If you love your furry friend (or friends) as much as we do then you are in the right place, because this post is all about them! When designing your dream home there are tons of things to consider for how you plan to live in that space but have you thought about that furry friend and how they will live along side you? If not, no need to worry because we’re bringing you 6 of our favorite pet friendly home design ideas right here. Paw-fect! ;)

One concern about designing with pets in mind is the aesthetic and if it will seamlessly flow with your home. We’re here to tell you, yes! You can have good design that keeps your pet in mind while keeping your space beautiful and functional. These pet friendly home design tips will help simplify the job of caring for your pets and make for a more peaceful and playful home for them.

1. Pet washing station

A fun pet friendly home design that we are seeing more and more of is the addition of pet washing stations in the home. That’s right, say goodbye to those professional bathing services and create your own spa for your furry friend right at the convenience of your home. Not only are they convenient but they save homeowners time and stress all while creating a more peaceful and relaxing experience for your pet.

We’re seeing this done a lot in garages, as it is easiest to contain muddy paws and allows for an easy and quick cleanup without getting your house messy. Plus, it avoids ever having muddy paws on those hardwood floors ;)

2. Create dedicated storage for your pet

Another thing new homeowners consider when building is a dedicated space for their kids and where they can store all of their toys, but often overlooked are the pets. That brings us to our second tip when it comes to pet friendly home designs. Consider having a dedicated place to store all of your pet’s toys and accessories. This can be as simple as using a decorative basket such as this one with open tops so your pet can help themselves to their toys whenever they want. However, make sure to consider the height of your basket in relation to the size of your pet so that they can easily access anything they may want to play with. We have a giant Irish Wolfhound so we can get away with using a larger decorative basket :) Baskets in an entry way also serve as a great way to store your pets leashes, harnesses, waste bags and toys that you often bring to the dark park!

3. Designated feeding space

This pet friendly home design is a fun trend that we’re seeing a lot of lately! Adding a toe kick into your kitchen cabinetry or a pull out drawer in the bottom cabinet allows for the feeding dish to live in that space, then placing their water dish around a corner so your furry friend always has access to fresh water.

4. Window & door accessibility

While we are not suggesting that the placement of every door and window needs to be suited to benefit your pet, we do suggest having at least one or two designated areas in your home that your furry friend can peer out of. Every pet loves to be a neighborhood watch, bask in the sun, feel the cool breeze or wait for their owners to come home from work.

5. A space of their own

Adding a feature to your home that gives your pet a cozy hideaway or nook is another popular feature that new homeowners are implementing. Giving them this special space, for their bedding or to enjoy their toys allows them to feel more secure and provides a sense of comfort within the home. It also gives them a part of the home that feels like theirs.

Consider spaces that aren’t often used by anyone in the home - under the stairs, above a shelf or piece of furniture for those climbing kitties of yours, in the mudroom or even tucked away in the corner of a bedroom.

6. Stylish accessories

Not all pet friendly home designs are based solely around the actual bones of your home but instead using the right accessories to match the style of your home. For instance, our home has a lot of black, white and gold tones, therefore we went with these cute dishes for our dog so that her necessary items matched our home. Simple things like bowls and the baskets mentioned above allow you to take your furry friends must-haves to a whole other level of function and style.

And there you have it!

Like many of us, our pets are a huge part of our family and we want them to feel safe, happy and comfortable in our homes. Keep in mind these 6 pet friendly home design ideas when making your new home checklist or feel free to ask us any questions on how you can incorporate them into your dream home! Need help making that list? We’ve got you covered with this blog, the ultimate checklist for building your dream home!

We hope that you enjoyed these tips and that you found them useful. Considering your pet into your homes design can be easy, fun, beautiful and functional. How have you incorporated your pets’ needs into the design of your home? Tell us in the comments!