The Right Window Treatments for Pet Owners in Boston
It’s an image Boston pet owners probably know too well: leaving your home only to glance back and see your furry friend’s face looking at you as you walk away. For pet owners with certain types of window treatments, daily trips to the window could spell disaster, as pets can make for some of the worst accidental damage to your window treatments.
So what can you do to protect against pet damage? The easiest way is to choose a pet-friendly window treatment that can stand up to even the most excitable pets. We’ve rounded up some of the best (and worst) window coverings for pet owners in Massachusetts.
Window Treatments That Aren’t Pet-Friendly
We’ll start by taking a look at which window treatments homeowners with pets should not choose.
Window Coverings With Cords
Just like with children’s window safety, cords are one of the biggest issues for pet owners. Both dogs and cats are known to play with hanging cords, which might result in damage to your window covering or in some cases, injury to your pet.
Instead, choose a window treatment without cords, whether they’re shutters that fit in the window frame or other window treatments that have a top-down bottom-up configuration or are motorized.
Metal Blinds
Photo courtesy Carlos Castro via Flickr (Creative Commons).
Metal blinds are probably the absolute worst window treatment for homeowners with pets. Not only do the blinds typically operate by cord, but they’re extremely vulnerable to damage from even the most well-behaved animals. Dogs or cats peeking through aluminum blinds can bend, warp, or even snap the flimsy slats, resulting in you having to replace the whole window treatment.
Fabric Window Coverings
Fabrics might be something to stay away from, depending on your pet and the type of window treatment. Lengthy fabrics like curtains can “pool” on the ground, making them easy for dirty paws to stain. Fabric window treatments also usually end up collecting pet hair which eliminates any fashion value they might add. Lastly, fabrics can tear, something cat owners know all too well.
Top Recommendations for Pet-Friendly Window Treatments
Now that we’ve seen which window treatments don’t mix well with pets, let’s dive into the more pet-friendly window coverings.
Real Wood and Faux-Wood Blinds
Many of the problems aluminum blinds have, wood and faux-wood blinds solve for pet owners. Even if your pet wants to poke its face through the window, sturdier wood blinds can stand up to more abuse than their aluminum counterparts. Also, their usual wide slats make it harder for pets to get tangled in between them.
But, be sure that if you choose wood or faux-wood blinds that you choose ones that are cordless.
Plantation Shutters - A Pet Owner’s Best Window Treatment
If injury to your pet or damage to your window treatment is a concern, plantation shutters may minimize those worries. Because they mount directly onto the window, there are no dangling cords or fabric able to 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 keep your pets happy too. Own a pooch that wants to peek out the window as you leave? Shutters can make it easy without much risk of damage. Does your cat like to have a patch of sunlight to nap in? Simply adjust the louvers and let the light come through without compromising privacy.
Simply put, plantation shutters are the perfect window covering for homeowners with pets.
