Can’t sleep? You need the IKEA Kama Sutra

All day long, you’ve been dreaming of being back in bed. Yet when you’re in bed, all you seem is to toss and turn. Much to your horror, you just can’t seem to get more sleep!

Insomnia happens to one in three people worldwide. This lack of sleep can get dangerous, with links to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. 

Worst still, thinking about how to sleep better keeps you up even more. It’s a vicious catch-22.

You may just need the IKEA Kama Sutra to help you sleep better. While it’s name suggests otherwise, the IKEA Kama Sutra is actually an illustrated online catalog which includes 20 different bedroom furniture “positions” that include layout suggestions, design ideas, and product recommendations.

With the help of the bedroom “positions” in the IKEA Kama Sutra, here are 6 ways to get better sleep:

1) The Chandelier: Watch out for that lighting

Source: IKEA

This almost goes without saying, but lighting is very important when trying to get good quality to sleep.

Complete darkness is what you need during sleep time, but did you know that this also extends to before bedtime? If you expose yourself to harsh lighting – such as computer, phone, or tablet screens – before sleep, you are going to mentally stimulate yourself into staying awake longer.

You want lighting that is soft and gentle, one almost caresses you into sleep. Add the gorgeous APPELVIKEN chandelier into your bedroom and romance yourself into bed instead with soft LED lights.

2) The Seated Desire: The bedroom is for sleep and relaxation

Photo by Jonathan Borba from Pexels

Even if you stay in a very small space, it’s important to divide the room for different purposes.

Remember: the bed should be a place where you sleep and relax only. Don’t work in bed, surf the Internet in it, or even watch television in it, no matter how tempting that will seem.

If you must, add the LANDSKRONA sofa to the edge of your bed. You can surf the Internet there, while still keeping your bed a safe haven for sleep.

By doing this, you will be giving your brain a signal that getting in bed means going to sleep, and nothing else. Your brain will then signal the rest of your body to get ready to rest once you dive into the loving arms of your bed.

3) The Doggy Style: A comfortable routine is key

Photo by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels

Pencil your bedtime into your schedule and stick to it daily. Have it for your four-legged friends too, if you have any.

Humans and animals are creatures of routine. By sleeping at the same time daily, your entire mindset and body will come to recognise that time as bedtime. This is also the same for your pets.

Having a regular sleep time is also great for you to understand when to put the digital screens away. Give your pets the LURVIG Pet Cushion to rest comfortably. Get the KRAGSTA Coffee Table near your bed to put away all your digital toys before hopping into bed at your designated time.

4) The Secret Treasure: Eat light at night

Food can be a universal love.

However, the only thing you want to be weighed down by on your bed is the descend of sleep, or maybe your partner’s loving embrace.

Don’t let a heavy belly make you feel sick, or keep you awake when you’re trying to get some shut-eye.

If you must eat in bed, try it in the morning instead.

5) The Swedish Chair: Keep out the noise

Nothing can be more annoying than to be woken up by a loud noise or having to try to sleep when your neighbours are arguing loudly.

Turn off your digital devices, get a white-noise maker or ear plugs, and go to sleep in absolute silence.

In fact, create a hushed Scandinavian-style escape in your bedroom to unplug from everything else. Why not get the aesthetically beautiful KAUSTBY Chair to place next to your bed, and use it as either seating space or nightstand?

6) The Beautiful Behind: Organise the clutter

Did you know messy bedrooms can affect the quality of your sleep? Well, now you do.

The state of your bedroom can lead to increased anxiety, which then affects your sleep. Get the customizable ALGOT Shelving Unit to organise the items in your bedroom, and you will be able to sleep with peace of mind knowing that you have got your literal stuff sorted.

The Other ‘Positions’

The Lotus Flower: Inspired by northern forests, this bedroom position will help you reconnect with nature.

The Widely Open: A bedroom that shows you everything it has at once while keeping a trendy Scandinavian look. The Elvarli Open Wardrobe is a great addition to this bedroom.

The Climber:  Need more space to navigate? The SVARTA Loft Bed gives you all the space you need while still maintaining a great sense of style. 

