Pet owners everywhere can agree that our furry friends are more than just a pet - they're a part of the family. In fact, a 2024 Houzz Pets & the Home Study shows nearly half of pet owners prioritize their furry family members when making design decisions about their home!
When designing & building your custom home, you have a lot of opportunities to make your dream home pet-friendly by adding special features for convenience and fun. Here are ten tips for making your pets a priority during the design + build process:
1. Smart Pet Door
Built-in pet doors aren't a new concept but they've come a long way in recent years. Gone are the days of the basic plastic flap, today's pet owners have a lot more options to integrate into their home's design. From energy-efficiency to motorized, high-tech pet doors that help you monitor the comings and goings of your pets even from afar.
2. Pet Dining & Feeding Nook
Elevate your pet's feeding time by creating a feeding station within your kitchen or mud room. Most pets are enthusiastic eaters to say the least, which can leave behind clutter and messes - especially if you have more than one pet. Taming the pet food beast is easy with a few key features:
- Built-in Pet Food Storage: Add pet food storage to your new home's kitchen cabinets or in the pantry. Not only will it keep pet food bags from taking up unwanted space, but it also prevents your pets from helping themselves between meal time.
- Built-In Food and Water Bowls: Whether it's a drawer that comes out to reveal bowls or build the bowls into a lower level shelf. You can even take it to the next level and install a faucet near your pet food station to make it easier to refill water bowls.
- Outdoor Water Bowl: A permanent outdoor water bowl can be incorporated into your home's landscape plan by placing a sturdy basin underneath an outdoor water spigot to ensure your pet has access to water throughout the summer.
3. Pet Bathing Station
If you've ever tried washing your dog in the tub you know what a disaster the whole process can be. There's no greater challenge than trying to give Fido a good scrub while trying to keep him from escaping mid-bath.
Many homeowners have started incorporating a pet-sized walk-in bathing station in a mudroom or garage to make bath time easier. The design's open concept allows for dogs of all sizes to fit inside the tub, while a handheld shower head and built-in eye hooks keep your pup—and the water—inside the tub. For smaller pets, you can elevate the surface so you can stay comfortable during the chore.
4. Hidden Litter Box
Cat person or not, there's no denying just how unsightly a litter box can be. The good news is that innovations in the pet industry have begun to provide more attractive solutions for litter boxes. Litter boxes can be hidden in anything from chic furniture to faux potted plants to a separate room with a door.
Another option is to build a nook into your home's cabinets so you can discretely slide the litter box inside. This is great to do in the bathroom, as you can use the fan to take care of any unappealing litter box smells.
5. Paw & Claw Safe Flooring
Households with pets can be chaotic and your home's flooring can take a lot of abuse. To minimize the effects your pet's claws will have on your flooring, opt for a more durable option like a luxury vinyl plank (LVP).
LVP flooring is much sturdier than traditional floorings like laminate or linoleum and is known to be scratch and water-resistant. Having grown in popularity, LVP is now available in a wide range of colors and designs, including realistic wood grains.
6. Built-In Pet Beds
Every pet needs a dedicated space at home to rest and relax. For that reason, a new home feature many homeowners are adding to their existing cabinetry is a built-in pet bed. Built-in pet beds keep your home free of clutter while still ensuring your pet has a quiet space to relax.
7. Built-In Pet Gate
Sometimes, there are just places you don't want your pet to access. For a lot of homeowners, that's the kitchen while meals are being prepared. In those cases, a built-in pet gate comes in handy. While a traditional baby gate is an effective solution, incorporating a built-in pet gate is a much better option because you can customize it to your home's design. Consider adding a swinging gate or a half-door so you can keep the desired area pet-free without completely closing it off from the rest of the home.
8. Outdoor Ramp for Aging Dogs
As dogs age, they often find it difficult to go and down stairs. If your pup is getting up there in years, consider adding a ramp to your deck or porch to make it easier for him to get around. As an added benefit, a ramp reduces the risk of joint damage and other injuries in younger dogs.
9. Enclosed Cat Patio
An enclosed cat patio—or catio, if you will—is an essential new home feature to provide your indoor cat with a safe place to enjoy the sun. Simply add outdoor fencing to your patio or deck. Adding climbing posts and perches will also encourage your kitty to get some extra exercise while she's enjoying the great outdoors.
10. Central Vacuum Cleaning System
While there's no doubt we love our furry friends, living with pets often means dealing with pet hair all over the house. One new home feature dedicated to combating all that hair is a central vacuum cleaning system. With a central vacuum cleaning system and multiple outlets throughout the home, cleaning up pet hair is as simple as sweeping it into the vacuum outlet.
Interested in adding pet-friendly elements to your new home design? Hibbs Luxury Homes can help! Our experienced team can help you develop a design fit for you and your furry friend!
