‘Purrfect’ furniture your animal companions will love

Marla Caceres, Tribune Brand Publishing

For pet owners, there's one command that's almost impossible to master: Get off the couch.

Never mind the soft, fluffy dog bed or the sturdy scratching post you've purchased for your dog or cat — furry best friends seem always to prefer couches for naps and chairs for claw sharpening, not to mention rugs for accidents.

This doesn't mean that pet owners should abandon dreams of having a beautifully decorated home. With a few smart choices, a home can be stylish and stand up to the wear and tear of claws and paws.

"Pets are like children now, and the furniture industry has come a long way with this," said Don Myers, an interior designer with the new Casselberry location of Baer’s Furniture, a collection of fine furniture stores with locations throughout Florida. "You don't have to think, ‘I can't have beautiful things.' You can get beautiful furniture and beautiful fabrics."

Here are expert tips to help you have the perfect home for man's best friend.

Textile tact

When it comes to sofas and chairs, the most pet-friendly choices are fabrics that are durable and easy to wash. Myers recommends canvas or twill (which usually are made of cotton), polyester, or fabrics that are blends of cotton and polyester. Microfibers are one of the most cleanable and durable surfaces, and Sunbrella offers the highest-quality fabrics in that particular area.

Although it may come as a surprise to many pet owners, leather is also a sturdy, pet-resistant choice. Avoid topical dyed leather, which is not dyed all the way through the hide, or bonded leather, which is vinyl coated in emulsified scraps of leather on the backing. Rub-out leather, on the other hand, is easy to repair.

"When you put a scratch in [rub-out leather]]]]]]]], you take your fingers and the body heat from your finger will make the scratch go right back to the natural color," Myers said.

For easy-to-wash convenience, slipcovers can't be beat. They have also come a long way, available today in many patterns and colors, and are typically made of durable fabrics, too.

Fabrics to avoid include silks and anything with a loose weave.

"Anything that has any loop or texture is not good, because if they can get their claws into it they can get stuck and struggle," Myers said. "They can pull the fabric or hurt themselves, which is worse than hurting the fabric."

Bring the outside in

The most durable, easy-to-clean fabrics on the market today are meant for outdoor furniture, but that doesn't mean they should only be used outdoors. Think outside the patio and make these fabrics your indoor choice.

"Outdoor fabrics are unbelievable now — they even look better than some indoor fabrics," Myers said.

For an outdoor furniture fabric that is as stylish as it is sturdy, Baer's Furniture designer Lynn Goral recommends Sunbrella fabrics.

"A lot of the major manufacturers are using [Sunbrella]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]] because it is so durable," Goral said. "If something spills you can just wipe it off with soap and water."

Cut a rug

Accidents are unavoidable with cats and dogs and they seem always to aim for the carpet. For the most durable, easy-to-clean option, Myers again suggests looking outside.

"Outdoor rugs are great. You can take them outside and hose them down, and just dry them in the Florida sun," Myers said. They can be a great value, starting at $400 for a room-filling 9x12’ size.

If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, the same safety rule that applies to upholstery applies here, too — avoid loose weaves that are easy for claws to get stuck in. A tightly woven carpet is the safer choice for pets, Myers said.

When the inevitable accident happens — and they always do — Myers reminds pet owners to act fast.

"Take a soft cloth and just blot it out. Don't rub and don't wait," he said. "Once it gets into the fiber, that's when you have to have a professional cleaner get it out."

Before you get rid of that puppy, pay a visit to your nearest Baer’s, where you’ll see several attractive options that are designed to take a little abuse from your four-legged friend. Baer’s prides itself on its extensive collection of furniture and its top-notch staff of sales associates who have a thorough understanding of their clients needs, and the expertise to help address them.