The Glowing Boudoir: We all want to wake up with that morning glow, and this bedroom position helps us achieve that with the ORTOFTA Chandelier.

The Tiger Bridge: Bring some exotic holiday vibes into your bedroom with this position – get the the FREDON Hammock and rock your worries away.

The Frequent Stacker: Flexibility is hot, and the UTAKER Stackable Bed knows it. It can be stacked or placed side-by-side, depending on your needs of the day.

The Twins Temple: Storage is sexy, and two PAX wardrobes to hold your goods is just right to place into your bedroom to keep things tidied up.

The Bohemian Tent: A canopy can add a flirty flair to a bedroom. The BOMULL Fabric can lend you a hand with that.

The Busy Hands: Multi-taskers will love this bedroom position. The BRIMNES Daybed Frame is both a great sleep companion and a storage wonder, comfortably supporting you no matter what you choose to do.

The Double Sided: Need to share your room? Don’t sacrifice your style with this bedroom position that blends unique styles together well.

The Narcissus Delight: Love yourself? You should with this bedroom position. The EKET Storage Combination with open boxes exhibit your favourite items, and remind you exactly who you are and what you can become.

The Boogie Woogie: This bedroom position puts you in the mood to boogie with beautiful colours, such as the turquoise color of the SODERHAMN Chaise paired with the gold finishes of the JAKOBSBYN Pendant Lamp.

The Magic Inclination: Tiny, but mighty. This bedroom position calls for magical storage, like having a MALM Storage Bed with built-in space to help you maximize the space of your bedroom.

The Personal Blush: Keep things in the pink of health with this bedroom position. Check out the HILJA Curtains if you can’t get enough of the colour.

Read the IKEA Kama Sutra here.

Want to get more inspiration on creating an IKEA-inspired home? Get our Timeless Living: How to Design a Classy IKEA-inspired Home e-book to help you create the home of your dreams:

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8 cat adoption stories that will make you smile

It is always a beautiful thing when you hear cat adoption stories.

While all cats are cute, there’s something beautiful about how a cat finds a new lease of life in a loving family, especially after living a life in the streets or being abandoned.

Here are 8 cat adoption stories that will make your smile, even if you’re having a bad day:

1. Nabi the Sewer Cat in Korea

Nabi was stuck and living in a sewer for two months. While apartment residents would feed the cat, they had no way of getting Nabi out as the sewer opening was only 5cm long.

With the help of a special crew and the apartment residents, Nabi was finally rescued. She was lured away from the narrow sewers towards the manhole where her new owner was calling for her.

Now adopted with the name Bangwool, Bangwool lives happily with the apartment resident who had fed her for two months. She now gets lots of kisses, toys, and a warm home to live in. We’re so happy for you, Bangwool!

2. April the Playground Cat

This little kitten lived in a playground and was wary of humans who went by. Luckily, Brad, who styles himself as the Crazy Cat Man, patiently gave her food and water daily until she was ready to be touched by human hands.

After Brad rescued April and took her home, he was planning to rehome her once she was ready.

Yet, after watching how his cat Tom and April interacted together, he knew that he could not give this cutie away. He made the decision to make April his second cat, and April found her forever home with Brad. Yay, April!

3. Bruno the Standing Cat

One of the most famous cat adoption stories involve Bruno, a Russian Blue cat. A little chunky at 25 pounds when his adoption plea went up in August 2018, Bruno quickly captured the heart of many with his now-infamous standing photo.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmyNVM7FQrd/

Bruno got adopted less than a week later. He now loves living with his parents and brother in Seattle, where his mom sings to him from time to time. 

4. Bowie the Cat with Heterochromia

Bowie was a cat who was abandoned on his own, and later rescued by a vet clinic.

His unusual features of one blue eye and one yellow eye, along with patches on his nose and chin, has made him a little celebrity on Instagram.

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His fur parent, Maria, loves sharing photos of Bowie on Instagram. What a long way up from being abandoned!

