The Right Window Coverings for Pet Owners in Bluff City
It’s a scenario pet owners in Bluff City are all too familiar with: leaving your home only to glance behind and see your four-legged friend’s face in the window as you walk away. For pet owners with certain window treatments, frequent trips to the window could spell disaster, as dogs and cats can cause some of the worst harm to your window treatments.
So how do you protect against pet damage? The easiest way is to install a pet-friendly window covering that can handle even the most finicky pets. Here are some of the best (and worst) window treatments for pet owners across TN.
Window Coverings That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
We’ll start by taking a look at which window treatments pet owners shouldn’t have in the home.
Window Coverings With Cords
Similar to window safety for children, cords are one of the biggest issues for pet owners. Both dogs and cats are known to play with dangling cords, which can result in damage to your window covering or worse, injury to your pet.
Opt instead for window treatments without cords, whether they’re shutters that attach to the window frame or other window coverings that feature a bottom-up top-down configuration or are motorized.
Metal Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Metal blinds are probably the absolute worst window treatment for homes with pets. Not only do the blinds typically operate via cord, but they’re extremely vulnerable to damage from even the most well-behaved pets. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can warp, bend, or even snap the flimsy slats, resulting in you having to replace the entire window treatment.
Fabric Window Coverings
Fabrics may be something to avoid, depending on your pet and the style of window treatment. Long fabrics like drapes can “puddle” on the floor, making them easy for dirty paws to stomp on. Fabric window coverings also tend to collect pet hair which eliminates any fashion value they might add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, which means trouble for cat owners.
Our Recommended Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that you’ve seen which window treatments don’t mix well with pets, we’ll dive into the more pet-friendly window treatments.
Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Almost all of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds solve for pet owners. No matter if your pet wants to peek through the window, resilient wood blinds can handle more abuse than their aluminum counterparts. In addition, their typical wide slats make it harder for pets to get their bodies tangled in them.
But, make sure that if you choose wood or faux-wood blinds that you go with ones without cords.
Plantation Shutters - A Pet Owner’s Best Window Treatment
If you’re concerned about damage to your window treatments or injury to your pet caused by window treatments, plantation shutters can help assuage those concerns. Since they mount directly into the window frame, there are no hanging cords or fabric that may cause trouble. What’s more, even if your pet is able to reach them, Polywood® plantation shutters are scratch resistant and incredibly durable so damage is rarely a concern.
Plantation shutters can help keep pets happy too. Does your dog want to peek out the window as you head out? Shutters can make it easy without much risk of damage. Does the cat like to have a patch of sunlight to nap in? Simply adjust the louvers and let the light come through without giving up your privacy.
In short, plantation shutters are the most ideal window covering for homeowners with pets.
