From muddy paws to scratchy claws, pet-friendly carpet and flooring should be high on the agenda in any animal lover's home with practicality high on the list. That's not to say you have to compromise on style. Here, we discover the best carpet and flooring for pets that are every bit as beautiful as they are practical.
Wooden floors and vinyl are low-maintenance and great for washing away the aftermath of a long muddy walk or play in the garden; perfect for high traffic areas such as kitchens and utility rooms. However, most homes will have a mixture of hard floors and carpet, and whether it's a dog, cat or both, life is easier when you are not trying to confine them to one space.
Carpet not only offers comfort and warmth underfoot or paw, but is also great for reducing the risk of slips and falls, not just for your furry friends but family members too! Carpets are great for bedrooms, the home office and playrooms, all places pets may venture into throughout the day if a door is left ajar.
It's essential when deciding on the best carpet for pets to consider the following:
Get all of the practicalities listed above but still keep your home looking beautiful with our New England collection.
The perfect choice for a pet-friendly carpet, this charming flooring looks and feels like a natural carpet yet is incredibly hard-wearing, water-resistant, and bleach cleanable. Enjoy the likes of Bridgeport with its oatmeal coloured flecks, the natural tones of Portland or Brunswick for a classic grey durable carpet. Go deeper with dark brown Nantucket or two-tone with Jackson. Grey is always a popular choice, and we love the best-selling duo of Georgetown and Charleston.
Tip: Always go for a tighter weave when choosing your pet-friendly carpet. Looser weaves may look soft and fun for a cat to claw at, but they'll be a catastrophe for your home (excuse the pun!).
Woven vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for pet owners. Unnatural Flooring woven vinyl is waterproof and hardwearing yet is designed to look like a tightly woven sisal or seagrass look. It's also contract-rated and suitable for any room in the house, oozing style and sophistication.
Woven vinyl is easy to clean and won't stain. Unlike traditional laminate flooring, it offers a slip-resistant surface, particularly handy in kitchens and bathrooms with a higher risk of spillages and accidents.
Looking for natural tones? Try Sahara, Portobello, Sea Slate or Moss. Or for a more contemporary finish, check out the striking Jet, Midnight, or Mercury from our metallic collection. Want a design-led finish? Manhattan, Soho and Brooklyn are firm favourites with architects and specifiers.
For a low-maintenance, cost-effective and practical alternative to wood, our wood effect vinyl flooring is just as effective yet offers textured wood grain and plank definition. Heavy contract rated, it also features a Superguard® layer for heavy-duty use. Those constant muddy leaps in from the garden are no problem, and you are just a soft mop away from a beautifully cleaned floor that looks just like natural wood.
Choose the perfect finish for your home from Ash, Light Oak, Walnut and Grey Oak.
If it's not just paws you are worried about but tiny people or your own clumsiness, take a look at our complete collection of practical flooring or create a bespoke rug.