Paw-sitively Beautiful: Designing a Pet-Friendly Home Without Sacrificing Style

Let’s be honest—our pets are part of the family. They nap in our favorite chairs, trail behind us from room to room, and somehow always manage to leave a little bit of fur everywhere. I’ve had so many clients tell me, “We’ll wait to decorate until the dog is older,” or, “There’s no point buying nice furniture, we have a cat.” And every time, I gently push back with this truth: you don’t have to choose between having a beautiful home and having a pet. You can have both.

As someone who designs spaces for real families—and yes, I absolutely count pets in that—I know that creating a home that works with your animals, not around them, just takes the right approach. It’s not about hiding the fact you have pets—it’s about embracing it with style and strategy. Let’s start with the obvious one: fabrics. If your dog thinks the sofa is their throne or your cat lives for a good stretch-and-scratch, you need materials that can handle it. My go-tos are performance fabrics like Crypton or Sunbrella—they’re tough, stain-resistant, and wipe clean with ease. Even faux leather is a winner, looks sleek, but won’t hold onto fur or odors. And speaking of fur (because it will end up everywhere): patterned rugs are your best friend. Think about it…solids show every hair and every little stain, but a beautiful woven pattern? It hides a whole lot of real life. I also love using indoor-outdoor rugs inside homes with pets. They're stylish, durable, and usually hose-washable (no, seriously). Now, if you’ve got a dog with big paws or a cat that skids around the house during the 3 p.m. zoomies, flooring matters too. Opt for something that won’t scratch easily; luxury vinyl plank, sealed hardwood, or tile are all great choices. And skip high-gloss anything if you don’t want to see every pawprint five minutes after cleaning.

But it’s not just about damage-proofing. Your pet deserves their own little moments in your home too. I love designing built-in nooks for dog beds under benches or tucked into unused corners, custom cabinets for food and leashes, or cozy cat perches near sunny windows. These spots feel intentional, not like afterthoughts and they help keep the rest of the house feeling put-together. Now, let’s talk about the clutter that comes with pets: toys, treats, brushes, half-chewed bones... it adds up. One of my favorite things to do is create pet-friendly storage that blends in with your existing furniture. Pretty lidded baskets, hidden drawers in your mudroom, or even labeled bins in your kitchen cabinets—so everything has a place, and nothing screams “dog lives here!” (Even though he definitely does.) Here’s the thing: having pets is a joyful, messy, beautiful part of life. Your home should reflect that—not fight it. With a few smart choices, you can have a home that looks amazing and feels great to live in, muddy paws and all. So don’t wait until your puppy grows up or your cat stops knocking things off shelves. Let’s design a space that works for the whole family—including the ones with paws. Because this is real life. And real life deserves real beauty, fur and all.