Decision fatigue is a real thing when it comes to interior design decisions, but throw a pet into the mix and certain decisions like what flooring to choose suddenly become even more difficult.
As a pet owner, I knew that carpet with a puppy was instantly off the cards in our renovation and wood flooring was something that would both combine form and function for what we needed.
So, if you’re in the process of choosing the best type of flooring to cater to your needs and lifestyle, we unpack the myths and everything you need to know about choosing wooden flooring for your home if you have pets.
Choosing Wood Flooring That Will Suit Pet Owners
Wood flooring is a great aesthetic choice for homes, irrespective of whether a pet is involved. But with a pet in tow, you do need to ensure that you choose the right type of wood and take the appropriate measures so you get longevity and durability with your flooring.
We spoke to the experts at Wood Floor Warehouse to find out what type of flooring is most suited to those with pets.
“Opting for harder woods like oak, maple, or bamboo, which are more resistant to scratches, can make a significant difference. Additionally, engineered wood flooring, with its robust top layer, is well-suited to withstand the playful antics of pets”.
Making the investment in hardwood flooring is a great choice if you’re going to reside in the property for a long time, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it can mark easily and is prone to swelling if it comes into contact with water and is not tended to quickly.
If you’re worried about the investment, there are plenty of high quality wood laminate options on the market too that will still offer quality and durability in your interior.
5 Ways To Maintain Your Wooden Flooring With Pets
There are a number of proactive measures you can put in place that are tried and tested with pets, and they will go a long way at helping maintain the integrity and quality of the wood over time.
1. Regular Grooming
Long, unclipped nails on cats and dogs spell a recipe for disaster. Regularly grooming your pet including nail trimming will drastically reduce the chances of any scratches on your flooring.
2. Place Area Rugs
From an interior design perspective, every home should have a selection of carefully placed area rugs to set a boundary.
By adding area rugs to high-traffic areas such as a hallway, kitchen or living room, it will bring a warm design element to your interior, but also acts as a protective layer for your flooring.
If it’s not an anti-slip rug, do ensure that you place an anti slip covering underneath to avoid any accidents. It will also help with those paws from slipping around during those moments of zoomies!
3. Prompt Attention To Spills
Whether you have laminate or hardwood flooring, mopping up spills as and when they happen will avoid the wood from swelling, straining and potential warping of the wood.
For easy, on the go maintenance, try to keep water up and away from your pets level and when you place their water bowl down, do so on a place mat or towel to avoid the floor getting wet.
4. Selecting A Durable Finish
Choosing a wooden flooring that has a high-quality finish will go a long way at offering durability and longevity to your flooring.
A high quality finish will help to protect against scratches and spills. As the saying goes, buy cheap, buy twice. Flooring should be an investment buy in interior design and it should last for years to come.
5. Routine Cleaning
It goes without saying that keeping your wooden flooring clean will help to preserve the flooring. Ensure that you use pet safe cleaners which are also suitable for use on wooden flooring.
Regularly vacuum pet hair and dirt to avoid it slipping between the grooves on the wooden flooring.
The Benefits of Wooden Flooring With Pets
There are so many benefits that come with opting for wooden flooring with pets over other flooring solutions.
From my personal experience as a pet owner I can wholeheartedly confirm that wooden flooring is by far the superior choice over carpet. During puppy training, accidents and spills can quickly be mopped up and the floor sterilised. A carpet? You’ll spend ages trying to absorb the mess before desperately trying to clean the stain and odour. Over time the carpet will quickly wear down and become discoloured.
Wooden flooring can be cleaned so quickly and efficiently from pet hair to wee accidents, and let’s not even go into the other types of accidents… Odours tend to cling to carpet whilst they don’t with wooden flooring, so it’s easier to maintain and the house will feel cleaner, and odour free.
A lot of pets also enjoy lounging around on warm, smooth surfaces. Our chow chow doesn’t even like dog beds, a cold, smooth floor is where the party is at for him, and even more so in the summer it can be a cooler escape than a room with carpet for pets.
There’s no such thing as admitting defeat with pets and just accepting your home will smell and not look great. Choosing the right type of wood flooring will completely change how your home looks, feels and is maintained.
It combines both aesthetics and function in a home and is a great addition to a pet-inclusive household.
