Bringing a pet into your home evokes many changes, including alterations to your home décor. Pet beds, food bowls, crates and toys can quickly take over the inconspicuous nooks and crannies in your home and your favorite leather chair may become your pet’s desired nap spot. Helping your pet feel comfortable requires some flexibility, creativity and observation to create a happy home. Luckily pets are quite resilient and usually find ways to make their surroundings meet their needs. You can find ways to share your home while keeping you and your pet happy in the process.

We adopted our dogs a few months after we moved into our new house. At this time we nearly had most of our furniture in place and were enjoying the layout as well and the extra space. Once our dogs entered the house, the empty spaces filled up quickly and we were soon sharing our new furniture with two furry friends. We soon learned that our female dog liked to spend most of her day behind or under furniture and that our male dog liked to spend the day perched on furniture so he could look out the window.

Making our female dog comfortable was easy; we have a big chair in the corner of our living that provides an easily accessed yet enclosed nook. We placed a pet bed in this area for our female dog and it is still her favorite spot. Many pets love areas that are near a place of activity but that also provide them with a bit of privacy like under a coffee table or a kitchen table. These are usually good places to put a small pet bed or blanket so your pet may enjoy their own area while still in your company. Sharing our new leather couch with our male dog who loves to look outside was a bit of a compromise at first. However, I figured out that adding a decorative throw provided a bit more comfort for my dog and helped protect the leather on the sofa. A throw or blanket can also be helpful for those who have pets that like to camp out on their bed comforters or other areas that may need protection or preservation.

Although pets may add a bit of clutter to your home with all their gear, you can purchase items that match your home décor, items that exhibit a bit of personality…or both. Pet products ranging from leashes to toy storage to crates can be found at your local store or at specialty pet stores depending on your needs and your budget. It is possible to find items that blend in with the chic wall colors your chose before Fido came into your world or to choose items that exhibit a bit more color and personality. I really enjoy leopard print items and having a female dog has given me a great excuse to incorporate a few decorative print items into our décor. Whatever the case, have fun making choices that can add a bit of flare to your home while also providing your pet with comfort and security.

By Kirsten Goulet