Four Fabulous Pet-Friendly Fabrics
December 22, 2014Four Fabulous Pet-Friendly Fabrics for Your Living Room’s Window Treatments
Most families have one or more pets that live with them, and many consider their pets to be an extension of the family. When it comes to decorating any home that also is occupied by pets, like cats and dogs, it is important to be mindful of the fabrics that you use for the window treatments. Certain pet-friendly fabrics won’t statically charge and attract pet hair or show pet hair as much, in addition to being resistant to tearing from claws, pet stains and from odors. The following four fabrics ought to be on your checklist when seeking to elegantly modify your home without the worry of your pets unknowingly damaging such endeavors after the fact.
Microfiber: Microfiber is a tried and true staple for pet owners for a number of good reasons. For starters, it’s resilient and won’t show hair even when laid in darker colours as window treatments. It’s also resistant to fading, tearing, curling and scratches. Most stains can be washed off with warm water and soap. Hair can be lint-rolled off or simply vacuumed away.
Denim: While not the first choice for any formal room, certain colours of denim don’t look like denim. It comes in a wide array of colours and designs. It’s a pet-friendly fabric that does not fade, is tear and stain resistant, and works to block odors. It also can be simply machined washed when dirty using cold settings to avoid shrinkage.
Crypton: Heralded by many as a “super fabric,” crypton is touted for being stain, odor and bacteria resistant. It’s tight weave and wide availability in different colours and styles have catapulted it to the top of the list for many pet owners. It’s also entirely pet-friendly and also is eco-sensitive. Cleaning can be done with soap and water, machine wash or a quick vacuum.
Canvas: Economical, durable and customizable are all tenants of using canvas window treatments. With plenty of designs and styles to choose from, it’s ideal as window treatments in nearly any room. Easily machine-washable, tear and rip resistant, canvas presents a formidable, viable and affordable solution for homes with pets.
Four Things to Avoid
While your home should be decorated to reflect your specific tastes, it’s wise to also think about its furry inhabitants while doing so. Try and avoid the following fabrics or designs when shopping for window treatments to avoid any pet-related travesties along the way.
Steer clear of tassels and cords that make for a kitty’s play toy and can easily get shredded.
Avoid softer fabrics like silk, which can easily tear from one paw swipe.
Stay away from darker colours that will show pet hair.
Try to use low static fabrics that won’t attract pet hair.
Keeping Your Options Open
The search for pet-friendly fabrics online is certain to take you far and wide. Along the way, ensure that you keep an open mind and use a forward-thinking approach. A wise consideration is to use many of the places you find online during your research as informational resources. While you can surely order such fabrics from a number of providers that sell them online, many times being able to actually see how the fabrics would sit in your living room before you make a purchase can help you better decide, and can enable you to avoid having to make frustrating returns.
Some online stores allow you to schedule consultations to preview pet-friendly fabrics in your home before you make a purchase.
Be sure to weigh the benefits of being able to enjoy a fabric preview while searching for the perfect pattern and constituent to complement your home’s interior.
Contact Hope Designs today, for all of your interior decorating needs in Toronto and the GTA (aka. Greater Toronto Area).