7 tips to help you choose pet-friendly blinds

Style Specialist

Written: 12/03/2025

Edited by Ellie Thornton

Content Executive

Our pets are a part of the family, and our home is their home. While we love them, it’s no secret that they can cause some destruction and mess in the house. They run around, play, perch where they like, and sleep wherever they choose.

According to a Hillarys survey, 76% of pet owners prioritise their furry friends’ safety and comfort when planning their homes. That includes choosing the right window dressing to create the best environment for their little companion to thrive.

In this article, we'll explore the best window treatments that cater to your pets' needs while offering practical advice on keeping your home stylish.

Close up of a wide window dessed in mid wood venetian blinds lowered, slats open, a large brown dog looks through the slats at the trees outside.

1. Understanding your pet's needs

When choosing window dressings for a home with pets, it's important to consider their habits and behaviours near your windows.

As any cat lover knows, our feline friends love to lounge on windowsills. That’s why it’s important to have blinds that leave the space clear and safe from curious paws and claws. Perfect Fit blinds are a wonderful choice for uPVC windows. They simply clip into place for a practical way to control the light and provide privacy. Not only do they maximise the space on the sill, but they also do away with the need for control cords - an additional safety benefit.

Dogs often like to keep an eye on the world outside. To give them a clear view, while still maintaining your privacy, Vertical blinds and Venetian blinds are great choices as they can be easily tilted.

White hallway with tall window dressed in white shutters, closed, slats open with sunbeam near top, a small black cat sits on the window sill, wooden door to right, large thin-leaved plant to left.

2. Durable materials for active pets

Pets can be a bit rough on window dressings, so durability is key. Cats enjoy stretching and scratching on our soft furnishings rather than using their own toys, much to their owner’s frustration! If it’s difficult to train this behaviour out of them, you might want to proceed with caution if you’re choosing curtains, especially ones that reach the floor as they can be a tempting scratchpost.

Opt for smooth textures that aren’t as tempting to naughty pets and can better withstand the mischief of cats and dogs. Faux wood is a great choice for offering the classic wooden look at your windows while being less likely to attract claws.

3. Safety First

Safety is one of the most crucial considerations when it comes to choosing the right window dressings for a home with animals, especially those that tend to chew everything in sight! Make sure you tidy cords away using cleats or hooks.

An electric blind is a convenient solution to reduce any risks or worries about your pet’s safety. You can adjust, open and close your blinds using a simple remote or with a wall switch. This gets rid of the need for control cords that could be fun to play with or chew on.

Electric blinds are smart compatible too - at Hillarys we offer a Somfy hub which will allow you to operate your blinds with an app, or even by voice control in combination with your smart home assistant. You can also set up timers for your blinds to automatically open and close throughout the day.

Explore electric blinds

My electric blinds have been a game changer for my dog’s comfort. Not only do they provide temperature control, but they also prevent him from barking at his own reflection when the blinds are down.
David O’Brien, Interior Designer

White living room with French doors dressed in dark grey duette blinds, left hand three quarters lowered and door open, right hand lowered halfway and door closed, a cat slinks in the gap to enter the room with a saffron yellow sofa with a green cushion, blue cushion and cream cushion with dark grey semic circular pattern, orange poufee with cup and book.

4. Easy access

Your pets need to easily get outside, whether to go to the toilet or just for a run around. We have solutions so you can keep your back door open during the warm summer months and don’t have to worry about getting up to let your furry companions outside.

Vertical blinds are an excellent choice for doors as the slats can be easily adjusted and stacked to the side of the door for easy access. INTU® Micro blinds are specially made for bi-fold doors, too. They’re super sleek and slim to make sure there’s no obstruction to your doors when they’re open so your pets won’t knock or catch the blinds on their way out.

5. Seasonal considerations

As seasons change, so does your home. Keep your pets comfortable with practical window solutions like our Duette® and Thermashade™ blinds. Their innovative honeycomb fabric regulates room temperature, trapping air to keep it cool in summer and warm in winter.

In winter, consider a thermal-lined blind, or even layering up with thermal-lined curtains. They provide excellent insulation to keep your home warm, and your pets can snuggle up.

In the hot summer afternoons, you should close your blinds to keep out some of the heat. For extra convenience, pair your blinds with a Somfy Smart Hub to set timers or control them remotely. Your pets will thank you for it when it's getting too hot!

Close up of a window dressed in pale venetian blinds, closed with slats open and a long-haired ginger cat sits on the window sill looking out.

6. Easy maintenance and cleaning

Pets can be a bit messy, whether it’s their muddy paws or a wet noses sniffing every nook and cranny for a treat. Low-maintenance window dressings are the practical choice here. Look for blinds with smooth surfaces that are easy to clean and don't trap pet hair. PVC Vertical and faux wood Venetian blinds are ideal for areas where pets might track in mud or water, as they can be quickly wiped down.

Mid grey bedroom with window dressed in grey-brown Roman blind, raised, bed with white bedding and dark grey waffle cushion and throw, a dog sits on the bed looking out the window.

7. Aesthetic considerations

Practicality should be your priority when choosing pet-friendly blinds, but that doesn’t mean compromising on style. 48% of pet owners agree that owning a pet has influenced the way they design their homes.

Patterned Roman or Roller blind designs can help disguise fur, and they’ll tolerate the odd dirty mark. If you prefer a plain design, opt for a neutral shade that’s similar in tone to your pet. We have plenty of colours to choose from, there’s something for every animal.

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