According to a survey conducted by SunTrust Mortgage in 2017, 33% of millennials purchased homes because they needed a space to raise their dogs. In fact, it was the third most common reason for buying their first home, above marriage and children. This said, more and more millennials are leaning towards home ownership. Thus, the housing market has become more robust.
However, buying a house is different from maintaining a home. Once you’ve bought a space for your dog, what happens next? Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate suggests that you decorate the house so that it can become a comfortable living space for your pet. If you don’t know how to do it, you can follow the tips below:
Choose Durable Flooring
When you have a dog, you need to continually clean paw prints, urine, feces, and more. Some types of floors will keep evidence of the stains your pet leaves behind. In order to keep your house in tip-top shape, you might want to choose stone or ceramic tiles, laminate flooring, or painted concrete. These are easier to clean compared to carpets. They also tend to be cooler in hot weather, which is important if your dog has long, thick fur. If you install tiles or polished planks, you might want to add rubber mats or area rugs to avoid slippage.
Use Semigloss Paint
No matter how often you groom your dogs, they’re still likely to leave smudges on your walls. They can sling drool and fur all over the place with just a shake of their heads. Thus, you need a finishing paint that will be easy to clean. Semigloss is the most durable and the easiest to clean among all paint sheens. It’s hard, light-reflecting, and shiny. When your pet leaves behind a mark on the wall, you can wipe the dirt away without any problem.
Keep Closed Storage Cabinets
When you have pets, it’ll be hard to decorate the house with breakables. Fragile items just don’t do well with animals. If you must collect them, you need to tuck them in a place where your dog can’t chew on or break them. You can keep them in credenzas or closed cabinets that have glass-panel doors. That way, you can still see your collections, but your dog can no longer break them.
Pick Washable Throw Blankets
Do you have a sofa that you love, but you can’t buy because you are afraid that your dog will end up staining or destroying it? You need not worry. Throw blankets will solve your problem. With their bold patterns, they will add a splash of color to the room. More importantly, they can protect your upholstery from the dirt your dogs may bring with them.
Install Pet Cameras
When you have a full-time job, it’s hard to monitor your pets at home. However, you can do so remotely. You can incorporate cameras into your home security system, so you can make sure that your dog will stay out of trouble even when you are not around. Furbo dog cameras even allow you to chat with your pets and give them treats when you want to.
Conclusion
Pets often complete a home. If you are to keep them, you must make sure that you are able to provide a space where they can safely have fun. However, you also have to consider the cleanliness of your house. Doing the tips mentioned above will be beneficial to both you and your pets.