Little hands and paws can wreak havoc on your home, causing premature wear-and-tear such as unremovable stains in the carpet and scratch marks on furniture. However, there are proactive measures you can take to defend against this mess and destruction. Below, we'll explore several materials and home design choices to make your house more resistant to the challenges of living with kids and pets.

Let’s begin with one of the most problematic areas: your floors. Experiencing heavy traffic day in and day out, certain flooring materials may wear much faster than others. Solution-dyed fiber carpeting is an excellent choice for families with young children or accident-prone pets. Utilizing modern technology, this method allows the carpet fiber to soak up the dye, making it highly resistant to new colors or “stains.” Available in a wide range of shades, these carpets are also free of harmful materials and chemicals, ensuring both aesthetics and the well-being of your family.

Another flooring option to consider is waterproof luxury vinyl flooring,  particularly those with stone plastic composite (SPC). Sustainable and waterproof, the stone dust core layer makes this surface denser and more durable than other vinyl planks and composite flooring options. Featuring a transparent wear layer, it offers excellent scratch and stain resistance. SPC flooring is easy to install and comes in a variety of wood and stone visuals to complement your desired design.

Next, let's turn our attention to the walls. With children using them as canvases and pets splashing muck up to the ceiling, your walls need some defensive reinforcement from time to time. Enhance your walls with the right paint choice, opting for a satin or eggshell finish. This makes the walls much easier to maintain, as messes can be wiped away quickly and easily.

For those who want to add flair while maintaining family-friendly walls, consider pet-proof wallpaper. Perfect for accent walls or enchanting entryways, modern wallpaper offers endless design potential. Crafted from safe, durable materials, it provides stronger resistance and easy clean-up. When renovating your walls, explore the wide selection of non-woven or laminated options to find a unique look you'll love.

Lastly, when selecting furniture fabrics, it's essential to choose wisely. Numerous fabrics have been developed to withstand even the most active of households. Solution-dyed acrylic fabrics, for example, are spill- and stain-proof, making them perfect for both functional and decorative throw pillows and furniture cushions. If you've already invested in furnishings, consider using slipcovers to make upkeep easier. Machine-washable and versatile, modern slipcovers can be cycled seasonally and help prolong the life of your higher-traffic furniture.

For further information on kid- and pet-friendly materials for your home, check out the accompanying resource from Floor Covering Associates.