Over the years, more and more people have begun to embrace minimalism as their way of life.
Bolstered by popular shows like Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and the advent of smaller living spaces, minimalism refers to living simply.
This means owning fewer possessions, being more purposeful and intentional with purchases, and reducing distractions.
By doing all of these, one can focus on the things that matter and do more of what they love. It won’t make you live in discomfort.
There are many benefits to leading a minimalist lifestyle and translating it into how you maintain your home. For one thing, you save more money by spending less on material things.
For another, your abode will be easier to clean since you have fewer possessions to worry about. Minimalism is also better for the environment because you only buy and consume what you need, thus reducing waste.
Additionally, since you won’t need to bring as much stuff around, becoming a minimalist allows you to live almost anywhere, even in smaller spaces. It will increase your ability to adjust everywhere.
However, pet parents may struggle to adopt the concept of minimalism in their daily lives. They love to spoil their pets, which can mean buying an endless array of products to make sure that they’re comfortable and happy.
They never want to give fewer things to their pet. Though some things are not necessary, still they want to make their pets happier by giving those things, and also it makes them satisfied.
Fortunately, it’s completely possible to live with less without compromising your pet’s comfort and contentment. That said, here’s how to create a pet-friendly minimalist home:
Assess What Your Pet Truly Needs
Dog toy baskets, dog toys, dog bowls, dog beds… how much stuff does your furry best friend really need?
When you think about it, many people spoil their pets to satisfy themselves. It’s actually our happiness to purchase something for our pets. Indeed, pets don’t need much. Their quality of life won’t be negatively affected if they don’t have another cute costume or chew toy.
When shifting to a more minimalist lifestyle, ask yourself what your pet truly needs and what they can live without. You will definitely get your solution if you think properly.
Needs will vary from pet to pet depending on their age, your current place of residence, or the lifestyle you lead, among other factors. In general, though, pet essentials will include food, a place to sleep, grooming products, comfort and exercise items, medical supplies, and supplements.
They don’t require much more than these. Before making any new purchases for your pet, take a moment to think about whether it’s something that will make a significant impact on their daily lives or it’s just making you satisfy giving the product to your pet.
Create a Space for Everything
Minimalism isn’t only about living with less; it’s also about living a purposeful life that is marked by both clarity and intent.
This means having a place for everything in your home and putting everything in its place. That includes pet items, which can easily turn into clutter if you allow things to get out of hand. So, create a place for everything. Let me help you with this.
A small enclosed basket can be an effective catch-all solution for those pet items that you tend to find all over the house, such as tennis balls, spare leashes, and old collars.
This will help you to keep your pet’s stuff in one place altogether. By limiting the amount of space assigned for your pet’s stuff, you can be more discerning about what items to keep for them and what not to keep.
It will also help you to purchase the only necessary things for your pet rather than making them spoiled.
Giving your pet a space in the home to call their own is also very important. You can do so by investing in a high-quality dog bed to discourage them from shedding all over your sofa, bed, or carpeting.
Finally, it’s a good idea to stop leaving dog food sitting in an open bag on your countertop, as this can lead to a lot of mess. Instead, start using dedicated containers for your dog’s food, as these offer a far more attractive and space-saving storage solution. Also, this will help in not being the food dam.
Consider Built-In Pet Furniture
In homes with very limited space, you’ll want to make every inch count. If you don’t have enough room for a full-sized dog crate or pet bed, built-in pet furniture may be the solution that you need.
Integrating your pet’s furniture into the interiors of your home also means not having to buy those items for them separately, all while creating a seamless and harmonious minimalist aesthetic.
You can have all kinds of pet furniture customized for your furry companion and built into your home, such as a dog crate or a pocket gate.
By doing this you can save some space in your home and on the other hand, your pet doesn’t need to compromise anything. He will definitely live happily with that built-in furniture.
Choose Durable Fabrics
Living with fewer means taking care of what you already possess so that you don’t have to replace them so often. With pets around, your fabrics and coverings likely go through a lot of wear and tear, as dogs tend to bite, scratch, and claw at them. It’s a regular thing. That’s not to mention the occasional potty accident.
To address this issue, you’ll want to look into durable pet-friendly performance fabrics that can withstand multiple washes and resist damage caused by chewing or gnawing. You can also consider using durable and long-lasting fabric coverings typically used on indoor furniture.
For rugs and carpets, look for inexpensive options made with natural fibers, as these will hold up better against dirty paws and shedding. Using these kinds of fabrics around your home leads you not to replace them so often as your pet cannot make any harm to them and they will last long.
Wrapping Up
There’s no reason why you can’t be a minimalist and a good pet parent at the same time. At the end of the day, pets don’t need much to survive. In fact, they can thrive in almost any environment as long as they receive love, care, and attention. So ultimately by purchasing an endless unnecessary product will not make your pet happy, it will not make any impact on their living, all the need is you love and care.
