Curtains vs Blinds: How to Make Your Window Treatments More Pet-Friendly?

Most pet owners are told the choice is between a designed home and a happy pet, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Both curtains and blinds carry trade-offs in a household with animals. From the selection of fabrics to the way that they’re installed, there are many ways to make your window treatments pet-friendly.

Let’s explore some of the pros and cons of curtains vs blinds and some of the ways you can use these window treatments to style your home whilst also making it a comfortable place for yourself and your fur baby.

Curtains for Pet Households

While pet owners might automatically think that curtains are not a great window treatment due to the level of maintenance needed, that is not always the case.

Pros

• Sound Insulation: A heavy or mid-weight curtain absorbs the corridor footsteps and stairwell echoes that can set off barking. The denser the weave, the more outside sound it dampens.
• Cord-Free Safety: A curtain runs on a track with no dangling cords. This removes any risk of your pets getting strangled in pull cords.
• Soft Surface for Pets: When a pet runs through the room and clips the fabric, nothing snaps or warps. The curtain simply absorbs the contact and resettles.

Cons

• Fur and Dander Collection: Fabric can be prone to capturing hair and dander. It will need regular vacuuming or washing to prevent excessive build-up of pet fur. However, there are modern pet-friendly fabric options available that can prevent this.
• The Ladder Effect: Loosely woven fabrics give cats something to climb. Pets may also see the texture of curtains as an attractive surface to scratch, leading to unsightly torn fabric or frayed edges.

Blinds for Pet Households

Blinds are a common recommendation when people ask how to create a pet-friendly home, but they’re not a perfect solution. It’s important to know the pros and cons of this window treatment as a pet owner before you choose it.

Pros

• Better Ventilation: Slats can be tilted to allow airflow while allowing for privacy and shade. For a pet that sits at the window during the day, this can be a great option to allow them to sunbathe whilst maintaining privacy.
• Easy to Clean: Blinds with smooth slats are easy to clean and just need a simple wipe down with a cloth. Pet marks like nose prints, splashes or smudges can come off in a single pass.

Cons

• Structural Vulnerability: A horizontal slat bent or snapped by a curious pet will typically mean you have to replace the entire blind.
• Entanglement Risk: Blinds with pull cords can be a hazard for pets. They can be caught in them during play and can even be a potential strangulation hazard.
• Can Be Noisy: Wood and metal blinds can make a clattering sound when coming in contact with a window or surface when a pet brushes or swipes against them. For skittish animals, the sound may also be a source of stress.

Strategies for a Pet-Friendly and Stylish Window Treatment

While there are pros and cons in the argument between curtains vs blinds for a pet-friendly home, none of them should be deal-breakers for pet owners. Explore these strategies to address the cons of each window treatment.

Opt for a Performance Fabric

What is pet-friendly fabric exactly? It is fabric for curtains specified for density, snag resistance and to be cleaned regularly without becoming wrinkled or tired. For pet-friendly fabric curtains, avoid delicate silks or loose linens and look for high-GSM synthetic blends with a weave that is dense enough that claws do not penetrate, and the fabric holds up to repeated vacuuming.

Float the Curtain Above the Floor

For pet owners, we recommend a float length that finishes the curtain about one centimetre above the floor. By doing so, the hem of the curtain will be high enough that it will not collect fur or become a drag on your pet’s paws.

Use Motorised Tracks

If you are using curtains or blinds, you can always opt for a motorised version to remove the pull cord and the risk of entanglement for your pets. Plus, you have the added benefit of operating your curtain or blind from a wall switch, app or incorporating it in a smart-home routine. Handy and pet-friendly.

Pet-Friendly Window Treatments at Aratamete

Window treatments are one of the most important things to consider in a pet-friendly home. If you are debating between curtains vs blinds as a pet owner, know that the material or fabric, length and operation of your window treatments are all decisions that can be made with your pet in mind from the start.

Explore Aratamete’s tailored curtains and motorised blinds today to find the best options to fit the aesthetic of your space and make it a comfortable space for your pet.