Decking the halls shouldn’t mean destroying your floors
Holiday decorating is a precarious balancing act for pet owners. Decorate one way and your home becomes less festive, but go too far the other direction and your beautiful new rugs become chew toys, scratching posts or worse… bathrooms.
Here’s the good news:
Finding the right holiday rug for a pet-friendly home has never been easier. The best materials, features and color patterns all exist to fit your unique needs and allow you to deck the halls with as much flair as you desire.
The result is an indoor space that can take muddy paws, a couple accidents, and general chaos, while still looking stylish enough to wow holiday guests.
What’s Inside:
- Why Pet Owners Need Special Rugs
- The Best Materials for Pet-Friendly Holiday Rugs
- Holiday Rugs: Essential Features
- Patterns and Colors That Hide Pet Hair
- Indoor/Outdoor Rugs: The Secret Weapon
- Maintenance Tips for the Holiday Season
- Rug Placement Strategies
- The Bottom Line
Why Pet Owners Need Special Rugs
Don’t believe the numbers? Look at the evidence. According to the Insurance Institute, approximately 71% of U.S. households have a pet. That’s nearly 94 million homes with pets in them.
And here’s the thing…
The majority of those pets want to be included in the fun of the holidays. The American Pet Products Association found that 55% of pet owners buy gifts for their pets during the holidays. This means pets are center stage during the most heavily decorated time of the year.
Traditional rugs simply do not have what it takes to meet the needs of a pet household. They stain easily, trap odors, and show every scratch mark. When holiday decorating for pet owners becomes a decorating priority, the choice of rug becomes more important than nearly any other decision. Fortunately, pet-inclusive decorating no longer requires sacrificing style to meet the functional needs of pets.
The Best Materials for Pet-Friendly Holiday Rugs
No rug material is made equal. Some are made to withstand the rigors of pet ownership, while others will fall apart after the first accident.
Here’s what works:
Polypropylene
Arguably the best synthetic material for pets, polypropylene resists stains, handles moisture better than most materials, and is easier to clean. Polypropylene rugs are often less expensive than natural fiber options.
The best part? They are available in a wide variety of holiday colors and patterns.
Nylon
One of the most durable fibers, nylon rugs resist moisture and hold up to heavy foot traffic. Pets running, playing, and lounging all over the house during the holiday season will not put a dent in the durability of nylon.
Nylon also does a better job of resisting pet hair accumulation than many other materials.
Wool
A surprisingly pet-friendly option, wool’s natural fibers are flexible and moisture resistant. Wool rugs don’t lose shape when wet and naturally repel stains.
They do require more maintenance than synthetic options.
Materials to avoid:
- Jute and sisal: Absorb moisture and stains quickly
- Silk: Too delicate for pet households
- Shag rugs: Fur, dirt, and debris become trapped deep in the fibers
Key Features to Look For
Certain rug features are a must-have when shopping for a holiday rug that can survive your pets.
Low Pile Height
Vacuuming a low pile rug is easier and they don’t trap pet hair nearly as much. High pile rugs look fancy but can become a nightmare to clean in pet households.
The real key? Every time your pet walks across a high pile rug, loose fur gets stuck deep in the fibers. Pulling that out before your holiday guests arrive is near impossible.
Stain Resistance
Rugs with built-in stain-resistant treatment are a life-saver. These specially treated rugs have an invisible coating that prevents liquids from soaking into the rug fibers immediately.
This gives pet owners some valuable extra time to clean up accidents before permanent damage occurs.
Machine Washable Options
Machine washable rugs have revolutionized the pet-friendly rug market. Pet parents no longer need to sacrifice visual appeal in order to get durability and easy cleaning.
Modern washable rugs come in a stunning variety of holiday designs. They are also capable of handling repeated washing cycles without losing their shape or color.
Non-Slip Backing
Pets are naturally clumsy. Running, sliding, and sudden stops are all part of everyday life with dogs and cats. A rug that slides across the floor is annoying and potentially dangerous.
Non-slip backing or a high-quality rug pad will keep everything firmly in place.
Patterns and Colors That Hide Pet Hair
Okay, let’s just accept it…
Pet hair will end up on your holiday rug no matter how many precautions you take. Your best option is to choose patterns and colors that camouflage the problem.
Best colors:
- Dark colors like deep red, forest green, and navy
- Multi-colored patterns that break up visual continuity
- Colors that match the fur of your pet
Pattern tips:
Busy patterns with lots of visual movement hide small imperfections, stains, and pet hair better than solid colors. A tiny stain on a solid-color rug is impossible to miss. The same stain on a busy pattern is virtually invisible.
Consider holiday-themed patterns that feature multiple colors woven throughout. Traditional holiday designs accomplish two things at once: set the festive atmosphere and help with pet hair concealment.
Indoor/Outdoor Rugs: The Secret Weapon
Here’s one many pet owners don’t think about…
Indoor/outdoor rugs are the secret weapon for pet-friendly holiday decorations. Designed to take the abuse of patio and deck furniture, these rugs are weather resistant.
If they can stand up to rain, sun, and constant foot traffic outside your home, they can certainly take it inside.
Indoor/outdoor rugs typically feature:
- Water-resistant materials
- Fade-resistant colors
- Easy spot cleaning
- Durable construction
Holiday color availability in the outdoor rug collections has exploded in recent years. Finding reds, greens, and golds that work for your holiday theme is not a problem anymore.
Maintenance Tips for the Holiday Season
Even the most pet-proof rug still needs a bit of maintenance to look fresh all through the holiday season.
Daily habits:
Vacuum high-traffic areas daily during the holidays. Doing so prevents pet hair accumulation and removes dirt before it gets ground into the rug fibers. A quick, daily maintenance is far easier than a deep cleaning session once a week.
Spot cleaning tips:
When accidents happen (and they will), speed is key to prevention. Blot immediately with a clean cloth. Do not rub, as this forces the liquid deeper into the rug fibers.
Pet-safe cleaning solutions should be at the ready during the holidays.
Deep cleaning schedule:
Plan for one deep cleaning session between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. This refreshes the rug before the busiest days of the year and also helps ensure everything looks its best.
Machine washable rugs are done in just a few hours. Traditional rugs may need a professional cleaning or carpet shampooing treatment.
Rug Placement Strategies
The placement of your rug can be almost as important as the type of rug you choose. Strategic placement keeps pet-related damage to a minimum and holiday impact at a maximum.
Put rugs as far from food and water bowls as possible. This reduces the chance of spills and moisture damage. Entry points where muddy paws first enter the house should have durable, easily cleaned rugs rather than delicate holiday prints.
Statement holiday rugs should be placed in areas with less pet traffic. Living rooms and dining rooms where guests gather are the perfect spots for showcasing them.
The Bottom Line
Pet owners no longer need to sacrifice style to find the right holiday rug. The rug market has changed dramatically in recent years to meet the needs of the millions of pet owners around the country.
Focus on durable materials like polypropylene, nylon, and wool, with key features like stain resistance, low pile height, and machine washability. Look for patterns and colors that hide pet hair but still feel festive.
Holiday decorating should be enjoyed with the whole family, furry members included. The right rug makes that possible without having to worry constantly about accidents, scratches, or embedded pet hair.
Don’t wait until the holiday rush to start shopping. Measure your spaces, consider your traffic patterns, and choose rugs that work for both your holiday celebration and four-legged family members who make every day more interesting.