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Creating a pet-friendly home doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Whether you have a playful puppy or a curious cat, this post will guide you through the best home design ideas that cater to both you and your furry companions. We’ll discuss durable furniture, indoor pet zones, and easy-to-clean surfaces, all while keeping your home stylish and functional.
Whether you have cats, dogs, or both (or other critters), one thing’s for sure: your home isn’t just yours, it’s theirs, too! (But really, it’s theirs and they allow you to live there.)
There are a lot of considerations for a pet-friendly home, but your home doesn’t have to sacrifice style to be functional for your furkids.
Let’s dive in paws first into 8 home design ideas that provide comfort, style, and functionality for you and your furkids. (or scaled kids, or feathered kids…)
Durable flooring is a must!
One of the first things I did in my new house is get rid of all the carpet! I have laminate and linoleum floors, but you can also go for these options:
- Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is scratch resistant and waterproof for “accidents” (or when they are just unhappy with you and want you to know it!).
- Tile or sealed concrete is easy to clean, plus it stays cool for your pets’ comfort.
- Low-pile rugs are washable and less tempting for that chewing habit you can’t break.
Tip: If you match your flooring to the color of your critter’s fur, you can hide the shedding in between vacuuming sessions!
Built-in feeding stations keep everything out of the way.
If you can build them into cabinets or the kitchen island, you can stop tripping over food and water dishes! If you can’t do an actual built-in unit, you can easily build a box yourself and turn it on its side someplace out of the way to slide the dishes into.
Tip: Look for a versatile 2-in-1 food storage and bowl set like this one.
Pet beds and kennels can do double duty as décor or even furniture!
Things to look for include:
- Modern wooden frames with washable cushions
- Mid-century style pet sofas
- Window hammocks for cats
- Litter boxes that are literally a box you can also use as a side table
- Dog crates that can serve as an entertainment center – I’m dying to get this one at Amazon!
Sturdy fabrics and furniture are a necessity.
You want to avoid texturized materials like silk and tweed, as cats love them (in a not so good way). A few good options include:
- Leather is easy to wipe clean
- Crypton fabric is stain-resistant
- Microfiber or canvas are both durable and easy to clean
Stylish pet gates and barriers keep your furkids safe and out from underfoot.
Those plastic baby gates are ugly, flimsy, and not very functional for a determined cat or dog. Some options include:
- Wrought iron gates
- Sliding barn door style pet doors
- Custom gates to match your home’s trim
Window perches will keep your pets entertained.
Pets, cats especially, love to hang out in windows for the warmth of the sun and for bird watching. Consider installing some of these options:
- Window seats or ledges. You can find some that are specially designed for pets in most pet stores.
- Bubble windows in fences. They look kind of funny, but if you cut a hole in the fence and pop these bubble windows in, your furry friends can look out and in all directions.
- Pet safe screens on windows keep them safely inside while enjoying fresh air and all the smells!
If you have cats, they will appreciate vertical spaces.
Cats love to climb and sit up high to watch over the world (oh, let’s face it: cats want to sit up high to lord over their lowly subjects, i.e. you and me!). Here are some great ways to give your cats exercise while keeping them off your counters. (Well, it might keep them off for a few minutes, anyway!)
- Floating wall shelves: Search on YouTube and you are sure to find some awesome entertainment with cats racing along boards or shelves mounted on the walls.
- Wall-mounted climbing trees
- Tall cat towers with lots of perches
Dedicated toy and accessory storage is a total game-changer for pet parents!
A clutter-free home is a safer home for you and your furry companions alike. Keep their toys and leashes and harnesses (oh my!) corralled in one spot with these suggestions:
- Storage ottomans hold a lot of stuff
- Attractive wicker baskets
- Wall hooks for leashes, collars, and harnesses
- Labeled bins in closets
Conclusion
If you keep your furkids in mind when you decorate, design, or build, you and they can have a comfortable, safe, stylish space. There are so many options that you may not know where to start, but hopefully this has given you some ideas. What other pet design hacks do you have? Tell me about your furbabies and how you keep them safe and happy at home!
For more pet tips, check out my guide to summer pet safety here!