Pet-friendly Airbnb furnishing: durable materials that survive dogs and cats

Category: Design & Furnishing

By: Brittany Simmons

Posted: 2025-12-12T04:22:11.137Z

I just turned on "pets allowed" for my 2BR in Asheville because the demand data shows pet-friendly listings get 30% more bookings. But I'm terrified about damage to my furniture and floors. What materials, fabrics, and furniture choices have held up best for those of you who accept pets? What should I absolutely avoid? And is there specific insurance that covers pet damage beyond AirCover?

Reply by David Okafor:

I've been pet-friendly across 3 properties for 2 years now. Here's what I've learned the hard way. Crypton fabric sofas are the real deal. I have IKEA KIVIKs with Crypton slip covers and after 2 years there's zero visible damage — pet hair, scratches, accidents, nothing phases them. LVP flooring if you don't already have it. A dog pees on hardwood and you're refinishing. Dog pees on LVP and you grab a paper towel. Not even a conversation. Ruggable washable rugs (https://ruggable.com) have been a lifesaver. They're $150-250 each but consider that I was replacing regular rugs every 3 months with pet guests. The Ruggables just get thrown in the wash. Metal or solid wood bed frames only — I had a dog chew through a particle board bed frame corner in one weekend. And leather/pleather accent chairs wipe clean and don't absorb odors or collect hair. Things that did NOT survive: velvet anything (hair magnet), jute rugs (cats shredded one in a single stay), light upholstered headboards (paw prints everywhere), and wicker/rattan furniture (gets chewed and scratched). For the money side: I charge a $250 non-refundable pet fee per booking. Covers the extra cleaning (pet hair removal is real work) and minor damage. For major stuff, Proper Insurance (https://properinsurance.com) explicitly covers pet damage from guests, which is huge because AirCover claims for pet damage are a nightmare. Stock a few basics: pet bowls, waste bags by the door, a lint roller in every room, and enzyme cleaner under the kitchen sink. A laminated card with pet rules doesn't hurt either. None of this costs much and guests appreciate the thought. The amenity ROI calculator at https://strspecialist.com/tools/amenity-roi-calculator can help you figure out if the pet-friendly premium covers the extra costs in your market.

Reply by Anika Sharma:

The Ruggable recommendation is spot-on. I have 6 of them across my pet-friendly property and they're game-changers. A guest's dog threw up on one last month — I pulled off the top layer, threw it in the washer, and it was back on the floor in 2 hours. Try doing that with a Pottery Barn rug. Also: **get a robot vacuum.** I leave a Roomba in a closet with a note: "Feel free to use the robot vacuum during your stay!" Pet guests LOVE this. It also means less work for my cleaner between stays. The iRobot j7+ ($400) specifically avoids pet waste. Worth every penny. One more thing: Create a "pet welcome kit" — treats, a toy, those bowls, waste bags, and a local dog park map. Gets mentioned in reviews constantly and costs maybe $10 per guest. The house manual generator at https://strspecialist.com/tools/house-manual-generator has a pet-specific section you can customize.