DON'T buy expensive rugs.
Yes, you can use rugs. The trick is to buy inexpensive ones. Unlike carpet, rugs can be picked up and cleaned, or picked up and thrown out. Sisal or seagrass mats are a good choice, says author Julia Szabo, because they provide an elegant neutral backdrop that will go with any decor. They're durable enough to withstand months of pet traffic, and they're cheap enough to toss when they get grungy. If disposable rugs strike you as an expensive way to keep your house chic, consider that it's cheaper to toss that $99 sisal rug than it is to pay for the skin problems your Newfoundland mix will develop when you put her in the yard in July.
Got an incredible Persian rug you absolutely cannot live without? Hang it on the wall, where your dog or cat can't reach it.
If you like the look of carpet, try modular carpet tiles made by companies like InterfaceFlor. The carpet squares stick to the floor with an adhesive, so they're easy to install, and they're available in an array of colors, patterns and textures. "They're great," says author Julia Szabo. "If a dog pees or a cat vomits, you can pull up the dirty tile and replace it with a new one. It's much cheaper than replacing an entire rug."
Read on for more pointers on making your home a showplace fit for a pet.