5. Lizzy the Superstar Cameo

Lizzy, aka OwlKitty, was part of a litter being fostered by Shelby Thorpe. Then known as Sequoia, Lizzy was the only black kitten in the litter of six.

As soon as she was ready to be adopted, her fur parents Olivia Boone and Tibo Charropin immediately scooped her up. Tibo, a professional filmmaker, also catapulted Lizzy to Internet fame by editing her into scenes from famous movies and videos.

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Life’s good when you have people who help you on your way to success, and we’re definitely happy Lizzy has loving parents to look after her well.

6.  Crabapple the Feral Kitten

Hannah Shaw, also known as the Kitten Lady, is passionate about rescuing small kittens and fostering them until they are ready to be adopted.

She’s rescued and fostered many a cat, including this little one who went from fiesty to mild after a few days of human socialisation.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B30DXrMpwQF/

If you’re looking for tips to rehome a feral cat, Kitten Lady has put in some of her tips here in this useful instructional video on YouTube:

7. Genevieve and Matilda

Jonathan Van Ness is the hairstylist star of Queer Eye, and is also a well-known cat lover. Devastated by the loss of his cat, Bug the 2nd, who fell out an open window, Jonathan decided to give a happy home to two more cats adopted from the Pennsylvania SPCA.

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While there is nothing that can take away the hurt by losing one’s pet, giving two shelter cats like Genevieve and Matilda a forever home and looking after them can help heal the pain.

8. Bonus: Dr. Leon Advogato

This kitty may not have been adopted, but at least he’s gotten a job!

Visitors to the Order of Attorneys of Brazil building started filing complaints about a stray cat that was hanging around the reception. In response, the Brazilian law firm decided to give the cat a job – including his very own employee ID – so that Leon would have a legitimate reason to be there.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuRiZL2Hpw5/?

If you need a cat-torney, Leon is the guy you want. He now stays at the building and is much loved by the employees.

Are you looking to adopt a cat? Congratulations! Do make sure to cat-proof your home before you take them home though. One of the best ways to do so is to get a pet-friendly sofa, one which is resistant to cat scratches and unexpected stains. Leather and micro-suede are great sofas to pet-proof your living room.

Don’t get a completely new sofa. Instead, get new slipcovers for the sofa that you already have. Get fabric samples from us to get started now:

How far away should you live from your in-laws?

The in-laws. Regardless of whether you love them or feel iffy about them, they are your spouse’s parents.

There is a saying that ‘when you marry, you also marry the family’.

Unless your spouse has cut off ties with their family, you will have to talk to them about how you feel about their family’s presence in your lives, and this question:

“How far away should you live from your in-laws?”

According to a survey done by Ally Bank in the United States, 27% of the 2,000 adults surveyed said living 15 – 45 minutes away from their family would be the ideal distance from in-laws.

There is no exact science to this, of course. Often times, compromise is involved. Before you rent or buy a house that you’ve estimated to be 15 – 45 minutes away from your in-laws, here are 4 factors to consider first:

1) How’s your relationship with your in-laws?

how far to live from in-laws
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Perhaps the most important thing to do is to honestly and frankly assess your relationship with your in-laws.

First, do you like them, and do they like you?

Do you feel like you are on truly friendly terms with them?

On the flip side, are you both just tolerating each other because you share a common important person (their child/ your partner) in your lives?

Now, if you have a great relationship with your in-laws, you can definitely find a place that is near to their home to live in.

Not too near, of course. Nothing destroys a relationship more than having to interact more than you really should.

Even an offhanded well-meant comment about how you can be a better partner to their child can come off as truly offensive to you.

However, if you’d like to see them enough to have regular planned organised family outings with them, then it stands to reason it’s more logical to live about 10 – 20 minutes away by car.

If you are just tolerating your in-laws because you love your partner, it may be best to live at least 60 – 120 minutes away. No one will pop in on each other unexpectedly, and you can still show up for the really important family events with plenty of mental preparation beforehand.

Most importantly, remember that even if you cannot be nice, do be civil. You do have to see your in-laws as long as you are married to your partner.

