Tips for a Pet-Friendly Home

The Kitchen: A Dog’s Best Friend

The kitchen is usually the busiest room in a house. With so many devices, high-rise counters and the enticing smell of food, it’s like an amusement park for pets. It is important to assure that your pets won’t find their way into the gold mine that is the trash. Remnants of food can often cause choking, and a number of human foods are hazardous to pets, such as seeds, chocolate and caffeine. A tall, stainless-steel trash can with a foot pedal works best to keep your pets at bay and your kitchen clean. Simply Human storage supplies offer sleek household tools for efficient living and storage. Non-toxic cleaning supplies and homemade substitutes make sure your home is spotless while your pets are safe. Try Sharper Image’s motion-activated pet bowl to keep odors in and insects and kitchen contaminants out.

The Bedroom: The Master’s Domain

The bedroom will always be the home’s ultimate sanctuary for both you and your pet. Whether you’ve got a doggy bed nicer than most mattresses (such as the Lands End Dog Bed) or your four-legged friend shares the sheets with you, it is important to make sure the temperature is fitting for everyone. With winter approaching, the Dyson Heater Fan  is the perfect pet-friendly way to control climate and ensure a relaxing sleep for everyone. The fan uses air multiplier technology, which means there are no blades. All hands and paws will be safe, and sleep will be glorious.

The Home Office: 21st-Century Safety

There is no doubt that pets are curious creatures, especially when it’s time to roam the house in hopes of discovering new, unexplored corners and crevices. If you have a home office, the wires from computers, printers, fax machines and phone lines add up. All wires and electrical cords should be unplugged when devices are not in use, or at least covered completely if they must remained plugged in so your pet won't chew on them. Avoid crossing wires and forming any loops in which your small pet could get caught. The same goes for window-treatment cords. Cut any loops, and make sure they are short and not floor length.

The Bathroom: Potty Training Your Pets

Remember when you were always taught to keep the lid down? The same goes for creating a pet-friendly bathroom setting. If the bathroom is home to a litter box, the odor-repellent and track-free Breeze Litter System makes every cat-loving home complete. For dogs, the Simple Solution Eco-Care Puppy Training Pads are a safe and environmentally sound way for your pet to do its business.

The Stairs: Up and Down With Ease.

Stairs can be tricky for anyone, pets included. Consider stair treads or carpet runners for older dogs that have a hard time on slippery floors. Armstrong flooring provides durable, easy-to-clean and stylish surfaces for all settings, which is perfect for a pet-friendly home. Be sure to pair your Armstrong floors with Surefit furniture covers for the ultimate pet-friendly and stylish home decor.

The Deck/Porch: Old-Fashioned Family Time

There is nothing like relaxing with the family on the deck or the porch, and since a pet is just as much of a family member as everybody else, outdoor structures should fit their needs as well. Leaving a 1-inch gap between boards can help keep pets cool on hot days, and a misting device attached to the house or deck is always an option. Steep steps are always going to be difficult for pets, while a doggie door is a perfect way to give your dog (or cat) options for whether it wants to stay in or out on its own.