Pet-friendly rugs: combine functionality and style to find the best rugs for pet owners

If you’re lucky enough to live with a pet, you might have realised that rugs can live dangerously around your four-legged friends. Stains, shredded fur, and even rugs that slide over the floors are all examples of what to put up with in a home with animals. But are there pet-friendly rugs? And are there any special tricks on how to find rugs for pet owners? Of course! Join us as we dive into rugs that are both pet-proof and paw-proof!

Machine washable rugs – the pet owner’s best friend!

When choosing rugs for pets, you want to look for a washable rug as it’ll be easier to clean. And if you find a machine washable rug, that’s a jackpot! The best rugs for pets are the ones that are forgiving when your furry friend causes a stain or puts its dirty paws on it. Most pet-friendly rugs are made from synthetic materials which are functional and easy to clean — perfect for pet-friendly area rugs. Another option is outdoor rugs, as they’re water-resistant and easy to clean as well.

Accidents happen: know how to clean your rug!

Accidents may happen even if you try to decorate your rooms with pet-proof rugs. Your four-legged darling may be the one causing a wine glass to tip over or a flower pot to fall. Choosing a machine-washable rug is a good start, but this might not always be an option. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to clean up your rug after your pet’s rampage through the house.

Shake or hoover the rug to remove loose dirt, and use a clean cloth to press against the stain. Follow our guide on how to clean a rug, where we’ll walk you through the process. Taking care of your rug regularly will keep it fresh and fabulous for a long time. Check out our rug maintenance guide to learn more about rug care to prolong the lifespan of your rug. When you get a rug for dogs or cats, the best tip is to choose one that’s easy to clean and can withstand the wear and tear of your furry friends. That way, you and your pet can enjoy the comfort and style of your rug for a long time.

Zoomie-proofing your rugs

Most pet owners have seen it; their cat or dog suddenly turns into a fluffy tornado, energetically bolting through the house for no apparent reason. This is also known as the zoomies, and it’s mostly adorable. But it can leave your rugs in disarray after your furry friend has made a flying start. One secret to pet-proof rugs is to place an anti-slip underlay between the rug and the floor. The underlay holds the rug in place so it won’t start to spin when your four-legged tornado zoomies across it. And as a bonus, the rug feels even softer to walk on, both for paws and feet.

Pet-friendly rugs for the living room: aim for a flatweave rug

Even if a nice shaggy rug seems super soft and cosy, it might not be the most pet-friendly rug. High-pile rugs can trap dirt, debris, and lost bits of treats that your dog failed to catch. And no matter how often you try to clean it, your cosy rug will be covered in fur most of the time. When looking for rugs for dogs, or even a cat-friendly rug, you want to consider a rug that’s easy to hoover so that you can wave goodbye to dirt and debris from outside. Good choices are low pile rugs as well as flatweave rugs. A low-pile rug also tends to shred less than a high-pile rug. And to be honest, it’s more than enough with fur shredding – you don’t want pile shredding on top of that!

Match the rug with the fur…

We’ve talked a lot about functional rugs here, but one key aspect should be considered when choosing a pet-friendly rug: the style! Aesthetics are essential, at least to us humans. A trick regarding rug styles and pets is to match the rug to the animal fur, as a black cat only means bad luck if your rug is bright white. A light-coloured rug can highlight sheddings from dark fur and conceal lighter-coloured fur; the opposite goes for a dark-coloured rug. So, the perfect rug for a pet owner might actually be the one that matches their furbaby.

…or camouflage with patterns

Another option is to go with a multi-coloured or patterned rug, as they are more forgiving and can conceal stains and shredded fur better. Stains and dirt can be more visible and easier to spot on a single-coloured and light-toned rug, as your eyes are more likely to be drawn to even minor imperfections when the rest of the rug is in one coherent tone. This is your sign to be bold, so choose bright colours and irregular, busy patterns! They will steal focus from any potential stains or shredded fur your pet might have left behind so that you and your pet can relax together on your comfortable, pet-friendly rug.