2) How do your in-laws feel, and what do they want?

how far to live from in-laws
Photo by Robert Stokoe from Pexels

It is easy to decide whether you want to live near or far away from your in-laws, but it is also important to consider your in-laws’ feelings.

You may have ended up with in-laws who wish that you wouldn’t bother them too much. They can be the kind of people are perfectly happy to live their own lives separate from that of your spouse. Meeting up just once a month sounds good to them.

In this case, living in the same neighbourhood with your in-laws won’t create any boundary issues. After all, your in-laws are probably hoping you would respect their privacy as well.

Then, there are those with in-laws who want their child to live nearer, or even with them. If you have such in-laws, there may be some difficult discussions to have with your partner and their parents.

It is important to establish that your marriage with your partner (and your living decisions) should only be discussed and decided by the both of you.

3) What does your partner want?

A marriage is a union of two people. In addition to having frank communication about what you want, you need to ask your partner what they want, too.

Your partner may want to live with their parents to look after them. At the very least, they want to be near enough to go to their parents’ house frequently to check in on them.

It will be great if your desires are aligned on this matter. However, if not, there will be a need for compromise. Try to find the best middle ground between the both of you.

4) Can you afford to live away from your in-laws?

In this current economy, more and more people are moving back in to live with their parents all over the world.

Your in-laws may be able to help you and your partner ease some of your financial commitments. In this case, if you do need your in-law’s assistance a lot – such as babysitting your children – it would be better to live near them.

In addition to considering everyone’s feelings, it is also prudent to be realistic about the situation and think of what you and your partner can afford to do.

When you consider all of the above and have found the best compromise, that would be the best distance for you personally.

Found a new place to live? Liven up your living room by getting beautiful fabric slipcovers for your sofa – ones that even your in-laws will approve of when they come to visit:

The best Netflix shows for home decor fans

By now, most of us are no strangers to the Pandora box that is Netflix.

In fact, we’re likely spending our weekends bingeing on our favourite shows…over and over again. For some of us, it’s watching every season of The Crown for the 20th time, but for those of us who live, breathe and eat home decorating, it’s an entirely different playlist altogether.

If you’re obsessed with home decor and are new to Netflix or just haven’t had the time to make the most of your subscription, here’s a rundown of our must-watch shows to get your creative juices going:

1. Tidying Up With Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo took the international world by storm with her book The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying: A Simple, Effective Way To Banish Clutter Forever.

Then came her Netflix special, which gives us a glimpse into her methods in action. Watch as she goes to homes of families, retirees, widowers and even first-time homeowners and helps them clear up their spaces to rediscover the joy of living in a clutter-free home.

Her methods run true with the minimalist trend, asking that you keep only the items that truly mean something to you – or in her words, items that “spark joy”. 

If you too, struggle with having too much stuff or simply want to take control over your life at home, Tidying Up With Marie Kondo is definitely a must-watch on Netflix. 

2. Stay Here

Stay Here is one of those reality series that will leave you with lifelong lessons on basic design values, maximising your rental property, and even hospitality.

The hosts, designer Genevieve Gorder and real estate expert Peter Lorimer go around helping people redesign and rebrand their rental properties. 

Even if you don’t have an additional property that you rent out for Airbnb purposes or to tenants, it’s a great show to find out how you can redesign your current property to one that can withstand design trends.

After all, it helps to be prepared in the future should you want to sell your place. 

3. Reno My Reno

Obsessed With Home Decorating? These Netflix Shows Were Made For You
Image credit: New on Netflix

Picture this: you see a nifty home improvement DIY on the internet and feel that you could recreate it only to find that everything you touch does not, in fact, turn to gold.

Don’t worry – you’re not the only one, especially where Reno My Reno is concerned. 

In this series, top-notch contractor Dave Depencier is the hero of the day, picking these DIY do-gooders out of their home pickle. The best part is that the homeowners are also invited to help out in the re-renovation, just so they can learn from their mistakes and be part of the building process. 

4. Fixer Upper

Chip and Joanna Gaines are the wife-and-husband team behind Magnolia Homes, a remodelling and design business in Texas.

