How pet-friendly home interiors don't have to sacrifice style

Some pet owners are asking interior designers to give their homes a pet-friendly makeover. Photo: AFP

When furnishing a house or apartment, care must be taken to meet the needs of all its occupants. This includes pets. It's estimated that over half the people in the world own at least one pet. And this number continues to rise every year.

Two-thirds of American households will have a dog, cat or other pet by 2023, according to figures from the American Pet Products Association, quoted by Forbes. This compares with 56% in 1988.