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Pet-Friendly Interior Design Ideas to Pet-Proof Your Home


With the unconditional love they bring, pets make our homes warmer — both literally, and figuratively. So, it is our responsibility to make sure our design decisions not only align with our preferences, but also accommodate the needs of our furry friends. This ensures your interior is comfortable for your pets — but also visually aesthetic.  In this blog post, we share our top pet-friendly interior design ideas to create a home that matches your design preferences and is safe for your pets!

With the unconditional love they bring, pets make our homes warmer — both literally, and figuratively. So, it is our responsibility to make sure our design decisions not only align with our preferences, but also accommodate the needs of our furry friends. This ensures your interior is comfortable for your pets — but also visually aesthetic.


In this blog post, we share our top pet-friendly interior design ideas to create a home that matches your design preferences and is safe for your pets!


Consider Built-In Food Bowls


If you have a spare cabinet in your kitchen, repurpose it into built-in bowls. Metal food and water bowls fit into their custom slots — securing them in place and keeping them out of walkways. You can keep food in airtight containers, placing them in cabinets nearby. For the water, consider a pull-out kitchen tap that can extend into the bowl. This allows for easy refills.

If you have a spare cabinet in your kitchen, repurpose it into built-in bowls. Metal food and water bowls fit into their custom slots — securing them in place and keeping them out of walkways. You can keep food in airtight containers, placing them in cabinets nearby. For the water, consider a pull-out kitchen tap that can extend into the bowl. This allows for easy refills.


Create a Hidden Bed


Not all of us have enough space to decorate an entire room for our pet friends. And when that’s the case, ideas for beautiful dog nooks come in handy. To keep the mess away, consider reworking one of the cabinets in your laundry/mudroom or kitchen to create what we call a ‘hidden bed’. Toss in a plush mattress (bonus points for a wire mesh door). Your pet will love hitting the snooze button in this cosy corner.

Credit: Decoist


Not all of us have enough space to decorate an entire room for our pet friends. And when that’s the case, ideas for beautiful dog nooks come in handy. To keep the mess away, consider reworking one of the cabinets in your laundry/mudroom or kitchen to create what we call a ‘hidden bed’. Toss in a plush mattress (bonus points for a wire mesh door). Your pet will love hitting the snooze button in this cosy corner.


Choose Pet-Friendly Materials


No one wants their cat to rip apart the sofa covers with their claws! So, in addition to being safe and comfortable for your pets, your home should be resistant to their day-to-day activities. Choose furniture pieces using pet-friendly fabrics, that is, materials that can withstand scratches and stains. Two of our top picks are leather and microfiber. You can also consider slipcovers that can be easily removed and washed when needed.  The same applies to the flooring. Opt for materials that are scratch-resistant (and also easy to clean); top picks are laminate and vinyl. You can also lay down area rugs to provide a spot for your pets to rest — especially if you’re looking to design a modern interior on a budget. Tip: Seagrass and sisal are good choices in rugs; they’re sturdy enough to withstand pet traffic and cheap enough to be thrown away when worn out.

No one wants their cat to rip apart the sofa covers with their claws! So, in addition to being safe and comfortable for your pets, your home should be resistant to their day-to-day activities. Choose furniture pieces using pet-friendly fabrics, that is, materials that can withstand scratches and stains. Two of our top picks are leather and microfiber. You can also consider slipcovers that can be easily removed and washed when needed.


The same applies to the flooring. Opt for materials that are scratch-resistant (and also easy to clean); top picks are laminate and vinyl. You can also lay down area rugs to provide a spot for your pets to rest — especially if you’re looking to design a modern interior on a budget. Tip: Seagrass and sisal are good choices in rugs; they’re sturdy enough to withstand pet traffic and cheap enough to be thrown away when worn out.


Invest in Practical Storage Solutions


With pets come their supplies (and plenty of them), so we recommend going big on storage. You can repurpose an old dresser into a pet supply storage unit and use a wall-mounted organiser for your pet’s grooming products. If you have more than one animal, you may want to dedicate a separate closet (or pantry) as a supply station. And be sure to spare a wooden crate as their toy chest.  And if you’re short on space, you may want to try something unique. For example, a staircase with built-in storage bins to store pet essentials — one of our space-saving furniture ideas for a small home.

With pets come their supplies (and plenty of them), so we recommend going big on storage. You can repurpose an old dresser into a pet supply storage unit and use a wall-mounted organiser for your pet’s grooming products. If you have more than one animal, you may want to dedicate a separate closet (or pantry) as a supply station. And be sure to spare a wooden crate as their toy chest.


And if you’re short on space, you may want to try something unique. For example, a staircase with built-in storage bins to store pet essentials — one of our space-saving furniture ideas for a small home.


Be Mindful of the Decor


Having pets around comes with the responsibility of looking after their well-being. This means pet-proofing your home to make it safe for them to freely roam around.   If you keep indoor plants, make sure to check they’re non-toxic to the pets you have. For example, spider plants and certain succulents make it to the list of plants safe for your furry friends. Also be sure to keep these in places that are difficult to reach — especially if your pet loves nibbling on leaves!  Similarly, fragile items and animals don’t go well together. Animal friends can easily shatter your favourite (fragile) pieces in minutes, so avoid splurging on these if you’re a pet parent. If you do have valuable collections you’d like to display, place them in a china cabinet with glass panel doors. It’s a win-win; you can see them, but the pets can’t break them.

Having pets around comes with the responsibility of looking after their well-being. This means pet-proofing your home to make it safe for them to freely roam around.


If you keep indoor plants, make sure to check they’re non-toxic to the pets you have. For example, spider plants and certain succulents make it to the list of plants safe for your furry friends. Also be sure to keep these in places that are difficult to reach — especially if your pet loves nibbling on leaves!


Similarly, fragile items and animals don’t go well together. Animal friends can easily shatter your favourite (fragile) pieces in minutes, so avoid splurging on these if you’re a pet parent. If you do have valuable collections you’d like to display, place them in a china cabinet with glass panel doors. It’s a win-win; you can see them, but the pets can’t break them.


Final Words


Being a pet parent means tending to your furry friends’ every need while maintaining the visual aesthetic of your home… and as tricky as it may sound, it can be achieved with just a few pet-friendly interior design ideas 🐶


Struggling with pet-proofing your home while retaining its aesthetic? Get in touch with one of our Interior Designers for personalised advice on how to set up and style your space!
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