In Fixer Upper, the show follows the couple around Texas advising owners of dilapidated homes with huge potential on how to remodel and refurbish their spaces.

The results are always breathtaking as you see how the houses transform from “meh” to “wow”.

5. Small Space Big Style

Obsessed With Home Decorating? These Netflix Shows Were Made For You
Image credit: HGTV

Perfect for those living in the city with less real estate, Small Space Big Style is exactly as its name suggests – how you can make the most out of your tiny apartments with nifty design tricks.

The biggest takeaway of this show is definitely the various IKEA hacks you can pull off in your tiny home.

It will also serve as inspiration for you to try out for yourself, should you be living in a small apartment.

6. Design On A Dime

Everybody loves a good deal, and Design On A Dime is here to deliver.

The design team helps budgeting homeowners figure out ways on how to refresh certain parts of their home. This is particularly helpful, especially since these homeowners previously thought that it was not possible thinking that such a redesign would cost a bomb.

Who knows? You could also be inspired to do similar renovations to your own home without breaking the bank.

7. The Great Interior Design Challenge

It’s not just interior designers who have an eye for design.

As The Great Interior Design Challenge proves, just about anyone who has the idea can execute it. Watch as amateur design contestants set out to redesign rooms, upcycle furniture, and work on a myriad of nifty DIYs.

It’s a fun show that will spark your creative side with a lot of ideas to execute. 

Want more inspiration for your home? We’ve got you covered. Download our free Timeless Living: How To Design A Classy IKEA-Inspired Home ebook now: 

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The biggest mistakes people make when shopping at IKEA and how to avoid them

Do you love shopping at IKEA?

You are not alone.

On any given day, millions of people all over the world make their way to everyone’s favorite big blue box furniture store. Some might even be just there for the Swedish meatballs and other yummy dishes.

However, it’s not all a bed of roses when shopping at IKEA, and if you’ve never spent a bit of time optimizing your IKEA shopping experience, you can easily fall into a pit of shopping mistakes.

Because we’ve spent so much time there, we were able to narrow down the top mistakes to these seven, and how to avoid them:

1) They walk in with no plan

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Image: Pexels

Some people go to IKEA having only a vague idea of what they want. Worse still, they go there to ‘window’ shop.

We all know how these trips (*cough overspent*) turn out.

There are plenty of places to window shop in this world, but take it from us: IKEA is not one of them.

It is a place to go with purpose, mission, and more importantly, a list of things that you actually need. For example, if you plan to get a bookshelf, you’ll need (we cannot emphasise this enough) to measure the space where you want this bookshelf to go so that you can decide if that beautiful IKEA bookshelf will fit in your room.

Once you’ve got your list of things you need in hand, you’ll be less likely to add everything that you don’t, to your cart. 

2) They don’t check the IKEA website beforehand

The Internet is a wondrous place, and the IKEA website is one of its many wonders. It’s especially useful for checking to see if what you need is in stock.

Write down the name of the products that interest you, and compare your options to see which will suit your home better.

You’ll be saving yourself a ton of time and legwork just by doing this.

3) They go at the wrong time

IKEA in the late morning and afternoon can feel like a battlefield. This is even more so if you live in a large city. Weekends at IKEA are also a bad idea if you’re allergic to crowds.

Generally, it is best to visit IKEA as soon as it opens in the morning, or at night the hours before it closes, ideally on weekdays. You can browse at a more leisurely pace without the crowd then.

If you already have a list to hit up IKEA with, you’ll be able to get everything you need without breaking much of a sweat, or your wallet.

4) They don’t use the shortcuts

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Image: Unsplash

If you’ve been to IKEA often enough, you’d know that it’s a huge space with plenty of people, and with what seems like endless sections dedicated to the different rooms in a home, you can end up somewhere you don’t need to be.

To avoid getting lost and make your trip as efficient as possible, try to plan your route ahead of time by locating the store map at the entrance. 

All those who wander are not lost. Yet, those who are in search of specific products (it helps to get familiar with their names and get them right!) will not want to wander too far from what they seek.

5)  They unknowingly buy items that are a difficult to put together

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Image: Unsplash

Some of us may be IKEA furniture assembly masters.

