Looking for the perfect flooring for your furry friend–and the rest of your family? We’ll discuss the most highly recommended options in this blog post.
Plus, we’ve got an exclusive discount code for you at the end of this article, so be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom!
Characteristics of Pet-Friendly Flooring
Pictured: Malaga Catalonia 8x8 Porcelain Tile
The ideal flooring for pets is:
- Sturdy and durable
- Resistant to water, scratches, and stains
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Comfortable underfoot
- Not too slippery
Of course, you’ll also want to find a flooring option that suits your interior design preferences and budget.
Quick Overview of Flooring Types
Below, find a brief overview of several flooring types and their pros and cons.
Cork
Cork is comfortable and hypoallergenic, but it can be damaged by claws.
Bamboo
Bamboo is tough enough to withstand wear and tear from your furry friends, but it’s not very comfortable for pets.
Vinyl
Vinyl is resistant to scratches and moisture. It’s also durable, easy to clean, and relatively soft underfoot.
Pictured: Powell Ell Oregon 7x48 Luxury Vinyl Plank
Linoleum
Linoleum is very similar to vinyl and shares most of its attributes, but it’s not quite as high-quality and comes at a higher price.
Laminate
Laminate can imitate the look of wood at a lower price, and it’s durable as well. However, it tends to be slippery and loud underfoot. In addition, spills can seep between planks and lead to swelling and damage.
Hardwood
Some hardwood options may be better suited to homes with pets than others. For example, an intentionally weathered-looking hardwood could be an excellent choice because any scratches or stains wouldn’t stand out. However, softer woods tend to be prone to scratches, and wood, in general, tends to be hard and slippery underfoot. Less traction typically leads to more scratches, and hardwood can also be damaged by pet urine. It can be better to choose a wood-look luxury vinyl tile or wood-look porcelain tile instead.
Tile
Tile is very durable and resistant to damage. It doesn’t snag like carpet or scratch like hardwood, and it’s easy to clean. It comes in a wide variety of shapes, colors, sizes, and designs, but it can be cold and hard for pets.
Pictured: Marrakech Modern 8x8 Porcelain Tile
Carpet
Pets tend to love how soft and comfortable carpet is, and it offers plenty of traction so they won’t slip. However, carpet is extremely difficult to clean thoroughly. It holds on to dust, dirt, and dander, so if you or your pets are prone to allergies, it may not be a good option for you. Carpet can be ripped by pet claws and stained by accidents as well.
Top Pet-Friendly Flooring Types: Tile and Luxury Vinyl
As you may have guessed based on the overview above, the best options for pet-friendly flooring are tile and luxury vinyl. Read on to explore each of these flooring materials in greater detail.
Tile
Pictured: Mystic Beige Matte 12x24 Porcelain Tile
There are plenty of advantages to choosing tile for homes with cats or dogs:
- It’s low-maintenance and easy to clean (just sweep, vacuum, and mop as needed)
- It’s resistant to water, scratches, and stains
- It’s sturdy and durable, especially when it’s installed properly with high-quality grout and underlayment
- It comes in nearly unlimited design options and can imitate the look of other materials, like hardwood and natural stone
- It’s available at a range of price points to suit any budget
- Its grout lines provide plenty of traction, and you can also select tiles with texture for additional grip
- It doesn’t retain allergens like carpet and thus can reduce allergies
- It’s compatible with radiant floor heating systems
- It’s refreshingly cool in warmer climates and during the hotter months of the year
- It doesn’t hold on to odors
- It’s not prone to discoloration
- It can be installed by a DIYer or professional
- It can increase the value of your home (especially in the case of natural stone)
Pictured: Flamen Blanco 12x24 Porcelain Tile
The drawbacks of tile are that it can be slippery, cold, and hard underfoot. We recommend choosing smaller tiles with thicker grout lines to ensure there’s plenty of traction. Meanwhile, underfloor heating or rugs and pet beds can make the tile’s surface more comfortable.
In general, we recommend porcelain and ceramic tile for homes with pets. Natural stone can also be a suitable choice, but it requires more upkeep and can be porous, which may spell trouble when spills and accidents occur. Travertine and marble tend to be softer than quartzite and granite, so consider the hardness of each natural stone type when making your selection.
Pictured: Henley 2” Hexagon Multi-Finish Marble Mosaic
Regardless of the type of natural stone you choose, it will need to be resealed on a regular basis to maintain its quality and ensure it can stand up to daily wear and tear. You can learn more about how to clean and maintain your tile in this article.
It’s important to note that glass tile isn’t recommended. Glass tile isn’t suitable for use on floors in general, although it makes for beautiful and easy-to-clean backsplashes and accent walls.
Luxury Vinyl
Pictured: Fume Maple 7x48 Luxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury vinyl has many of the same benefits as porcelain and ceramic tile:
- Its surface can accurately replicate the look and feel of hardwood and natural stone
- It comes in a variety of design options
- It’s softer and warmer underfoot than most other flooring options (including tile)
- It pairs well with underfloor heating systems
- It’s cost-effective and budget-friendly, often contributing to a high ROI
- It can be installed by DIYers in most cases and can sometimes be installed on top of existing flooring
- It’s low-maintenance, easy to clean, and simple to repair
- It’s durable and suitable for high-traffic areas and active households
- It’s resistant to stains, scuffs, scratches, moisture, and dents
- Many luxury vinyl options feature antimicrobial protection to prevent mildew, mold, and bacteria growth
- It’s quiet underfoot and can be paired with special pads to further dampen noise
LVT is often named as one of the best flooring options for homeowners with children and pets due to its durability and resistance to damage.
Find the Perfect Floor for Your Pets at Tilezz.com!
Pictured: Iris Off-White 7x48 Luxury Vinyl Plank
Whether you’re gravitating toward tile or luxury vinyl, the selection at Tilezz.com is sure to provide you with the perfect flooring option.
Check out our full product range here, or visit our blog for interior design inspiration and DIY installation tips and tricks.
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Exclusive Discount Code
It can be challenging to pick between several flooring options without seeing how they look in your space, but we can make it easier! Just use code XJF6RNZY5BJJ to get 30% off when you purchase four or more samples.
Please note that this code does not apply to full-size tiles and can only be used with samples.
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