Pet Proof
Image: Here
Trying to find the best fabric for your furniture when you own cats or dogs can be a little complicated. While you may want that gorgeous linen sofa from Anthropologie, you know that your investment is ultimately at the mercy of your beloved pet. By simply climbing, sitting or walking on your furniture, your pet will eventually cause more wear and tear than you may want. As a mommy to two bird dogs, I can certainly attest to that!
Ivy thinks she has the right to every piece of furniture in our home…..
And Caddo prefers her hip Doggy Bed in Mod Green Pod fabric. Check out Jax & Bones organic bedding with Mod Green Pod’s fabrics!!
Here are some problems you might have to contend with:
- Claw marks and scratches.
- Pet hair clinging to the upholstery, an everyday problem at our house.
- Dirt marks from dirty paws.
Having your pet trained to stay off of your furniture is the best solution, but let’s get real! I love snuggling with my girls on the couch but the aftermath can be a pain. There is nothing more embarrassing than having guest over with a fur-filled sofa or accent chair!
Here are a few of the best upholstery / fabric options for your furniture.
One of my first and favorite options! It resists stains, odors and bacteria so that they do not penetrate the fibers of the fabric. The color and texture options are great and your pet’s hair & dirty paws are no match for this fabric! Crypton fabrics used on furniture with an integrated moisture barrier is a great solution! The color, pattern and texture choices are fabulous and there are multiple sites online with tons of furniture styles!
Check out Slobproof!
LEATHER:
Although it’s not cozy enough for me, leather can stand up to most pets. I’ve even noticed that some pets don’t care too much for sitting or sleeping on it. Even when they do leave a mess, dirt is easy to wipe clean and pet hair doesn’t cling to it. Your pet’s claws may leave holes, but they are usually not very noticeable. Try a distressed leather, it will conceal marks from claws and is easy to wipe down.
Stone House Imports has a great selection of distressed leather seating.
Image:Decor Pad
Image:DecorPad
So your not into leather? Looking for something a little more on the softer side? Take a look at furniture in microfiber.
MICROFIBER:
A synthetic fabric that is a great choice, simply because it is easy to maintain and wears well. Kitty claws can’t get caught in it, stains wipe away with a damp cloth and any pet hair vacuums or wipes off easily. Never use a wet towel or harsh cleaners on microfiber as they can damage the fabric.
Microfiber can have more of a modern look and comes in a variety of great neutrals and colors. Most retailers offer furniture fabric in microfiber and microvelvet so finding good options is easy these days.
A patterned fabric might work better than a solid, but I would not recommend buying any fabric that is nubby or heavily textured, as your pet’s claws can easily get caught in it. Besides, it might be too much fun to scratch. Avoid fragile fabrics, such as silk, wool or linen. Tufts in furniture can be a serious pain to clean so think about cleaning each one of the tufts out on your piece…yikes!
Image: apartment therapy
Here are a few great patterns in durable fabrics.
Other fabrics that are sturdy and hold up well with dogs and cats are:
CORDUROY
SOME VELVETS
This post is dedicated to my college rommie, fellow Arkansan and Sorority Sister Sheri!
Oooohhhh Yes we did! We made our own toyota commercial…hmmm…..we had way to much free time in college!
I got a Cyrpton bed for my golden retriever last year and am so happy with the purchase! It has held up beautifully and the pattern is still vivid despite a ton of use. 🙂
I so laughed at the first pic. Boy if I could have a do over as far as my couch goes I so would. We actually had our cream microsuede sofas before the dog but I was overruled by the family as far as the purchasing of the dog. He is a corgi and sheds and I have miniature puppies in every corner of the house. And I hate the hair on the furniture. Oh well, the kids are happy!
Awwwwwe, SWEET! We’ll be keeping a lookout for crypton and cool distressed leather pieces. I could never kick my first baby dog off the couch at this point, we have a long history of movie time snuggling. Thanks Abbe.