How to Make Your Home Pet and Plant Friendly
Sometimes pets and plants can peacefully coexist in a home with no problems. Some pets just don’t seem to have any interest in investigating an indoor jungle. And then, on the other side, there are pets who seem to be on a mission to eat as much indoor houseplant salad as they can. It’s not healthy for pets to be munching on houseplants and some can make cats and dogs really sick.
Don’t panic, though—not all houseplants are toxic. There are many different types of plants that are perfectly safe for pets. Thanks to creative people around the world, there are tons of ideas on the internet for how to prevent pets from getting into your houseplants. So you don’t necessarily have to throw out plants if you’ve recently discovered that they’re toxic for your dog or cat.
Pet-Friendly Plant & Home Decor Ideas
Here are just a few of the different plant styling techniques you can use to keep your plants and pets safe from each other.
Hanging Planters
Hanging planters are a great way to take advantage of vertical space, get plants out of pet reach, and add style to your home. Whether you embrace macrame or minimalist metal, there are tons of hanging container styles. There are also some great wall-mounted ideas too. You could suspend a vintage wooden ladder from the ceiling or add an extra curtain rod in front of windows to hang plants from. Don’t forget to trim up the ends of particularly long plants, like pothos, so pets can’t reach them.
Cage Your Plants
Putting plants in cages doesn’t have to be as ugly as you might imagine. If you have a couple of highly toxic varieties or a few that your pets just won’t leave alone, cage them. Keep your eyes open for pretty ornate birdcages at home design stores or thrift shops. If you prefer a more modern or industrial look, create your own simple wire cages by making a globe out of two wire hanging baskets.
Plant Stands & Shelves
High bookshelves and plant stands can also be great ways to keep plants out of reach of pets. Yes, cats will often try to climb up bookshelves, but if you keep the shelves fairly full, like a whole row of books, with just enough space for a plant at the end, they’ll be less likely to give it a try. If they don’t think they can fit, they probably won’t bother.
Plant stands are a great way to elevate plants as well. Ideally, you want a stand with a surface that’s about the same size as the bottom of your plant pot, so there’s no extra space around the edge for an agile cat to balance on.
Tight Plant Groupings
We understand why the minimalist aesthetic is popular, but if you have pets, cats, in particular, you have to know that all those wide-open flat spaces are enticing for them, especially when they’re high up. Fill a surface with a dense grouping of plants, where there are no spaces for a cat to balance their paws easily; they’ll be less likely to mess with it.
Protect Plants From Wagging Tails
Anyone with a larger dog may have problems with wagging tails in the vicinity of plants. Excited pups can knock plants off of shelves or stands. Be strategic about your plant placement; keep them away from entrances where your dog is likely to greet you enthusiastically or places where they regularly play.
Give Cats Their Own Houseplants
Cats love to chew on plants, and they also seem to enjoy the sound that leaves make when they rub against them. So, why not gift your cat its own plants! Cat grass is pretty easy to grow, and it’s easier on cats’ stomachs.. Keep the plants you’ll allow them to chew on in places that your cats like to hang out, so they’re more likely to chew on those.
If you need some solutions to separate your plants and pets stylishly, stop by Mother Nature. We’ve got plenty of attractive options to help you keep both your pets and your plants safe!