However, it is likely the majority of us find assembling these pieces difficult, tedious and not all that fun.

If you’re one of the latter, did you know that IKEA also offers an assembly service? You can book the product you want online (after checking it out in the store, if needed) and add the assembly service option as you check out.

You can also get this service at the store, so all you have to do is pick it out, book your delivery and assembly service, then head home and wait.

6) They’re not picky enough

IKEA has plenty of amazing products, but it also has products that aren’t great.

While IKEA has great sofas, shelving units and home decor accessories accessories, other items like their mattresses, dressers and bath towels are more of a miss than hit.

IKEA doesn’t post review of its products on its site, but a quick search online about the time you’re interested in should pull up enough information for you to make an informed (and smarter) decision.

7) They’re not putting their heart and soul into decorating

Image: Pexels

IKEA may be a great place to get basic furniture, but your home should have more than just the basics to showcase your personal style.

This is why instead of just grabbing the first thing you see, or worse, everything that comes with a room display, it pays to pick your pieces thoughtfully with a unique look in mind. 

If hacking your IKEA to personalize your pieces is right up your alley, then you should go ahead and do that to stand out from the crowd.

Want more great ideas for decorating an IKEA-inspired home? Get a copy of our FREE Timeless Living: How To Design A Classy IKEA-Inspired Home ebook.

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Dog-proofing 101: 10 tips to build the ultimate dog-friendly home

Is your home dog-friendly enough?

If you’ve decided to adopt a pupper or simply wish to make your space more dog-friendly for your current doggo, we’ve got you.

Just like your home should make you feel comfortable, the same goes for your furry friend.

From providing endless toys to making sure your dog has a snug bed, loving your dog means creating a space where they can thrive. 

It’s all about making small adjustments that lead to big tail wags.

We’re drawn up a list of how to create a dog-friendly home. This list works no matter what breed you have (and they apply to cat homes too). 

Here are the 10 best ways to create a dog-friendly home

1. Get durable, paw-friendly floors

dog-friendly home
Image: Pexels

Cleanliness may be next to godliness, but your pets are not as concerned about keeping things spotless.

Instead of dealing with scratches on floors that will never go away, get durable hard-surface floors. 

The messes your pooch makes will also be much easier to clean up.

Having the right kind of flooring in place means choosing materials that are paw- and claw-friendly so that your dog is able to get ‘traction’ when on their feet.

Good options to consider include vinyl, bamboo, ceramic or certain tile flooring. 

Think about it: How would you feel if you fell down every time you stood up or tried to walk around?

2. Install gated partitions

Image: Pexels

As much as we love our dogs, there are always places in our homes where we’d like to keep them out.

Places like the kitchen, a room with fragile belongings, or the even the bathroom can be dangerous.

As much as we love our dogs unconditionally, they are easier to love when they have not destroyed all your toilet paper rolls.

The best and simplest way to keep your dog out of trouble would be to use pet gates like this one by Pawland.

Needless to say, the biggest benefits of these partitions is keeping your pup safe.

But before you go ahead and purchase a gate, make sure to check your dog’s height so you’re able to pick the right-sized partitions. 

It wouldn’t be much of a partition if your dog can jump over it!

3. Set up a play zone

Image: Pexels

Why not dedicate some space for your dog to play?

This may sound like overkill, but it doesn’t mean that you have to clear out an entire room for your dog to romp around in. 

This arrangement can be as simple has having a play pen where all its toys are kept. It helps create a sense of order in your home.

Training your dog to keep things in place and rewarding him with treats will also be helpful for you in the long run.

This means no more tripping over a chewed-up plush toy with all the stuffing falling out in unexpected places.

4. Consider bathtime shenanigans

If you have the resources and space, it could be helpful to set up a designated bath space.

This could be a dedicated bath tub for your dog similar to those found at the pet groomer’s.

It will save your shower from being clogged up with fur. 

However, not everyone has the luxury of space. If you do share bathing facilities opt for a sturdy drain hair catcher (handy for those of us with long hair too). 

