5 Home Design Choices That Your Pet Probably Hates

You may love everything about your home, but there might be design choices you've made that your pet secretly hates. Designing a pet-friendly home is all about striking the right balance between style, practicality, and comfort for all human and non-human household members. To make sure your four-legged pal can live their best, safest, and most comfortable life, Annie-Mae Levy, a professional dog trainer at Woofz, shares her best tips.

With Levy's help, we've compiled a list of common home decor choices and design elements to avoid in order to make your space more pet-friendly.

1. Slippery Flooring

"The number one tip I give to people who want to design their home in a pet-friendly way is to use carpets or rugs to help your dog get good traction on the floor," Levy says. She explains that tiles and any type of plastic will be slippery and eventually end up contributing to issues with joints as your pet ages. Soft area rugs provide comfort, warmth, and traction. While that's all good, make sure you keep ease of cleaning in mind when selecting carpets, area rugs, and runners, especially if your pet sheds a lot. Some materials—such as natural jute—can be very difficult to clean. If your pet sheds so much you need to vacuum your floors multiple times a week, going with a more practical and easy-to-clean material is a better choice.

2. Tall Beds and Sofas

When it comes to furniture, even if you're loving your new extra-high bed with a plush mattress, your pet may not share the same enthusiasm. "It's important to consider the height of your sofa and bed if you let your pet nap on these spots," Levy says. The reason is that getting on and off a tall bed or sofa can be dangerous for your furry friend and result in potential injuries. This is especially important if you have a senior dog. "Dogs that are repeatedly jumping off of high surfaces are much more likely to injure themselves or overexert the muscles and joints associated with the impact of landing," Levy explains.

3. Strong Artificial Smells

Filling your home with a beautiful fragrance is a great way to freshen up the space, create an ambience, and even mask unwanted pet odors! While you may adore your scented candles, there's a good chance your pet secretly hates them according to Levy. "Dogs navigate your home primarily with their scent," the expert says. For this reason, she recommends that you avoid using strong artificial smells in your home, such as those found in candles, room and linen sprays, and even some cleaning supplies. Some of the scents that pets are not fond of are citrus, coffee, vinegar, spices, and coffee.

4. Window Treatments That Block the View

If you have a cat in your home, avoid installing window treatments that block the views outside during the day. Cats love keeping an eye on the neighborhood and watching the birds, so blocking their view will not make them happy—and they will most certainly let you know. If you are out for the day, keep window shades at a height that allows your cat to look outside and make sure nothing blocks their access to the window sill or furniture near the window.

5. Hard-to-Reach Water Bowls

Sure, your pet's food and water bowls may not be the most aesthetically pleasing design statements in your home, but placing them in hard-to-reach places where they are more discreet will do a disservice to your pet. They need to be able to access water bowls at all times and shouldn't have to work hard or spend lots of time searching for them. Depending on the size of your home and the number of pets you have, you may want to keep more than one water bowl out so your pal can stay hydrated throughout the day. Additionally, because pets are creatures of habit, make sure to keep their water bowls and food station in the same spot. This way, they are conditioned for meal times and know where to find their water source.

5. The Wrong Pet Beds

Levy says the right type of dog bed is the most essential home item is for a dog's happiness and comfort. "A supportive dog bed is perhaps the most important thing we can provide our dogs with," she says. She explains that this is especially important for larger and heavier breeds and suggests looking for dog beds with orthopedic-grade memory foam and a removable cover that you can regularly wash with scent-free laundry detergent.