How to Create a Pet-Friendly Home Environment

When you have pets, they are more than just companion animals. They are members of your family, and so you naturally want your home to be as comfortable and welcoming for them as it is for all of your other family members. Creating a pet-friendly home environment, then, will be a top priority. What does this mean? It means ensuring that your home is not just a safe environment for your pets, but also an enriching place. How can you accomplish this?

Create a Pet-Friendly Home Environment at Your Home

• Make it safe. First and foremost, your home should be a safe place for your pets to live. Pet-proofing is important, so inspect your home thoroughly to determine any hazards that could harm your pets. Small items that could be ingested, household plants that could be toxic, and cabinets or drawers that hold harmful substances should all be addressed. Secure your trash bins, so that curious pets cannot get into the trash, and make sure the plants in your garden are non-toxic.
• Give pets their own areas. A place where your pet can go to feel secure is important, and it helps keep your home orderly. Set up a comfortable bed or crate in a quiet, low-traffic area for your pets to go when they need time to get away and rest. Food and water should be easily accessible, along with safe toys.
• Make sure they have enough exercise. Pets need plenty of opportunities to engage in physical activity. Take your dog for walks or runs. Set up a cat tree or scratching post for your cat. Incorporate playtime into your daily routine, to provide your pet with mental stimulation as well as physical exercise.
• Create a grooming station. Keep grooming tools like brushes, combs, nail clippers, and pet-friendly shampoos together, in a place where you can offer regular grooming. If you have the space, a pet-grooming sink in your mudroom or laundry room can be perfect for this. Establish good grooming habits for your pets early in their lives, and inspect them for signs of parasites, skin issues, or other health problems as you groom them.
• Provide comfortable places to rest. Aside from their dedicated “getaway” space, pets should have comfortable resting spots throughout your home. Pets generally want to be near their owners, and having blankets, soft beds, and cozy nooks in various quiet parts of the house will facilitate this.
• Keep your home environment clean. Vacuum and sweep regularly to remove pet hair and dander from the house. This will improve your indoor air quality and reduce allergens. Make sure that your cleaning products are pet-safe, and read labels to make sure nothing you’re using is harmful to pets. Pay attention to the areas where your pets sleep and eat, taking care to keep them clean and hygienic.

Home Builders and Pet-Friendly Design

Increasingly, home builders are recognizing the importance of accommodating people’s pets as members of their families. Homes are being designed with that in mind, providing creative solutions to the needs of families and their furry companions. From pet bathing sinks in mudrooms to built-in crates in living areas to spaces to accommodate pet food dishes and supplies in the kitchen, there are nearly endless possibilities for pet-friendly building. Additionally, builders who use sustainable materials in their construction processes and safe materials inside the houses can create non-toxic environments for every member of the family, including pets.

Come to Landmark Homes for the Right Home for Your Whole Family

Landmark Fine Homes has beautiful new and custom-built homes in a variety of sizes and floorplans, just waiting to become yours. Our homes are energy efficient and built with the utmost attention to detail, located in active adult communities where you’ll find plenty to do. Make your next house the home of your dreams by contacting Landmark Fine Homes today!