Dog-gone Stylish

Even if you match your chaise to your Siamese so perfectly the hairballs are barely visible, vacuum kitty's hair off the furniture at least twice a week. You may need to vacuum daily when your pet is shedding.

Pet hair has an odor, and it contains an oil that will attract dirt to the fabric on which it sits. Szabo suggests you invest in a Dyson DC14 Animal, an upright vacuum named for its miraculous ability to suck up animal hair. It costs around $550, but Szabo says you'll wonder how you ever lived without it when you see the horrifying amounts of dirt and hair the Dyson picks up from your floors and furniture.

Read on for more pointers on making your home a showplace fit for a pet.

DO skip wall-to-wall carpet.

DO choose hard surface floors.

DON’T buy expensive rugs.

DON’T use flat finish paint.

DO match colors to your pet’s fur.

DO bathe and groom your pet often.

DON’T decorate with breakable items.

DO use stain-resistant fabrics.

DO put washable fabrics on your bed.

DO set up an animal room near an entry.

DO give your pet tidy, attractive treats and toys.

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