fuss-free. More importantly, they are not as slippery as tiles. If changing tiles is not an option, invest in low-pile carpets and rugs that help keep pets comfortable while keeping spaces clean,\u201d says Suriyanarayanan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The market is full of rug-stoppers that keep rugs in place while your pets run around them, lowering the risk of injuries. \u201cYou can also use nano-coating sprays on your upholstery and rugs that make them stain-proof. Pets have a habit of marking their territory by making their favourite areas dirty. These coatings really help in getting rid of those stains,\u201d adds Khurana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pet-friendly furniture<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

CHECK THESE OUT<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gone are the days of makeshift pet-beds. Pet-friendly furniture has reached a whole new level. \u201cFurniture companies are integrating the needs of your pets into common furniture. Not only do these pieces look great but also work to save space in smaller apartments,\u201d says Devanshi Shah, founder and CEO, PetKonnect. \u201cGo for metal base furniture as pets tend to nibble or chew in the wooden legs of the furniture. Select furniture that is rounded at the edges to ensure your pets don\u2019t get hurt,\u201d says Khurana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less is always more<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Many people live in apartments that do not offer open spaces for pets. \u201cSo, I have kept my space clutter-free. I have not kept a lot of things on the ground, so my pet has plenty of space to play and move around,\u201d says Khurana. \u201cKeep the d\u00c3\u00a9cor elements as minimal as possible and avoid keeping floor-standing decorative pieces such as floor lamps, and floor vases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let there be light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Avoid putting heavy curtains on windows; instead use sheer curtains that do not block the view. \u201cYou can place a pet-friendly couch near a window. Your pet would love to spend a lot of time on the couch enjoying the view,\u201d says Khurana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They love toys<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave plenty of cute little toys and teethers in almost every room so that your pet\u2019s need to play or nibble is duly fulfilled and it does not destroy your furniture and other knick knacks,\u201d says Khurana. Look for creative ways to store pet toys that blend with your d\u00c3\u00a9cor. \u201cThere are plenty of pretty baskets and storage options available in natural materials that look just as good with toys in them. Furniture with storage are great to hide away the extra toys, leashes and other accoutrements,\u201d says Suriyanarayanan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create designated areas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You can keep your furry friends happy by creating designated areas for them in the house, such as a bed to sleep, a place to eat and a place to play. \u201cThe choice of colours and patterns should be thoughtful to ensure your pet enjoys the overall ambience of the space and stays playful,\u201d says Khurana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buyer’s guide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not only can you make your decor and design better suited for your fur babies, but you can also enhance the overall look with pet-friendly d\u00c3\u00a9cor pieces. \u201cPet portraits with cute designs are one of my favourites. You can have your pet\u2019s face embossed onto a king or queen\u2019s outfit or even have your pet dressed as a Royal British guard,\u201d says Shah, adding, \u201cAnother one of my favourites is a whole wall of what may look like super creative artwork but is actually a play wall for your cats! Not only does it make a room look amazing but also ensures that your pet has sufficient home entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Ridhi Kale\/ India Today Home: Now you can create an animal-friendly decor without sacrificing on style. \u201cHaving a pet at home is like having a child wherein you have to ensure that you give it a healthy and nurturing space to move around, grow and be happy. A space where it can feel at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3],"tags":[329,332,333,334,60,20,335,330,331],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1484"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1484"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1485,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1484\/revisions\/1485"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wopp.in\/ns\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}