Pets at home: 3 Ways to create a comfortable space for the whole household

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 05/01/2022

For many pet owners, giving your pets everything they need and want is among the top desires at home. However, pets can come with several items and nuances that may seem a little encroaching from time to time. Don’t worry, they don’t have to be.

Here is a quick guide to creating a perfect sanctuary for your pets at home without compromising your comfort space.

Give them a space

Pets love having areas they can call their own. These places are often considered safe spaces, or places they can go where they’re guaranteed not to be bothered until they’re ready. However, some items, such as large pet crates, may seem like too much to deal with regularly.

Make a pet nook for their crates, pet supplies, pet food and other items they enjoy by leveraging the top surface of their crates to make tables or other surface tops. Simply add an opaque, flat surface to the top and secure the corners. Be sure your pet isn’t in the space while this is happening, as safety concerns may arise.

For those simply looking to increase their storage space with their pets, try a small cabinet or cubbies with removable cubes to keep their pet supplies in a manageable area without cluttering your normal living space.

Choose pet-friendly materials

One of the biggest complaints many pet owners have is the amount of cleanup they have to do with their furry companions around. Some may even deny their pets use of the furniture to help reduce the amount of hair that accumulates on it. However, there is an easier way.

While cleaning up after pets is a reality of pet ownership, you can make it a little easier on yourself by implementing fibers and materials that don’t allow the pet hair to weave through them.

Try faux leather, high thread count cotton, microsuede or any other material that boasts high and tight thread counts. These materials leave such small space, if any, between weaves that most animal hair won’t bind to them.

Create calm

Creating a calming environment with rich colors found in nature, soft sounds and excellent, but pet-safe, aromatics is a great way to create a sanctuary for both you and your pets. Just like humans, having a quiet and calm setting is a great way to reduce pet stress, which reduces their hyperactivity.

For those with cats, try keeping more cat-friendly houseplants that may also purify the air and add a beautiful splash of color to your home’s living space. For those with dogs, try keeping cooling mats, cots or other types of temperature-controlled bedding available for them to relax in.

Having pets at home often means making compromises to your space. However, your pets can have a sanctuary that doesn’t require you to make too many adjustments to your everyday environment. Try these simple tips first and discover how you and your furry friends can have exactly what you both want.

About the Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.