When sharing your home with a furry friend or two, it can be hard to balance creating a clean, considered design with the daily needs of your pet. From pet hair and muddy paw-prints to chew toys and feeding bowls, there’s a lot that needs to be considered. Luckily, with a few smart decor choices, you can balance form and function to create the ideal home for you and your pets.

Perhaps the most important choice you can make for your living space is the sofa. If you’ve got pets that love to curl up next to you in the evenings, you’ll need a sofa that you can wipe clean. Leather is a great choice of material here, ideally in a neutral tone like tan or camel – black or white sofas will show dirt and pet hair in an instant.

Go for something more out there and create a pet corner that they can enjoy all to themselves. Their bed area can be a sanctuary that looks good too, with a miniature sofa and some fun accessories to really make it stand out.

A designated drinking area in your kitchen or utility space is a great way to keep your home clean and tidy. A built-in area below your sink will look neat while having easy access to running water and being quick to clean up when needed.

If you’re short on space and a big crate or bed looks out of place, you can always build their sleeping area into existing furniture. A custom built-in crate will look cleaner and blend in easily with the rest of your decor.

Storage for toys is oh-so essential if you want to avoid unexpectedly stepping on chew toys in the middle of the night. Dedicate a closed storage space or some cute baskets to hide away their toys when not in use.

Last but certainly not least, you’ll need a wash-up area for those dogs with constantly muddy paws. A shower or a small wet room at the back of the house will make sure you get those paws clean before they get near your designer carpets.