Pets are often considered part of the family, so it isn’t surprising that many pet owners consider their pets’ needs when renovating their home. A study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that a little more than half of homeowners surveyed completed a dog-related home renovation project. These included building a fence, adding a dog door or installing more durable flooring.
While fences and doggie doors might be the most common pet-related home renovations, there are a lot of other pet-conscious renovation ideas out there. Thinking about your furry family members when you’re remodeling or landscaping can create spaces your pet will love.
Check out these ideas for making your house more pet-friendly when you remodel:
Pet-friendly kitchen ideas
When you think about remodeling your kitchen you probably think about paint color, countertops, cabinets and appliances, but you can add several pet-friendly kitchen features too. Special storage, built-in pet gates and feeding stations ensure you have a kitchen that looks great and makes it easy to accommodate your pets.
Feeding area: A built-in area for pet bowls helps keep your kitchen looking neat and tidy. As a bonus, this option prevents you from tripping over bowls and spilling food everywhere. You can also install a faucet near the ground in that area to make it easy to refill water bowls.
Storage: Dog and cat food bags probably don’t match your kitchen decor. If you’re installing new kitchen cabinets, think about putting a deep drawer near the pet bowls to use for pet food storage.
Gates: Many times, you just don’t want your pets in the kitchen. Lots of pet owners use baby gates to keep their dogs out of places they’re not supposed to be. Consider installing a swinging gate or half door. These can keep pets out of the kitchen when you’re cooking without making you feel shut off from the rest of the house.
Pet-friendly bathroom ideas
A lot of people put dog washing areas or kitty litter boxes in their mudroom. If you don’t have the luxury of a mudroom, or you’re already planning a bathroom remodel, you can install these features in your new bathroom.
Bathing station: Replace your old tub/shower combo with a walk-in shower to make it easier to get a larger dog in and out. Or, consider an open-concept shower without doors to give you plenty of room to wash your dog. You can also install a handheld showerhead closer to the ground. This will make bathing your dog easier when you need to rinse muddy paws. You might also want to put in a large drain so it won’t get clogged with pet hair.
Pet-friendly landscaping ideas
A fence is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about making your yard pet-friendly when you work on improving your lawn and garden. But there are several other outdoor options that can make the space an entertaining and safe playground for your pet. If you’re planning to landscape your yard, think about adding these features.
Ramp: Older dogs often have trouble going up and down stairs. Consider adding a ramp to decks and porches so older pets don’t have to use the stairs. Ramps can also reduce joint damage and prevent injuries in younger dogs, especially those prone to back problems like dachshunds and basset hounds.
Enclosed patio: If you want your indoor cat to be able to catch some rays, enclose your patio or deck with outdoor fencing. You can even add climbing posts and perches so your cat gets some extra exercise.
Fence window: Privacy fences are great for, well, privacy, but they keep your dog from seeing anything outside your backyard. If you’re putting up a new privacy fence, consider adding some cutouts at your dog’s eye level to create a window for them. You can use plexiglass or chain link to create the windows while still keeping your pooch contained.
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