Learn Pet-Friendly Home Renovation Tips

No matter the size of the home, the breadth of the home renovation, or the number of people or pets who live in the home, remodeling is disruptive. There are so many things to consider if you’re going to get it right. And for pet owners, you not only have to consider the impact on your two-legged family members, but you have to consider the impact on the four-legged members too. To help our fellow pet owners considering a home renovation project, we’ve put together a few tips on materials and improvement ideas that make for a pet-friendly home renovation.

Pet-friendly home renovation materials

One of the best parts of a home renovation is getting to select the materials and selecting a color scheme. Sure, it can be a bit overwhelming given the vast number of choices, but it’s a chance to express your creativity and make a more satisfying living space.

Now, if you’re going to take your furry-family members into consideration, it may narrow some of your selections, but in the end it will help make for a more pet-friendly home renovation. Don’t worry, there are plenty pet-friendly materials and paints to choose from.

Pet-Friendly Flooring materials

Selecting the right flooring material can be challenging. There are great materials to choose from, many of which will make your home pop, but may also blow the budget. The balancing act is in finding just the right material that both suits your budget and ascetic appetite.

For the pet owner, there is one more thing to consider. Is it easy to clean? If you’re looking to make your flooring pet-friendly, look for options that are easy to clean and non-porous. Linoleum is the obvious cost effective solution as it’s one of the easies to clean materials. But if you’re looking to spend a bit more money, ceramic tile is the next easiest to clean. For those looking for a more natural look, hardwood floors and laminates are also a great selection. Now, if you’re into a more industrial look or want to create a unique space, if sealed properly for stain resistance, concrete floors are also an option.

Pet-Friendly Paint selection

When it comes to paint, there is a growing popularity in environmentally friendly products, and the good news is that these paints are pet-friendly as well. Conventional paints have been found to be harmful as they tend to contain hazardous chemicals, like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), heavy metals, and solvents. This means conventional paints can off-gas toxins that have a myriad of harmful affects for people and pets alike. The harm that conventional paints can have on pets isn’t limited to just when the paint is wet, it can be a concern if your cat or dog inadvertently licks or eats the paint long after it has dried.

Therefore, it’s always important to check the ingredients of paint, varnishes, primers, and clear coats, before using them in your home.

A good rule of thumb when choosing paint, before you buy determine the following:

• Is it water-based (as opposed to solvent-based)
• Does it contains heavy metals or creosote
• Is it No-VOC or Low VOC’s

Creating a pet-friendly living environment

If you’re planning a larger renovation project, something more involved than new flooring or paint, then you can go all-in on a pet-friendly renovation.

Here are some great pet-friendly ideas for your big remodel:

• Adding or renovating a mud or laundry room: Look for cabinets or innovative designs to disguise litter boxes, provide easy-to-access pet food, supplies and toys.
• Got a dog who loves the mud: Consider adding a wash station dedicated to cleaning up your dog, including a drain specifically designed to prevent fur clogs.
• Looking for a clever place for the water bowl: You can build a feeding trough in the kitchen cabinets that allow easy, concealable access to feeding bowls. You may even be able to build-out a dedicated feeding nook, inclusive of water and food storage.
• Looking for a cozy spot for your pet to sleep: Consider crafting a sleeping nook under stairs or tucked recessed shelf. Or, you can go all out and build it into a window seat, including toy storage – you can go all out.

Time to get creative

If you really want to spoil your pet, then cat ramps, lookout nooks, and vantage points are only limited by your creativity. Vantage points from a second story will totally delight you cat or dog, and enclosed sunrooms will let your pet soak up vital sunlight from the comfort of the home.

If you live in a cold weather climate, or weather is a concern, an expansive indoor exercise area could help keep your pet in shape.

Conclusion

Of course, when doing a renovation, you can keep a mind toward pet-safety upgrades. For instance, low-profile stairs or even a ramps can make navigating the home much easier for elderly pets. Always a great option, retractable gates or boundaries can be useful to limit access to certain areas of the home.

Want to learn more ways to help keep your dog health, learn about pet insurance. A pet health care policy may be an upgrade worth getting your dog or cat too.