A Guide To Buy Kid And Pet-Friendly Furniture
You have kids and pets, yet still want your home to look stylish. Rather than barring them from certain areas, you can find furniture designed to handle both children and pets. While buying new furniture, you need to consider how it might fit into your current layout and what materials it will be in.
If you’re on the hunt for furniture for your kids or pets, you might not know where to start. Read this guide and find out what to look for in kid-friendly, pet-friendly furniture so you can make sure your family’s furniture is safe and sound!
Your Upholstery Furniture Choice Makes a Difference
Certain fabrics can look and feel similar, but they may perform very differently. For example, wool or velvet fabrics may not be ideal if you also have kids or pets. Douglas upholstery features a kid- and pet-friendly fabric that is durable, scratch-resistant, breathable, environmentally-friendly and non-hazardous. It also has non-absorbent qualities to help prevent pills from soaking in too quickly. Patterned or printed upholstered furniture can also help with hiding stains or spills after the fact.
Look into Leather Upholstered Furniture
Invest in a leather couch, while it may be more expensive up front, it’s durable and easy to clean. You’ll also find that the leather will develop a beautiful patina over time, it won’t hold odors unlike other fabrics or furniture and you’ll have long-term protection from kids and pets thanks to the finishings used on the hide.
Having a leather sofa is a great choice for kids and pets! Leather sofas look great with any color palette and are easy to clean. Linen-upholstered furniture is visually stunning and easy to clean, but it does not hold up as well to heavy wear and tear.
Outdoor Materials are Designed to Withstand the Elements
One broad strategy for making your living room safer is to move away from objects that can be a threat, such as changing table surfaces, footwear or furniture. If you have small dogs, consider how tall your couches are and also consider removing stools or ottomans. Make sure you’re using rounded edges, rather than angular corners on your new couch to help legs, sleeves and backpacks from catching. Make sure your pet friendly couch is good and sturdy so it can’t be moved and knock over surrounding end tables or lamps.
How Pet and Kid-Friendly is Velvet Furniture?
Velvet fabrics are virtually indestructible. Invest in a synthetic velvet with a high rub count (40,000 or higher). Velvet dons a dense top layer which prevents stains from sinking down. Natural variations in the weave make stains easily concealed. Use the swiping technique to conceal spots and use it like any other fabric vacuum or lint roller. Soft strokes can also be used to conceal the spot.
An inviting and cozy green velvet armchair resists stains and claw tears while being stylish as well. You can find a wide range of kid and pet friendly furniture designs and ideas at Vivin Furnishings in Sydney.
To Hide Pet Stains, Use Fabrics of Similar Colors
Choosing furniture that is durable and comes in certain colors can help make cleaning easier.
For instance, if you have a chocolate dog, you might want to avoid white or cream shaded fabrics to help camouflage stains. Stick to light colors letting your kids and pets roam free. Colors such as white, in particular, may not be ideally matched with liquids like cola or juice, nor will they do well with animal hair since they’ll stick to it. If you can, choose a couch that’ll match your pet’s color; you can use throw pillows for visual interest. You can hide pet hair between cleanings with pet-friendly upholstered furniture.
Cleaning is Easier with Zippers
Before you bring furniture home for good, make sure the cushions are closed with zippers. This will allow you to remove and clean any spills or stains on the spot. Depending on the fabric, certain covers can be dry cleaned, while many sofa covers can be tossed in your washing machine at home.
Opt for Metal Furniture to Avoid Dog Chewing
Your dog may chew on anything. If you have a young puppy or an older dog that is new, metal furniture is your best bet to minimize their desire to chew. This means metal framed and metal legged furniture. Metal furniture is a durable and long-lasting piece of furniture.
Ease the Leap
Get a pet ottoman to help your older pet make the leap. Older pets might have difficulty jumping up, so consider adding an ottoman or rugs to make it easier. Another option is to use a pet carpet to allow pets that can’t jump higher on the furniture.
Decode a Space Specific for Them
Besides creating a child and pet-proof space, it is always a good idea to designate a space for your children and pets, away from your prized new couch. Create an art corner in the mudroom and place a small pet friendly couch there for children who want to lounge together. Include the dog bed. If you live in a seasonal climate, an outdoor playstation is another great space that your family can enjoy together without worrying about the new couch earning its damage stripes inside. You might also consider purchasing a couch set for the backyard, as well as a durable area rug that will help keep people from tripping.
Our interior designers at the Sydney office can guide you and assist with designing and furnishing a perfect space for a kid and pet at home feel free to contact us.
The ultimate goal is to choose one stop furnishing that everyone in the house is happy with. An added bonus? The piece of furniture will be comfortable for pets and children as well, so your guests will feel more at home using it too.