DO skip wall–to–wall carpet.
Carpet absorbs odors, traps pet hair and soaks up inevitable pet-related stains like a sponge. "I try to steer pet-owners away from carpet," says Chicago interior designer Nan Ruvel, who designs animal friendly interiors for clients and lives with three cats. "It's difficult to keep clean. It's a bad idea."
If you must have carpet, Ruvel says, choose a low pile. "It's easier to clean if there's an accident." And avoid continuous loop carpet, because a pet toenail can unravel it by catching a single woven loop.
Read on for more pointers on making your home a showplace fit for a pet.
