Make Home Decor Safe for Pets

Many times people do not realize how dangerous home decor items can be for pets. Especially for first time pet owners, “fur-baby” proofing your home is a must! From common household items, to decorative plants, there are many dangers that lay in wait for our fur babies. With a little ingenuity and thought you can change a potential hazard into safe home decor.

1. When picking a colorful bouquet to display in your favorite glass vase, be wary of the particular blooms you choose if you have pets. Lilies, tulips and azaleas are all toxic for cats and dogs. Lilies cause kidney damage and are especially dangerous to cats. Tulip’s bulbs in particular can cause cardiac issues and convulsions. Azaleas can weaken the central nervous system and result in coma or even death.

2.Common house plants can also be dangerous. Be careful of holly bushes or mistletoe when decorating for the holidays, as the berries are extremely poisonous and the first thing a fur baby will try to chew on! Holiday Poinsettias and Philodendrons, very common and popular houseplants are toxic in their entirety. Be very careful with Monkshod, which is so poisonous that even lapping up the water it sits in can cause disruption in fur babies’ nerve impulses and death. Also, aloe vera plants are extremely dangerous if your fur baby decides to nibble on it. For a full list of household plants or common flowers that are dangerous to pets, check out the ASPCA webpage. They also list human foods that pets should not consume, surprising items are on the list like potato and apple seeds, so check it out!

3. Jewelry can play a big part in decor, especially in bedrooms, dressing rooms or bathrooms. And with the newest trend being hanging displays for dangling earrings, necklaces or hair accessories. Be careful how you choose to display your jewelry. Do not leave small earrings or hair bands lying around in an open dish or dangling from the cute display you found at Pier 1. These can easily be knocked over and seen as something fun to chew on by your pet. A great way to keep your coveted jewelry display and still be pet friendly is to pick either a wall mounted display, or put your display up on a floating ledge/shelf - somewhere it is not accessible by mischievous pets.

4. Holiday decor can be tricky when it comes to a safe home. Adding these elements for a short period of time may not raise any warning flags, but if a pet gets a hold of a plastic spider or some tinsel, it could be disastrous. Glass ornaments can be an eye catching potential toy that with one nudge, can shatter and become hazardous. If you have beautiful glass ornaments, don’t fret! Layer them in an oversized glass vase and create a beautiful display, rather than leaving them as hanging temptations. Unfortunately, the one item that you will have to forego is that tinsel (unless in a cloche)! Instead, to achieve an extra glitter on your tree, try using strings of faux jagged glass, similar to a “rock candy” look, to catch and reflect the twinkling lights. Make them out of real rock candy, and you don’t have to worry about glass shattering if they fall, just a pet on a sugar high!

5. Be careful of what you select as a vase filler. Although small beads and glass stones mimicking diamonds can be gorgeous vase fillers, some mischievous pets could see them as a snack. Cats will begin a new hobby of "fishing" in the vase for stones and dogs may knock them off the shelf and chomp them down! Instead of using small items, think outside the box. Faux fruit, oversized seashells, even wine corks, can all be great pet safe alternatives to fillers that can be a choking hazard.
Keep an eye out for potential hazards and you will ensure your fur babies safety. By utilizing some creative techniques with your home decor, you can have a beautiful home and your fur baby too!