For many people, a home just doesn’t feel complete without the company of four-legged friends. Pets become part of the family so we want to make them feel right at home too, however, they can be messy. From toilet-training puppies to muddy paw prints and the odd pet accident, if you prefer to have carpet in your home, you’ll need something that’s easy to clean and maintain. So, we’ve put together this handy guide to help you find the perfect pet-friendly carpet for your home.
- What to consider when choosing a carpet
- The best carpet composition for pets
- Easy-to-clean carpets
- The best colour carpet for pets
What to consider when choosing a carpet
Whether you have dogs and cats or guinea pigs and rabbits, you need to choose a carpet that is suitable for your family and your furry friends.
Pet-friendly flooring should be comfortable, durable, stain-resistant and, above all else, easy to clean and maintain. Even if your pet is house-trained, accidents or sickness can still occur so finding the perfect pet-proof carpet is essential. Additionally, you will probably want to protect your carpet from potential damage caused by sharp nails so the type of carpet you choose should be able to withstand daily wear and tear. So, you’ll probably want to choose a carpet that’s low maintenance and easy to clean whilst providing the comfort you deserve throughout your home.
The best carpet composition for pets
With sharp teeth or claws on the prowl and dirt and pet hair being inevitable, you need a long-lasting carpet that can withstand life with pets. So, the composition of your carpet may affect how easy it is to clean and how durable it will be with your four-legged friends.
You should avoid loop pile carpets as some pets, especially cats, like to dig their claws into carpets and they can get stuck in the loops. This can be distressing for your pet but could also cause damage to your carpet too as the loops can be pulled which makes your carpet look messy and uneven.
Cut pile carpets are a much better option for homes with pets as the fibres point upwards and are sheared at the ends so there is no loop. This means that claws are much less likely to get stuck and your carpet is less likely to become damaged. Therefore, we’d recommend choosing a cut pile carpet, rather than loop carpets, for homes with pets.
Easy-to-clean carpets
Most pet owners know that living with pets means cleaning up mud, and potentially sick and toilet accidents, so you need a carpet that won’t stain and can be cleaned with ease. It is easier to clean synthetic stain-resistant carpets such as polypropylene or nylon so these carpet materials are usually preferable. They have better resistance to spills, stains and dust as well as being easy to maintain.
Meanwhile, natural wool carpets are less stain-resistant and cannot be cleaned with bleach. They are durable, springy and bounce back over time so wool is a hardwearing choice and the natural oils within the carpet fibres can resist some dirt and stains, but not as reliably as synthetic options.
With this in mind, we would recommend polypropylene, polyester or nylon carpets for homes with pets. To prolong the life of your carpet, you should maintain it by hoovering up dirt, dust and pet hair regularly. Most synthetic carpets can be cleaned with a diluted bleach solution but you should always refer to the cleaning and maintenance guide for your specific carpet so you can care for it properly.
The best colour carpet for pets
If you’re worried about stains and not being able to clean your carpet effectively in the event of a mess, you should be selective about the colour you choose. Lighter carpets, like cream, white or pastel shades, are more likely to show dirt and stains so you may want to avoid these colours.
The best colours to choose in a home with pets are black, brown or darker shades as these are more likely to mask potential stains. Patterned carpets are also a good option in homes with pets as it can be more tricky to spot any discolouration amongst busy patterns.
Of course, the colour carpet you choose for your home with a pet is completely dependent on your personal style. But if you are opting for a full room renovation, you may want to try a monochrome style with white walls and a black carpet or contrasting shades like lighter-coloured walls and darker shades on the floor.
Choosing the best carpet for pets is essential to your lifestyle and home with four-legged friends. Whatever you choose, you should make sure the colour, composition and cleaning guidelines meet your requirements. That way, you can be sure to have a hardwearing carpet that will stand the test of time and meet the demands of everyday life in your home with a pet. Need help choosing a carpet? Take a look at all of our carpet options and use the filters to find a carpet that meets your needs. You won’t be disappointed!