A Guide to Pet-Friendly Furniture

by Nick, Digital Specialist | March 11, 2020

Many of us at Suburban Furniture are pet owners- in fact, the pets in the pictures belong to Suburban employees. We understand that they're an important part of your home, but they can be tough on furniture. How can you make it easier? Check inside for more!

Many of us at Suburban Furniture are pet owners, so we understand our clients’ concerns when they ask about the best furniture for their pets. You wouldn’t trade your pet for the world, but there are definitely consequences to letting one live in your house. Your pet can have a dramatic impact on your furniture, too- whether it’s from pet hair and claws, or an “accident,” or just general soiling from dirt and dander, your furniture can take a lot of abuse from animals. But there is good news- there are steps you can take to safeguard your furniture as much as possible. Here are some do’s and don’ts when it comes to your pets.

DO: Choose a tightly-woven fabric, or a leather: A fabric with a much tighter weave (or no visible weave at all) would be a great choice for pets, because it won’t hold onto pet hair and is less likely to get snagged by a claw. Stick with synthetic fabrics like polyester, olefin, polypropylene, and blends that are easy to clean. You may also want to consider leather- even though it’s more expensive, it’s very easy to wipe or vacuum hair, plus it won’t hold onto odors.

DON’T: Pick any fabric where you can feel and see the weave: any loosely-woven fabric will be much more likely to trap and hold onto pet hair. It’s also more likely to get snagged by a claw or beak. As a general rule, any kind of tweed, chenille, velvet or natural fabrics like cotton or silk are probably not the best choice if you have a pet.

DO: Know your pets’ habits: if you know your animal is going to scratch or claw at the furniture, choose something that will stand up to that abuse. If you have an animal that sheds, consider picking a color that matches your pet’s coat, or a pattern that will hide it. If you have a new young animal, consider waiting to purchase new furniture until they’re trained or housebroken.

DON’T: Hope for the best: We appreciate your optimism, but make sure to stay realistic. There have been plenty of times when a client has said, “yes, Fido has laid on every single couch we’ve ever owned, but he won’t go on this one! Not this time!” Fido will probably lay on your new couch, too. You’re probably mistaken if you think Fluffy is going to magically stop licking the fabric (no really, we’ve heard this one before), so prepare accordingly.

DO: Get your four-legged friend its own furniture: A dog bed or a cat tree gives your pet their own personal place to sit, that they don’t have to share with any humans. Scratching posts and toys will go a long way towards focusing their attention on things other than your newly-purchased furniture.

DON’T: Let the routine things get away from you: This probably should go without saying, but taking regular, routine care of your pets can go a long way towards preventing furniture damage. Make sure to bathe your pet regularly (yes, even though your cat will hate it!) to prevent odors. Keeping their nails and claws clipped will reduce the chance that the fabric gets tugged on or pulled. Make sure to take them out whenever they need it to help prevent an accident.

DO: Come up with a regular cleaning schedule for your furniture. Consider vacuuming your couch as you clean the rest of your home- this will help everything look its best. Use the handheld attachment or turn off the beater bar before you do, so you don’t beat up the fibers of the fabric. You might want to have the couch professionally cleaned every so often as well. You might want to check out our article on general cleaning tips here.

At the end of the day, you can never eliminate all of the risks that your pet will come with, but you can certainly protect yourself and reduce the chance that your furniture is ruined by one of them. Your pets are a part of your family, so follow these few tips to keep you and your pets happy!