Name: 9 tips to design a pet-friendly home that’s both stylish and safe
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9 tips to design a pet-friendly home that’s both stylish and safe

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Skip to main contentA popular trend in the West—where ‘barkitecture’ is a widely-known term—the focus on designing a pet-friendly home is catching up in India. An integral part of the family, pets occupy prime real estate in one’s home. Their guardians are no longer holding back from indulging their pets' needs with special, practically designed areas. From flooring, fabrics and furniture to dedicated corners and safety features, we bring you tricks to design a pet-friendly home, with a touch of creativity.Non-slip flooring is non-negotiable. Slippery floors are terrible for the joints, especially for larger dogs. “We have only tiled flooring in our house to allow for good grip,” says Sarah Sham, principal designer at Essajees Atelier, whose home is a lesson in pet-friendly design. Avoid smooth, slippery marble and scratch-prone hardwood floors. Ajay Arya, founder of A Square Designs, recommends scratch-resistant options such as laminate, or even hardwood but with a strong finish.Also read: Take cues from these celebrities to make your home more pet-friendlyOur furry friends also need moments of solitude. Utilise negative areas—such as the space under stairs—to create custom dens. Newer apartments often come with duct areas, box rooms and storage rooms which can be converted into cute corners for pets, says Mili Shah Savekar of Interiors by Mili. “It’s always a good idea to invest in a good pet bed,” adds designer Sarita Handa. “Pets like to be around their family to feel secure, so select a spot in your lounge or bedroom, where you’re within their line of sight.”Pets and occasional messes go hand in hand. For ease of maintenance, shortlist stain- and spill-resistant fabrics like crypton, microfiber, denim, canvas, leatherette/leather, smoother fabrics that don’t attract claws and durable ones like infoam. Suede and velvet are fur magnets, whereas patterned and textured textiles help camouflage pet hair and minor stains and scratches. “Two-toned materials that have a mix of whites and beiges give the illusion of not being dirty,” says Farah Ahmed-Mathias, co-founder of FADD Studio. But no matter what the choice, keep a spray-on fabric protector handy and get slipcovers tailored to your furniture.Also read: 8 Vastu tips to follow if you have pets at homeMost PopularWe’re divided on this one. Rugs and carpets surely help tie all the elements of a room together. But Handa warns, “They can harbour dander, ticks and fleas. If you must have them, opt for darker ones and vacuum regularly. Essential oils like geranium, lemongrass and citrus help deter fleas and ticks.” Ahmed-Mathias has a different opinion: “Using shaggy carpets is interesting because the fur just gets lost in them.”Consider multifunctional furniture like ottomans with storage, or coffee tables with built-in pet beds. Furniture with glass elements or flimsy fittings can be risky. Select heavy stone or metal pieces that won’t easily topple when your pets bump into them while playing. “Adopting pet-friendly furniture will help your companions feel at home while blending in with your style of interiors,” highlights Varun Sadana, co-founder of Supertails.For inquisitive cats that love bird-watching, or protective dogs always on guard, Sadana suggests installing perches near windows. “Catios are becoming increasingly popular among pet parents, as are dedicated dog rooms,” says Carolyn Trevor, director at London-based TLA Studio. “Furniture-style wooden dog crates are now in vogue. If you have a small breed, kennels can also be built into the wall, just like a fireplace,” says interior designer Saniya Kantawala. Door flaps are always a fun addition to allow your pets free movement in and out of the house.Pets are no less than furry babies, no matter their age. Besides the obvious inclusions of grills around windows and balconies, take railing heights into account. Conceal electrical points and cords and keep them out of reach of pets, lest an inquisitive cat or puppy starts playing with them, warns Priyanka Singh, founder of Chalk Studio. Install pet gates to manage their movement, and those with a green thumb, be warned: some plants and flowers can be toxic to pets. Get furniture with rounded edges and keep fragile items like glassware at a height to save them from vigorous tail wagging, advises Devika Khosla, creative director at The Works Interiors.Most PopularSpaces under staircases can be optimised to design built-in shelves and drawers to stow away their toys and treats, suggests Anika Mittal Dhawan of Mold Design. Keep the mess in check by setting up designated feeding stations, ideally elevated and with spill-proof bowls. The laundry room can be redesigned to include a station for grooming and care. For cats, choose a ventilated, hidden spot for their litter box and vertical spaces like floating shelves, hammocks and scratching posts.For fastidious pet parents, nanotechnology was godsend—it’s water-repellent, easy to clean and prevents stains. There’s a range of pet-proof wallpapers up for grabs. Insist on durable finishes and good sealers for your doors as they transform into readily available scratching posts for pets. Using sealant coating and wipeable paints would be smart ways to thwart any mess. However, be mindful of finishes that could be toxic to pets.7 Indian home renovations that breathe new life into nostalgic spacesWatch homes from AD's archives transformed with a loving restoration.8 pictures of adorable dogs from the pages of AD India&nbsp;Introducing the furry companions that have turned some of India's most beautiful houses into homes.6 Indian homes that embrace the beauty of nature with open spacesFrom soothing koi ponds inside abodes to stunning courtyards where natural light captivates, these 6 homes from AD's archives reconnect with nature in captivating ways.Stellar dwellings: NASA to build homes with space-friendly furniture on the Moon by 2040NASA, in partnership with ICON, a trailblazing construction company, is igniting a new lunar renaissance and aiming towards building homes for humans on the moon by 2040.

Skip to main contentA popular trend in the West—where ‘barkitecture’ is a widely-known term—the focus on designing a pet-friendly home is catching up in India. An integral part of the family, pets occupy prime real estate in one’s home. Their guardians are no longer holding back from indulging their pets' needs with special, practically designed areas. From flooring, fabrics and furniture to dedicated corners and safety features, we bring you tricks to design a pet-friendly home, with a touch of creativity.Non-slip flooring is non-negotiable. Slippery floors are terrible for the joints,...

9 tips to design a pet-friendly home that’s both stylish and safe

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