A few passing clouds. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph..

A few passing clouds. Low 59F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

Home is where your heart is, and one of the greatest joys that fill their heart in life for many people is having children. And for many more people, their pets are like their children, bringing laughter, play, and joy to the household. While there are many joys to the adventure of having furbabies, one downside is the smell and messes. When you care about the aesthetic of your home and want to keep your pets happy, healthy, and at the top of their game, you might give in to your house just smelling like a dog or your sofa being scratched by your cat. However, this doesn't have to be the case. You can keep your home picture-perfect, clean, and happy for all family members - furry and human. Keep reading for easy ways to keep your house beautiful, no matter who lives there.

One of the best ways to keep your home aesthetically pleasing and pet-friendly is to invest in essential items for your pet that can be kept out of your primary line of sight. It's easy to tuck a litter box away in a basement, but unless you're organized enough always to know when to change cat litter, the box can quickly become unhealthy for your cat and unpleasant for your nostrils. By installing a hideaway litter box, your feline friend can have a restroom invisible to the untrained eye but central enough for you to stay on top of. These days you can buy litter boxes built into large planters, double as an end table or look like a cube storage unit. The sky's the limit if you're comfortable with DIY. 

Additionally, you can find hideaway dog crates too. Crating your dogs is the opposite of inhumane, as some may believe. When you crate train your dog correctly, they will look to their crate as a safe place of refuse - never use the crate as punishment. You can purchase crates that double as coffee tables and end tables, and some people even beautifully hide dog crates in their kitchen islands. The best time to have a dog crate built in is when you're already doing renovations. 

Another common complaint of pet owners is that their home smells like a dog. While cats are less likely to leave an offending odor lingering through your home, dogs can and do so often. Essential oils not only offer health benefits to those that diffuse them, but they can quickly mask smells from a wet dog or even accidents that young puppies leave behind. If you own cats, essential oils are on the "no" list as they harm cats. No matter the breed, dogs are not bothered by oils at all. Find a scent you enjoy and install diffusers strategically throughout your home. They're not toxic like cheaper, chemical-laden odor control methods. While reed diffusers are beautiful, they're typically not strong enough for pet odors. Want to knock out a headache and the wet dog smell? Diffuse oils like peppermint, Geranium, and Eucalyptus. When getting ready for bed? Try lavender while you do your nighttime skin routine. 

While some people still prefer carpeting for its soft touch, not to mention how quiet they are to walk on, many people these days opt for hardwood floors. They're classic, beautiful, and, more importantly - easy to clean. If you don't already have hardwood but are looking to update your home and you have pets, consider having them installed. Nothing is as easy as hardwood when cleaning up messes and stains from muddy paws. Of course, as a pet owner, you likely know you need to clean more often than your non-pet-owning counterparts, but that's a small price to pay for cuddles and kisses from your Papillion.

Speaking of keeping things clean, just like having a human child, sometimes it takes a village when it comes to your pets - specifically cleaning up after them. Investing in a house cleaning service is a game-changer for those who genuinely want no trace of hair or scent left behind by their pups. You may already have someone who comes in weekly or twice a month to do the heavy lifting like baseboards and your oven, but having a regular cleaning person makes a difference in eliminating pet smells. Of course, this may not be as big of an issue for you if you've got a low-shedding breed like a Sphynx cat, Afghan Hound, or Chinese Crested!

In the same way that parents of toddlers or young children need washable fabrics in their home, so do pet owners. You may think that it's hard to find a stylish or classy couch that you can remove the covers to wash, but that's not the case. Going with washable fabrics throughout your home can stay on top of the cleaning game to keep everything looking and smelling fresh. Extra laundry is a small price to pay when you gaze into your perfect Pug's eyes. While it's tempting to douse everything in an odor-removing spray, check the ingredients beforehand - most sprays that promise to remove smells are laced with chemicals you wouldn't want to inhale, let alone small animals or your children.

They say the devil is in the details, so the same way you keep yourself groomed and put together, invest in the same for Fido. By booking regular appointments with a groomer, your dog will look and feel its best. Grooming cuts down on smells, reduces shedding, and keeps their nails trimmed, making it unlikely to damage your home. If you have breeds that require a lot of TLC, like English Bulldogs or Poodles, you're likely already at the groomer a couple of times a month, but all breeds benefit from consistent spa days.

Having a dog is worth all the money and hard work to keep them, yourself, and your home happy. Little investments here and there can create a pet/life balance to ensure your home is still beautiful and your place of serenity and comfort. Now, snuggle your furbabies!

Your comment has been submitted.

There was a problem reporting this.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.