If you love spending time outdoors in your backyard, you definitely have patio furniture. However, if you have pets, your patio furniture choice can be different because you will have to consider the fact that your pets will be using the furniture too. If you already have pets and you are planning shopping for patio furniture, here are some of the tips for you:
Want a Pet-Friendly Patio? 3 Tips for Selecting Furniture
Buy washable fabrics
This is one of the factors you should consider because it can determine the type of fabrics you will buy and how often you will replace them. You need to buy fabrics that are easy to clean because your pets can jump on them with dirty claws or worse defecate. Therefore, if the fabrics are easy to clean, you will just replace them and have them cleaned well. Choosing washable fabrics is important even if you have trained pets because they might forget or get too excited and ruin your fabrics. Since the fabrics might get stained, dark colors are highly recommended because after washing it is very hard to see the stains.
Avoid fragile materials
Fragile materials e.g. glass are easy to break and you may end up incurring heavy losses after a period of time. Pets tend to be playful and you cannot change that even if you scold or train them. Therefore, when choosing patio furniture, wood and metal are the best options because they are strong and durable.
Consider having a theme
You need to have a theme in mind when shopping for patio furniture to make your outdoor setting inviting and organized. You can pick similar materials and colors for different furniture as well as choosing a furniture set. You will be using the outdoor space with your friends and family and one way to make it look great is choosing ca certain theme. After you’ve bought the furniture, you will have to think of ways that can make your patio more pet-friendly. Some of the ideas you can use include the following:
- You need to create a watering hole for your pet(s) to avoid dehydration and overheating while they are outside. You just need a big water bowl although the size can be determined by the number or the type of pets you have in your home.
- Ensure that there is plenty of shade for the pets to use when the sun gets really hot. You may not buy one buy you can DIY by setting up a table umbrella, a canopy or with trees
- If you have an elevated porch or a balcony, you will have to barricade the spaces to protect your pets from falling or slipping through the spaces. Avoid using materials like wires or nets because they can put your pet at risk
- Depending on the type of pets you have, you need to have a resting place. For instance, if you have cats, you need to have a litter box, a raised flower bed or a sandbox where the cat can relax or sleep. You can also have an exit area just in case the cat is chased by dogs or other wild animals
Buying furniture for your patio and making your patio pet-friendly is not an easy process because there are many factors to consider. However, if you follow these tips, you will do it right and with ease.