Pet furniture combines comfort and décor, all in a simple package. Fortunately, many pet-friendly solutions allow animals and design lovers to share the domestic space in perfect harmony.
It’s called Pet Design or pet furniture, and it’s the Design applied to objects for our beloved pets, which has nothing to envy from ‘human‘ Design regarding beauty and originality!
Functional yet stylish furniture!
When we take an animal with us, we must remember that we are adopting a living being that will have its own needs and habits and, consequently, need its own space. Therefore, to have a cat- and dog-friendly home, carefully preparing the area dedicated to our pets is essential.
We often do not consider it, but when we choose to keep a pet at home, we force it to live in an environment that is not natural for it. A home is designed for a human being, certainly not for a dog, cat, rabbit, etc.
Our animals are family members, and, as in all families, a balance must be found with them so that cohabitation is serene and peaceful.
The market offers furniture and accessories to make life easier, such as kennels, scratching posts, and litter boxes, but these are often not the height of elegance and Design.
Pet furniture: Everything is designed for them.
But why should a house be designed exclusively for its human inhabitants? Many interior designers have asked themselves this question, and they have started developing furniture intended for pets.
Their challenge is creating practical furniture for humans and animals, using environmentally friendly or recycled materials. Above all, we should have a quality standard open to the design of the objects we love in our homes.
Shapes and colours blend harmoniously and fit into domestic environments, stimulating and celebrating the human-animal relationship.
Please don’t call it a kennel.
A famous Italian designer has created a ‘den‘ for cats that combines comfort and aesthetics. Two hollow stones inspire the shape placed one on top of the other: above, the kitty can dominate its surroundings or relax on the soft cushion; below, it can do its nails thanks to the integrated scratching post or have fun with the suspended toy of the plush toy. An object with an elegant and contemporary design that does not disfigure even in the most sophisticated living room.
A…’ Pet Armchair’
The dog also deserves a kennel to match the décor. Another Italian company, one of the Veneto region's specialists in pet furniture, has considered this.
The founder’s designs, characterised by maniacal research into shapes and materials, are made in limited editions by local craftsmen; it is difficult to distinguish the dog kennel from its owner’s armchair.
Website: PetSuperfine
A sofa for two
For harmonious coexistence, animals and humans each must have their own space. This is precisely why a famous Korean designer, Seungji Mun, has created a sofa to accommodate dogs and their owners, creating a new comfortable sharing space for both.
Inspired by the same principle is, the sofa dedicated to all those who share their days with their beloved feline, who can have fun running through the tunnel that forms the headboard of this ultra-modern sofa.
Website: Eazel
Pet Design the scratch cactus
Whoever has a cat knows: the scratching post is a ‘necessary evil‘ to save the sofa from the clutches of felines! What if this accessory became a design object? This is the idea of a French brand that, in collaboration with a famous French designer, has created Vegas, a cactus-shaped scratching post that brings a fun and cool touch to the home! You can find it for about £ 70.00 in various online shops.
Website: Meyou Paris
Pet-proof fabric
The sofa of those who have a pet is often put to the test by our beloved companions: between hair, stains and ‘nails’, it is almost always not in the best state.
The solution is to choose a stain-resistant, water-repellent, and scratch-resistant fabric. Many different types and finishes are available to suit the style of any home.
For example, a famous company in northern Italy uses innovative technology to cover every sofa fibre, creating protection that becomes an integral part of the fabric. A sponge soaked in water can remove even the most difficult stains!
But it is not the only one; another Italian company has developed a synthetic fibre covering that prevents nails from penetrating the weave of the sofa fabric, preventing the classic fraying.
Regardless of the pet furniture, the advice for those with a pet at home is to choose a leather or microfibre cover. These fabrics suit those who want to save their sofa or armchair!
Designer furniture with built-in bowls or kennels.
Finding space for kennels, bowls, and litter boxes is sometimes tricky, especially in tiny houses. These items, essential to our pets’ lives, sometimes get in the way and can give the home a cluttered look.
We may lock the dog and cat in their kennels when we have guests because some patrons may fear animals or dislike having them nearby.
Again, our interior designers have used their imaginations freely, creating multifunctional furniture with built-in amenities for cats and dogs (as well as other pets).
Thus, kennels blend with chests of drawers, consoles, puffs, kitchen cabinets, sofas, and coffee tables in the living room; individual kennels become design objects with minimalist geometric shapes to be proudly displayed. You will look great with friends, and your pets will be happy at the same time.
Cat-proof table and bookcase
How often have you found the cat on your table or desk, perhaps crouched over your computer, without wanting to move to allow you to continue your occupation?
To address this problem, Hao Ruan, a Chinese designer and architect, has designed a wooden table with two levels: the first is for us, an ordinary wooden tabletop, and the second is for the cat. It is a natural pathway game: a tunnel full of tunnels and holes that will only attract and amuse our furry friend.
The modular cube cat bookcase is part of the same line and designed for the same purpose. It is made from cat cubes, which allows the kitty to frolic without being scolded or doing damage…maybe!
Pet Design Save my floor.
Floors, especially hardwood floors, are also challenged by the presence of dogs and cats.
The experts advise opting for a surface that resists dirt and wear and tear: an Italian company, Pergo, has developed a 100% waterproof, natural-looking laminate floor that resembles wood but is designed to withstand wet environments and high-stress conditions. Beautiful and practical for those with four-legged friends!
A somewhat “square look!”
If your home's walls and furniture are square, they will not coexist with objects with too-rounded lines. However, a famous Japanese designer has found a pet-friendly solution with an innovative collection of playhouses, beds, bowls, spongy toys, and balls.
Each object follows or contains the regular, clean lines of the cube. The doghouse, for example, is composed of two square parts joined by a zipper.
Website: Nendo’s Cubic pet accessories are designed to complement minimal interiors
If, on the other hand, you prefer the slightly more rounded aspects…
Don’t worry; you can start from the opposite situation! In this case, the pet-friendly solution is again provided by an Italian brand, Superfine, which specialises in high-quality pet living.
Superfine’s proposal is called “Apollo” and is a Pet Design kennel that combines two steel half spheres, cleverly cut from an irregular shape for comfortable access for your pet.
The spherical structure is edged with a round steel rod to allow our four-legged friend to enter safely—hand-applied gold leaf decoration, hand-turned wooden supports, stain-resistant microfibre cushioning, removable and easy to clean.
A beautiful kennel made entirely of wicker.
However, for those with cats who prefer wicker, the ‘Baco’ cat kennel was designed by Brando Design, another Italian company. The kennel is entirely handmade and has a stainless steel frame covered with a wicker weave. Two flexible slides keep it slightly suspended from the ground, and an elegant pedestal raises it.
The kennel also allows the cat to observe the environment from the small vents and the two opposing openings, comfortably lying on the reinforced microfibre cushions in different shades.
The price is certainly not accessible to everyone: around 1,500.00 euros (about £ 1,333), but we are talking about a high-quality, handmade product.
Website: Brando Design
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