Our furry friends bring us joy, keep us active, and are fun to simply hang out with. But when it comes to how they treat our furniture, they can sometimes cause more headaches than we might have originally bargained for when we first brought them home.
If you’re a pet owner, there are certain flooring materials that you’ll want to avoid, and some you should embrace. Luckily, we’ve outlined some of the best flooring options if you have pets, and some of the ones you might want to stay away from.
Ceramic & Porcelain Tile
The best, most durable material that you can have in your home is ceramic tile. It’s cost-effective, easy to clean, and it’s beautiful. With so many different designs and textures, ceramic tile can elevate any room in your home and stand up against both dogs and cats. You don’t have to worry about muddy paw prints or accidents staining your floors, since all you have to do to clean up is spray and wipe away. If you’re worried about noise from your pet’s nails clicking on the floor, you can always have rugs or mats in high-traffic areas so that you won’t be bothered as much.
Similarly, porcelain tile offers durability and beauty without fear of scratches, scuffs, and deep-cleaning sessions. Porcelain is a little more expensive than ceramic and tends to be more glossy, but it can still be used anywhere in the home. Placing ceramic or porcelain tile in the hallways, den, and living room is a great way to take advantage of this material. If you’re concerned about tile in the bedroom, thinking it might make the space look cold, you can look at different style options. Both porcelain and ceramic tile can mimic hardwood flooring, adding warmth.
Prefinished Hardwood Flooring
Prefinished hardwood flooring is hardwood that has been stained, sanded, and sealed prior to distribution. The coating is uniform and there’s usually a urethane finish that prevents claw marks and other scratches. If you have cats or dogs and don’t want to use tile for every room in your home, this is the material for you. In addition to its durability, hardwood looks beautiful in the home and, if it’s prefinished, you don’t have to worry about toxins or unpleasant smells during the installation process. This is great for you as well as your pets!
For the most part, prefinished hardwood will already be made with several coats of strengtheners which increases its durability and can make the floors last for decades. You can reach out to your manufacturer and see if you can have a scratch-resistant finish added to the surface or reach out to your flooring supplier to connect you with brands that offer this service.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring
Luxury vinyl is durable and beautiful. While it unfortunately has had a bad reputation in the past, it’s become more high-quality as new technology advances and with that, more popular! Luxury vinyl is great for pet owners because it’s so durable. If you have heavy dogs or cats that like to sprint around the place, scratches will never really be a problem with vinyl flooring. If it’s installed correctly, vinyl flooring can last up to 20 years, saving you money and time in the long run.
This material is also stain resistant and super easy to clean. WIth hardwood floors and other materials, there’s always the chance that dust or grime can get lodged into the nooks and crannies of the floor. With vinyl, you don’t have to worry about that, which means it also can be cleaned less!
Unlike the other options mentioned above, luxury vinyl has the added bonus of being soft. There’s generally a padded layer beneath your feet—something you won’t get with ceramic or hardwood flooring. If you have multiple levels to your home and pets that like to run around at odd hours of the night, this is going to be one of the biggest bonuses to luxury vinyl.
Stay Away From Carpet
Apologies to all those who love carpet floors, if you own pets, the experts say to stay away. Carpet might be cozy and look nice in some rooms, but if you own pets, it can have a few downsides.
Dander and fur are the biggest concerns that people have when it comes to owning carpet and pets, as it’s a perfect ecosystem for allergens. Even if you don’t have cat or dog allergies, having a carpet can really impact your quality of breathing.
Carpet is also difficult to clean. If your pet has an accident or you unintentionally bring your furry friend into the house after it just played in a giant mud puddle, carpet will be your nemesis. Our advice is to stay away from carpet as much as possible. Rugs, mats, and hallway runners are a bit different since you can always throw them in the wash or have them dry cleaned.
The Verdict
Ceramic, porcelain, vinyl and hardwood are the best materials to have in your home if you own pets. Thinking about carpet? Your best bet is to say no. However, don’t compromise on beautiful floors just because you’re worried about your pets marking them up—just think strategically!
Ceramic tile can be made to replicate tons of different designs and textures. Vinyl flooring is gorgeous and comfortable, and similarly can be designed to look like real wood. Prefinished hardwood is also a great option if you really want to go for something natural. Looking to renovate sometime soon? Reach out to a local tile supplier and discuss your options!
