A home with outdoor space comes with perks. There’s room to entertain, plant a garden, and for so many animal lovers, there is space for your furry friends to play. So, give your four-legged buddies a yard the whole family can enjoy.

Adding a few pet-tested furniture pieces and dog-friendly plants can go a long way to create a stylish and welcoming space for friends, family, and even fur babies. It's as easy as defining how you use your space and finding pieces that support that exterior design. Here’s how to get started:

Once you decide how your family can best use your outdoor space. It’s time to choose the right outdoor fabric and frame option. For pets, we strongly recommend a performance fabric.

Pet-Friendly Fabric Materials:

Acrylic fiber patio cushions from brands like Sunbrella® and Outdura™ are stain-resistant. They’re also bleach cleanable, fade-proof, and resistant to mold and mildew. Assuming you let your pets relax with you on your outdoor furniture, you’ll have nothing to worry about when you upgrade to an acrylic fiber outdoor cushion. So bring on the dirty paws, those drool-covered chew toys, and even nails in need of a trim. An outdoor performance fabric can handle a little roughhousing and shedding season with no problems. They’ll even survive the occasional (or frequent) “accident.” But what about the furniture frame? We’re glad you asked.

Helpful Link: Need some outdoor fabric maintenance help? Click here to learn more.

Pet-Friendly Frame Materials:

A well-trained pet can enjoy any frame material, but if your good boy or girl tends to dip a paw into the dark side, we advise sticking to cast aluminum or aluminum. Depending on the size of your dog, a polymer frame may also be an excellent option. These materials are hardy and easy to maintain. Even if your furry angel manages to damage the finish, our Backyard Specialists and customer support can help. They can request touch-up paint from the manufacturer to get your patio furniture looking as good as new. You also have the option to spring for some additional protection. Purchase a Guardsman Outdoor Furniture Protection Plan with your patio furniture set, and Guardsman will cover your furniture against pet stains and more! We don’t call it the Ultimate Outdoor Furniture Protection Plan for nothing.

Helpful Link: Want to learn more about our Guardsmen Outdoor Furniture Protection Plans? Click here to learn more.

Have questions or need more hands on assistance? You can chat with a Backyard Specialists or visit your nearest Fortunoff Backyard Store showroom for more pet-friendly styling tips and landscaping suggestions.

Let us know how these tips worked in your space by tagging us on social media. Use hashtag #fortunoffbys for a chance to be featured. If you’re looking for more outdoor style tips, subscribe to our newsletter. We always stay on top of patio trends.