I have partnered with Apartment Guide to serve as an Official Apartment Guide Pet Blogger. As an official blogger, I will be sharing articles filled with tips for living on a budget. This month our topic will focus on ideas for pet-friendly decorating on a budget.
As most of my readers already know, I’m a “mom” to five cats and a dog. Oh yeah, and my two “humans” too 
. We live in a small condo, so it is very easy for my pets to take over our place and make it look like a zoo. Of course I won’t let that happen. I have found easy and affordable ways to keep my home decor looking “people friendly” rather then let it “go to the dogs (or cats)”.
Here are some simple and budget friendly tips on protecting your home and it’s decor from being taken over by your pet.
- Purchase a Spotless Paw to wipe off your dog’s feet before allowing them to enter your home. This will prevent your dog from tracking dirt, rock salt and other debris inside your home. We have one hanging inside our front door so that it’s always on hand to clean off our dog’s feet before he enters our condo. You can also use a regular towel to wipe your dog’s feet. Just make sure that it’s easily accessible from the door your dog enters your home in.
- Bathe and groom your pet often. This will help eliminate excess dirt and hair from your floors, carpets and furniture. Make it a habit to brush your pet at least 1-2 times per week, including your cat. Pet hair and dander easily finds it’s way to furniture, walls, floors and even your fine collectibles.
- When purchasing furniture keep your pet in mind. If your pet tends to jump on the furniture consider darker colors and patterns/designs to hide some of the hair and dirt. Make sure the furniture is made out of pet-friendly fabrics or materials to avoid holes and tears. If you have a light colored pet who tends to shed a lot, purchase furniture in lighter colors. Patterns and designs help to camoflaguge pet hair too.
To protect furniture you already own consider using a furniture cover like the ones they carry at Sure Fit. You can also use an old sheet or blanket to cover us furniture when you are not around to protect it and keep it clean. That is what we do. We use old sheets to cover the couch and my husband’s chair when we are not home to chase our pets off the furniture.
- Flowers add color and beauty to a home, but they can also be dangerous for your pet. Many plant and flowers are toxic and could kill your pet if ingested. To protect your pet, but still add beauty to your home, consider using artificial plants. There are many fake plants and flowers available on the market that look so real you would never believe they were fake. You also don’t have to worry about watering them and if your pet happens to knock one over you don’t have to worry about dirt and water being spilled.
- If your home is anything like mine you are surrounded by pet toys every where you go. Our dog and our kitten have more toys than my kids do (ha ha). To keep clutter under control we have two “toy boxes” - one for our dog’s toys and one for the cat’s toys. They are not really boxes but rather wicker baskets. Our dogs is a large wicker basket (one of the biggest ones I’ve ever seen) with a handle and our cat’s is a small, round one. Not only do they help keep the toys from taking over the place but they are also easy to pick up and store in the closet when company comes over.
- Use washable wallpaper and/or semi-gloss paint on your walls so that pet messes (dog drool) can be cleaned up easily. If your cat likes to stretch up against the wall like mine do then reconsider using wallpaper and stick to paint or non-scratch wood paneling.
- Make sure to have at least one really good scratch pad or post for your cat to use. If not he/she will scratch up your furniture which makes your home’s decor look unsightly and messy.
You can find scratching posts for as little as $10-$12. I recommend getting a carpeted scratch post, or one wrapped in sisal instead of the corrugated cardboard box ones. The cardboard ones tend to leave chunks of scratched up cardboard all over your home.
- Dogs and cats both enjoy looking outside the window. I know from experience that blinds, which are expensive, can easily get ruined. Our dog used to chew on them when he was a puppy and our cats have been known to chew the ties off of them. Vertical blinds were the worst. If you must use blinds make sure you raise them up before leaving the home so that your pet can look out the window rather then have your pet find it’s way around them.
Plantation Shutters are a beautiful option, but they can be very pricy. If you can’t afford something like that consider curtains instead of blinds. Curtains are easier to wash and maintain.
Cats do like to climb curtains sometimes. Make sure to use curtains that won’t tear or pull easily. Or consider mounting a cat window perch on one window. You cat will prefer to be at that one window and leave the rest alone.
I have seen window perches selling for $20 – $50+. You can also easily make your own. Here is an instructional video from DIY.
- We all love to display collectibles or special memorabilia around our home. If you share your home with pets you risk having things knocked over, broken or even chewed on. Consider displaying important pieces in areas of your home where pets or not allowed. If that is not possible then keep precious collectibles on shelves high above where your pet can reach them.
- Many people (myself included) love the ambiance that candles create in a home, however candles are NOT safe around pets. They can be easily knocked over and cause a fire. Consider instead using flame-less candles to decorate your home. You can find ones that run either on electricity or batteries. Some even come scented. I have lovely Vanilla scented flame-less candles. They are also not that expensive. You can often find a flame-less candle for around $5.00.
These are just a few tips I can think of to help protect your homes decor, or add to it, in a budget friendly, pet friendly way.
I live in a condo which is just another name for an apartment, except this one we own (mortgage). I know all about living in a small place with pets. I also know how to live within a budget.
If you would like more great pet tips check out these interesting articles.
- Bringing home a new pet? Use these ideas from Apartment Guide for how to decorate your apartment or home to make your pet feel at home http://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/?p=1191.
- A guide for essential pet items to buy to keep your pet happy and healthy: http://www.movingtoday.com/essential-items-for-your-apartment-pet.
- Make your home a safe one for both your belongings and your pet with these ideas on how to pet-proof any space: http://www.movingtoday.com/pet-proofing-your-apartment .
Whether you’re living, looking or moving, Apartment Guide offers how-to tips for making the most of a space for you and your pet on a budget.
You can “Like” Apartment Guide on Facebook at Facebook.com/ApartmentGuide or follow them on Twitter @AptGuide for real-time tips and updates on making the most of your space. Apartment Guide will be sharing even more ideas for living on a budget.
If you’re ready for a whole new space or are looking to move, Apartment Guide has the photos, floor plans, features and tips to help you find the perfect pet-friendly apartment community.
Later on this month I’ll be offering some more great tips.
Kimberly
*Apartment Guide and owner Consumer Source, Inc. have partnered with bloggers like me as Official Apartment Guide Bloggers. As part of this program, I have received compensation. They have not told me what to purchase or what to say about the products used, and believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.
Great tips! I had 3 cats at one point. I don’t know how you do it! Another great tip I found is using a rubber glove to remove pet hair from furniture. It is cheap and it works purrrr fect! Ok so I am a little corny! haha!
Angela Michels
lilsweeper76 at yahoo dot com
It pays to have pet-proof furniture if you’re considering on taking a pet home so you won’t have to worry about tears, scratches and hair. Also, choose ornaments that are pet-friendly in your home if not raise them up to a level your pet won’t be able to reach.