If you have pets, you know those paws and claws have the potential to wreak havoc on your furniture. You want your home to look beautiful, but sometimes having leather furniture with pets can be a cause for concern if the correct leather is not chosen. So, is there pet friendly leather furniture, and how can you make sure that it lasts? Thankfully, there are plenty of options available that will make your home comfortable and luxurious while still being able to hold up to the adventurous life of cats and dogs.
Pet-Friendly Living Room Furniture
Leather furniture is luxurious and beautiful, but is it pet-friendly? The answer might surprise you. Leather offers several benefits over fabric, most importantly because it’s highly durable. Many pet owners fear their dog or cat’s claws will puncture their leather furniture. However, authentic leather is extremely thick and tough, so it’s unlikely for claws to puncture the surface. Fabric is thinner and it’s much easier for animals to tear it up, making leather the smarter choice. Just be sure you choose real leather and not faux leather, as it tends to be thin and more fragile than authentic leather. However, choosing the right leather is as important. Although it is very difficult to scratch certain leathers, all leathers can be scratched so the color under the top color is the most important. In many cases the color on the back does not match therefore any scratch would be an eye sore. Choose a leather that has as little variation from the front color to the back color and doing so will make scratches almost invisible. Some leathers are meant to scratch such as our lightly protected leather. With these leathers, they will continually scratch and this is the look it is going for. To avoid this, use one of our heavily protected leather or our protected leathers.
Another perk of leather furniture is that it’s extremely easy to clean. You can simply wipe up spills or pet dander from the surface to make it look new again. Fabric upholstery tends to absorb spills, and pet hair likes to cling to the surface. Leather furniture doesn’t allow the fur to grab onto the furniture, so you can easily just wipe it off. Another bonus? Leather furniture repels odors and won’t absorb those icky pet smells. Stinky pet odors can easily absorb into fabric upholstery which makes leather the much more appealing choice. Leather easily resists punctures, is odor-resistant, and a breeze to clean which makes it a wise investment if you have pets in the home.
Dog-Friendly Furniture
Dogs are man’s best friend, so of course, you want them to be able to enjoy sharing your home with the entire family. But what about your furniture, and which type of furniture is more dog-friendly than others? Leather furniture works great for most dog breeds, even those with longer claws. You can reduce the chances of damaging your leather furniture by keeping your dog’s claws trimmed and manicured regularly. Treat your furniture with a special leather sealant every so often to help keep stains at bay. Overall, leather is a great choice for dog owners since it’s such a tough material. To protect your leather sofa and chairs, be sure to blot spills and messes as soon as possible using a soft, absorbent cloth.
You can find “dog proof couch covers” designed to keep your furniture protected, but they’re not really necessary. These covers will hide the beauty of your leather furniture, and they tend to slip and slide off. You don’t need to waste money on couch covers because leather furniture is highly durable and easy to maintain. Skip the covers and enjoy the comfort and beauty of your leather couch, even if you have dogs at home. With some simple maintenance on your leather furniture and your dog, you can easily enjoy a dog-proof leather sofa without too much worry. If you end up with an accident start by using our cleaning and conditioning and if you need more assistance call us. We can redye or replace leathers if we need to.
Cat-Friendly Furniture
Cats are notorious for scratching almost everything they can get their paws on. This can be a cause for concern, Choose a protected ir heavily protected leather but stay away from our lightly protected leathers if you want to avoid a lot of scratches. One way to mitigate this problem is to train your cat to use his or her scratching post, and to discourage them from clawing at the furniture. With the right training and the occasional clipping of claws, your leather furniture should be able to stand the test of time. Our lightly protected leathers that have either wax or oils injected in them are “self-healing,” which means that over time, claw marks will dissipate.
You can also combat the problem by choosing distressed leather furniture that can easily hide the marks. Distressed leather is a great choice for any style home and gives your space a rustic, lived-in look. The distressed nature of the leather means that it already has natural marks throughout the upholstery. When your kitty decides to claw, it won’t be as noticeable and will blend right in with the rest of the piece. Top-grain and full top grain leather are the best couch material choices for cats with claws since these types of leather are especially thick and durable.
Helpful Tips for Pet Owners
Just because you have dogs or cats (or both!) it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy leather furniture in your home. With a few simple tips, you can ensure that your furniture is maintained for years to come. First, train your pets to stay away from the furniture when they have the urge to scratch. Keep their claws trimmed regularly to help minimize the potential for damage. Treat your leather furniture with a protective sealant to reduce the odds of permanent stains. Wipe up spills as soon as possible. Pet dander and hair can easily be removed from leather furniture with regular wipe-downs using a soft cloth.
Animals have natural instincts to scratch and jump. It’s not always possible for pet owners to keep them away from the furniture. By showing the right leather type and with a bit of training and some maintenance, you can still ensure that your leather furniture stays beautiful for years to come. Thanks to its durable properties and easy-care construction, it’s easy to enjoy leather furniture in your home no matter how many pets you have. At Leather Creations Furniture, we have a wide variety of beautiful leather furniture that will make your pet-friendly home a place to love for many years.