No matter what size your dog is, regular trips to the groomers will help keep their hair tamed and make bath time and easier affair. 

5. Swap curtains for blinds

dog friendly home
Image: Pexels

Dogs can often be hyperactive and need a way to work off their energy.

If your dog lives primarily indoors, you will want to prevent that energy from destroying your curtains by replacing them with wooden bamboo blinds

To keep your blinds out of your pooch’s way, simply roll it up and there you go: Disaster averted in your dog-friendly home.

Bonus: Blinds are also a lot easier to clean compared to fabric curtains.

6. Secure your breakables

This one may sound like common sense, but amidst the chaos of everyday life, it can be easy to overlook.

First, you don’t want your dog swallowing small, valuable items like your jewellery, so keep them secure in drawers or high shelves.

Second, you don’t want your dog to knocking over delicate collectibles like ceramic vases or glass sculptures, both of which can result in costly vet visits.

Apart from the monetary aspects of this habit, remember that prevention is always better than cure.

It might be handy to keep your breakables out of reach or securing them to surfaces with tape or blue tac. Training your dog from an early age can also help prevent such accidents.

7. Simplify your dog-friendly home storage

Collars, leashes, dog medicine, outdoor dog toys, towels and the like should be kept near the entrance of your home for easy (and central) access. 

This way, you never have to think twice about where to look for something when it comes to your four-legged best friend.

Essentials like towels are helpful for wiping down your pooch if it’s been trekking in mud or cleaning up ‘accidents’ quickly so they don’t damage your floors or furniture.

Especially for accidents on your sofa and other soft furnishings, keep your eco-friendly cleaning solutions at the ready in a designated spot so you can act quickly. 

8. Have more dog beds for a dog-friendly home

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Image: Pexels

Many dogs develop a favourite spot at home.

Often they still like to move from room to room and hang out in different spaces, depending on where you are.

They lovingly become your tail. 

Have a designated space in the rooms you hang out the most in. This can be as elaborate as a dog bed or as simple as a plush carpet or mat.

This makes your dog-friendly home more fun for your fur pal with different textures and levels of comfort. 

Variety isn’t just great for humans – dogs like it too.

9. Choose the perfect dining spot

A fixed eating area and sticking to a regular time for meals is good training for your canine. 

This is helpful when you’re trying to establish a daily routine as consistency is crucial.

If you have a fast eater on your hands, try investing in a maze dog bowl like this one from Outward Hound so your dog has no choice but to eat more slowly.

To make mealtimes more comfortable, consider getting an elevated dog bowl holder. This one from Pet Zone, can be adjusted to your dog’s height.

These additions may seem small, but they can go a long way in making nourishment enjoyable, safe and comfortable for your furry best friend.

10. Buy pet-friendly furniture

When you have pets, your sofa will likely end up one of the hardest-hit victims of abuse.

Ok, Ok, we’re being dramatic – wear and tear is more like it.

We’re talking scratches, stains and stuffing being ripped out, resulting in the complete destruction of your sofa.

The general rule of thumb for preventing this kind of damage is to train your dog at an early stage. 

You can also reupholster your sofa in a pet-friendly sofa fabric that’s more tightly-woven so claws and teeth have trouble digging into it.

If the cost of reupholstery isn’t a good fit for your budget, try a removable, machine-washable sofa slipcover. They are a fraction of the cost.

We would recommend our Signature Velvet, Signature Microfibre or Care+ Tweed sofa covers for this very task. 

Not only are these couch covers scratch resistant, but they are stain-resistant and machine washable. 

To find the perfect fabric for your space and lifestyle, have our slipcover fabric samples sent right to your doorstep here:

Sofa struggles? We've got you covered.

From pet mishaps to everyday spills, our sofa covers tackle life's little messes effortlessly.

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Stuck with a stained sofa?

Stuck with a stained sofa?

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Need something for outdoors?

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Pets love your sofa too?

Pets love your sofa too?

Our pet-friendly sofa covers are tough, stylish, and easy to clean.

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Sofa doesn’t fit your space?

Sofa doesn’t fit your space?

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