Decorating for Pets: Adapt your Interior to Accommodate Pets
Pets are important parts of our lives, no matter what type of pet you own. Home owners and decorators alike are taking this into consideration and building and decorating homes around pets. With the following pet decorating tips you can make your home friendlier for your pets while keeping your style integrity and comfort in mind.
Choose the Right Fabrics
One of the most important decisions you can make when you have pets in the house is what type of fabrics you’ll be bringing into your home. Velvet works as a hair magnet and should be avoided at all costs, so should expensive materials like silk or chintz that are delicate and difficult to wash. You want something that is both stain resistant and doesn’t attract fur. Some pet friendly fabrics include crypton, leather and ultra suede. You should also keep your pet’s fur color in mind when selecting fabric colors. A solid white couch in a home with three black puppies is a bad idea.
Use Washable Bedding
You’re not the only one that thinks your bed is a cozy place for a nap, pets often head to the bedroom for a mid day snooze so you’ll either want to train your pets not to sleep on the bed or get washable bedding to eliminate fur build up and clean up accidents. You will also want to put a mattress pad down between your mattress and sheets in case there is an accident of sorts, you want to keep your mattress free of stains and odors.
Consider the Flooring
Shag carpeting with pets is a bad idea. In fact, if you can avoid carpeting altogether you’ll do a better job of keeping the floors clean and hair free. But if you do want to the comfort of carpeting, consider only using a low pile carpet with a single woven loop. This will protect it from nail snags and make it easier to clean.
Create a Pet-Friendly Entrance
If your pet goes outside then its ideal if you can have an entrance and exit for your pet that is designed to deal with the muddy paws and other dirt they bring in after exploring outside. Select flooring that is easy to wipe clean and have storage in the area where you can keep leashes, toys, and cleaning products for quick and easy access.
Look for Attractive Pet Accessories
It’s a multimillion dollar business that has been ignored in the past but savvy designers are finally getting in on the scene and creating pet accessories that are both fun for pets and attractive in your home. They may cost a bit more but combining functionality and appearance is worth it.
Keep it Clean
Keep your interiors looking their best by keeping them as clean as possible with frequent vacuuming, wiping down surfaces and furniture, and sweeping. Even the best decorated home looks a bit shabby when it’s covered in fur and smells of pets.
Author: Kristin Abraham
Decorating Your Dining Room With Glamour And Style
For some an Italian Kitchen decorating theme will put some old world charm into their kitchen and make it a place where the family will be willing to sit in. One such Italian design is the Tuscan style which incorporates warm earth tones along with natural materials and architectural accents that will give any kitchen a time worn look. But you do not need to buy any priceless antiques in order to achieve the Tuscan look for your kitchen. Below are a number of things that will need to be included when designing and decorating your kitchen in an Italian style.
Color
The colors you use should mimic the colors of the Tuscan landscape such as rich golds, earth tones and sometimes even tones relating to the sea will provide you with the look you are after. If you are able to purchase some Majolica pottery (new or old) and use the colours on this to influence the colours of your walls and floors. It is important that you use natural materials like stone, slate, granite or terracotta for the flooring and countertops as this will only help to enhance the Italian look that you are trying to create.
Lighting
When looking for lighting for your Italian themed kitchen then think old world and steer well clear of any new or modern styles. Why not see if you can get lights that are made from antique wrought iron. But you can include recessed lighting for use as task lighting. It is important to get the right look for an Italian kitchen that you stay away from lights that have a shiny look, instead stick with those that have muted metal finish.
Accessories
It is very easy to buy accessories for your Italian kitchen theme brand new today, but why not take time and scour your local antique stores for some real antiques instead. If you can look for old pottery bowls and pitchers as well as wooden bowls that have been painted or antiques. As a nice addition to your Italian style kitchen include some Majolica ware. Why not buy a whole set of this pottery to be have for everyday use. It is vital that you include lots of decorative jars in your design that have either peppers and ropes of garlic on them or peppers and grape vines on them. Then to soften the look up use lots of greenery (herbs in pots are a good idea).
Above we have provided you with a few ideas for your Italian kitchen decorating scheme and it can be easily achieved with either the purchase of new accessories or by looking around your local antique shops. But what ever way you decide to do it you will soon have a kitchen that is charming and full of character.
Author: Lee Dobbins
