A blue plastic bed in the middle of a living room in linen and pale wood: many owners live with it. Yet a dog's things can find their place in the room, just like an armchair or a lamp. Here is how, item by item.
Start from the room where they live
Look at your living room as it is: the dominant colours, the materials, the style of the furniture. Your dog's things should follow these choices. An interior in warm tones welcomes a beige, a taupe or an olive green. A lighter, more mineral interior goes with a cloud grey or an ecru.
Choose two colours at most for everything to do with the dog: bed, blanket, bowls, lead hung in the entrance. This consistency is enough to make the whole thing discreet.
The bed, the dog's first piece of furniture
It is the biggest item, so the one that shows most. Three criteria help you choose well.
The material
Upholstery fabrics, such as corduroy or bouclé, pair with a sofa or armchair. They also have a practical advantage: a fabric with a tight weave resists the rubbing of claws better. To compare the two, read our guide to corduroy or bouclé.
The shape
A round bed with high sides softens a corner of the room. A rectangular mattress slides in at the foot of a sofa or along a wall. A dog sofa takes up the codes of a small piece of furniture, with a backrest and armrests. In a bedroom, a low mattress at the foot of the bed stays discreet and keeps the dog near you at night.
The care
A beautiful bed stays beautiful if it can be washed. A zipped cover that goes in the machine lets you choose a light fabric without worry. Our dog beds and cushions have a removable cover, washable at 30 °C.
Placing the bed well
A well-placed bed blends into the room. It finds its place along a wall, in a corner or near the sofa, where you live. Avoid the middle of a busy route: it draws the eye there, and the dog is disturbed. To choose the spot according to quiet, warmth and light, our guide to where to put your dog's bed goes through the question.
A simple trick: treat the bed like a piece of furniture. A rug underneath, a plant beside it, a picture above, and it becomes part of the room's composition.
Blankets, to protect and dress
If your dog gets on the sofa, a blanket laid on their spot protects the seat from hair and paws. Choose it as you would a blanket for yourself, in a material and colour that go with the sofa. It folds away when guests arrive.
Our alpaca and wool blankets are designed in Estonia and made in Peru. Dry cleaning is advised: keep them for the sofa, and have a washable blanket for muddy returns from walks.
A blanket also changes with the seasons: a lighter fabric in summer, a thicker wool in winter. It is a simple way to refresh the room without changing furniture.
Storing the rest
- Toys: a wicker, felt or seagrass basket on the floor. The dog quickly learns where to find them, and you tidy them away in a minute in the evening.
- Leads and harnesses: two hooks in the entrance, next to your coats. Leather or rope leads, in neutral tones, stay pleasant to look at every day.
- Bowls: a tray or a small mat underneath marks out the feeding corner and protects the floor. Ceramic, stoneware or brushed stainless steel go with most kitchens.
- Kibble: an airtight jar or a metal tin replaces the open bag.
- The paw towel: a hook near the door, with a linen or cotton towel in your colours. It stays within reach without lying on a chair.
Mistakes to avoid
- Choosing the bed from a photo alone, without checking the size: too small, it stays empty and the dog sleeps beside it.
- Multiplying objects: one bed per living area is generally enough.
- Forgetting comfort in favour of style: a beautiful bed that the dog never lies in is useless.
In short
- Limit yourself to two colours for the dog's things, taken from your interior.
- Choose a bed in upholstery fabric, with a washable cover.
- Place it against a wall or in a corner, away from busy routes.
- A blanket matched to the sofa protects the seat and folds away in one move.
- Give toys, leads and bowls a fixed place.