Happy International Dog Day, fellow dog enthusiasts and aspiring homeowners! As we celebrate the joy that our furry companions bring to our lives, why not take a moment to think about how we can craft homes that embrace our four-legged friends? When you’re planning your dream self or custom build home, here are some delightful features and practical tips to make your space a true canine haven.
1. Open Plan Living: Space for Everyone
Embrace that fabulous open-plan living concept! It creates a spacious environment for both you and your furry best friend to lounge around and enjoy each other's company. Think big, airy spaces where your pooch can sprint after the occasional rubber chicken toy without bumping into furniture.
2. Durable and Stylish Flooring: From Puddles to Paws
Let’s face it: Dogs can be messy! Opt for durable flooring options like tile or laminate that can withstand muddy paws and the odd accident. They are easy to clean and still stylish! You’ll be thanking yourself later when spot-cleaning becomes a breeze instead of a full carpet cleaning mission impossible !
3. Mud Room: A Pooch’s Paradise
If space allows designate a space for your dog to enter and exit your home. It’s a great idea in an area near the back door, a mud room, boot room or utility room. A mudroom or pet corner with storage for towels, leashes, and coats keeps the dirt outside where it belongs. A perfect place where your furry friend can shake off the dirt before bounding through your home. You could even install a low sink with shower tap for a small dog or doggie shower tray of unit for a larger one. It’s like a personal doggie spa to ensure they don’t bring in half a muddy field , garden or woodland with them after their outdoor adventures .Equip this space with storage for a treat jar for those special days when they're extra good!
4. Built-in Dog Features: Convenience is Key
Incorporate built-in dog features seamlessly into your design! Think of a cozy nook for food bowls that blends with your kitchen – ideal so you don’t trip over the bowls as well ! If your breed of dog has short little legs, or your companion is getting on in doggie years a ramp or little stairs designed for them will help them access where they need to do more easily. It’s all about creating a home where your dog feels truly at home.
5. Outdoor Oasis: Garden for Your Furry Friend
Why not design your outdoor space as a paradise for your pup? Consider fencing off an area of your garden so they can roam freely without worry. Add a few dog-friendly plants (stay away from anything toxic) and some toys or dog agility activities or a splash pool for those hot summer days – instant canine joy!
6. Pet-Friendly Furniture: Style Meets Utility
Choose furniture that can withstand a dog’s enthusiasm! Think leather or tightly woven fabrics that are easier to clean and won’t show every speck of fur. Plus, consider investing in stylish dog beds that complement your décor, proving that you can have taste and a well-loved pup. . Keep these features in mind when choosing a new sofa as part of your pet-friendly interior design.
Tight weave fabrics, including chenille, microfibre and polyester, are less likely to be damaged or pulled by claws
Synthetic leather is easy to clean, making it ideal for dirty paws
Heavy duty fabrics can be identified by their rub count – aim for a count of 20,000-plus for a fabric that is really durable
Add fabric protection to help guard against dirt and stains
Choose a fabric shade that is a similar colour to your dog to make pet hair less noticeable
7. Smart Home Devices: Keeping Them Safe
With technology on our side, you could go all out on making your home a dog smart one too. Install pet cameras to monitor your furry friend when you’re out, and consider automatic feeders for their meals. With smart devices, you can enjoy the convenience of home while keeping an eye on your pup’s antics!
8. Comfy Nooks: The Cozy Corner Concept
Humans need comfort, and so do dogs! Designate cozy animal corners with plush beds or blankets in living areas where your dog can relax and feel included. Include fun design elements like patterned cushions to blend your decor with their relaxation zone—because happiness isn’t just for humans! It’s essential to provide pets with a designated area for sleeping. This should be a quiet environment that offers no distractions that they can easily access. Under the stairs is a popular choice when creating a pet-friendly sleeping space, as it can be a good way to utilise what is often an unutilised area of the home. Having more than one dog bed in your home is also a good idea, so your dog can choose when and where they want to rest. Place one in a quiet location where your dog can rest undisturbed, which should be in a warm, dry and draft-free place. This might be their ‘all night’ bed too. Another dog bed might be placed in a more sociable part of your home, such as the kitchen or living room, so they can rest while spending time with the family.
9. Smart Storage Solutions: Tidy & Tail-Wagging
Dog toys scattered across your home can be a tripping hazard (and an eyesore). Incorporate stylish storage solutions, like chic woven baskets, dedicated drawers or multi-functional furniture that discreetly hides toys. Trust me, your home will feel more put together and your dog will think they just moved into a toy wonderland!
10. Indoor-Outdoors Flow: The Canine Connection
Consider the flow of your home from indoors to outdoors. Sliding doors, half doors or large windows not only create an inviting atmosphere for humans but also give your pets a glorious view—and easy access—to their own outdoor paradise. Installing a pet door is an excellent idea, especially if you want to give your dog the freedom to roam from the garden to the house without giving access to intruders. Some of the ‘smart’ pet doors are a good eco-friendly option and are very airtight if installed correctly and operate either in conjunction with a special collar that your pet is wearing or via an ID microchip. It's all about ways of blending your living space with their play space!
11.Decor – A Surprising Colourful Treat
Have you ever wondered if your dog appreciates the décor in your home? While your dog’s taste in interior design may not be at the forefront of your mind when choosing a colour scheme, choosing pet-friendly shades they can see may be beneficial.
Exactly which colours our pets can see is still up for some debate amongst researchers, however it’s likely that they see the world in a similar way to that of humans with red-green colour blindness. So contrary to popular belief, dogs are able to see a wide array of colours, however the range is limited to various shades of blue, yellow, green and purple. Choosing a colour scheme centred around this spectrum of colours can help to create a sense of comfort as it plays to your pet’s visual range.
12. Safety first for Sensitive Tummies
Creating pet-friendly interiors requires additional thought when choosing home accessories, particularly plants. Indoor plants are beneficial for health and wellbeing, while also complementing décor. However, pets often don’t distinguish between plants that could be potentially harmful and those that can be enjoyed safely. You should always research pet-friendly house plants before making a purchase that could harm your pet. With the correct choices the benefits to brightening up your home with a few potted plants will make your home a more attractive place for both you and your furry family member. Common house plants that are best avoided include:
Lillies
Poinsettia
Hyacinths
Daffodils
13. Rooms with a View – Dogs love it just like humans do
Most dogs love peering through windows at the great big world outside the home. Homes are often designed with at least one oversized window or glass door that will allow the pets of the house a lovely view of the outdoors. A dog will definitely appreciate a window seat too. Window seats, which happen to be all the rage right now as far as design trends are concerned, can even be designed in such a way that they double as a storage space, or even as a step that an older or short legged pet can use to get to its comfy seat with a view.
14 Wrap Up: A Doggone Delightful Home
On this International Dog Day, let's embrace the joy of our canine companions bring to our lives, let’s celebrate making spaces that are stylish, fun, and, most importantly, inviting for our four legged furbabies and design spaces that honour their vibrant spirits.
Tailoring your home with these thoughtful features and tips will not only make it pet-friendly but will also enhance the overall atmosphere of love and comfort. In a world where our dogs are family, designing a home that accommodates their needs is a labour of love.
Here’s to barking, wagging, and a whole lot of little paw print trails through our forever homes!
Please share any tips and design features you have found your family dog or dogs
really enjoy about their home in the comments.
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