I don’t know about you, but I don’t know where I would be without my wonderful dog, Border Collie, Domino. Even if I was unsure how much I loved him (which I wasn’t be the way!), a doggy health-scare recently proved it to me in spades. We introduce them into our home as pets and before very long at all, they turn our lives upside down, worm their way into our hearts and very firmly become an intrinsic part of the family!
So when it comes to a home renovation or room redesign, our pets should absolutely be factored into the layout, flow, and zoning of every space. Here’s how I approach pet-friendly interior design for my clients and for my own home.
Custom Integrated Pet Beds and Utility Layouts
When I sit down with my interior design clients to discuss their briefs, one of the very first things I ask is: “Do you have any pets?”
A dog’s bed is a classic example of something that is often left as an afterthought, resulting in a bulky cushion triumphed over in the middle of a busy hallway or kitchen traffic zone. My clients are often relieved to find out that we can actually integrate pet steps or custom beds directly into their structural joinery.
When I sit down with interior design clients to discuss their brief, one of the very first questions I ask is: “Do you have any pets?”
A dog bed is a classic example of something that gets left as an afterthought, ending up as a bulky cushion plonked in the middle of a busy hallway or kitchen traffic zone. My clients are often genuinely relieved to discover that we can actually integrate custom pet beds directly into structural joinery, making them a beautiful, intentional part of the design.
For one client, the dog’s bed had always lived near the rear exit of the property. When we redesigned her downstairs layout, we transformed the back door into a walk-through boot room. Plywood built-in cupboards ran the full width of the space, with the dog’s bed nestled in the centre, human seating on either side, and coat hooks running above. It was perfect and everyone was delighted, especially the dog.
I’ve also seen pet beds integrated into kitchen islands, and under the stairs is another brilliant hideaway. Domino himself loves a small, cosy, enclosed space and honestly, the space under the stairs is one of the most underused spots in any home. Some of my favourite solutions I’ve encountered include:
- Built-in understairs kennels with bespoke joinery
- Raised wooden beds with upholstered, downy interiors in a quality fabric
- Doggy Chesterfields and memory foam pet armchairs
- A bed crafted from a reclaimed whiskey barrel, perfect for an industrial-style interior
The key is understanding your pet’s habits and where they naturally gravitate. Any dead space in your living area or kitchen is a potential gold mine for a beautiful, functional pet nook.
Pet-Friendly Kitchen Design: Feeding Stations That Fit Seamlessly
The feeding area is the next consideration when designing a pet-friendly kitchen. It’s surprisingly easy to incorporate a dedicated feeding station into your cabinetry and the result is both practical and polished.
Depending on your kitchen style, options include:
- A discreet nook underneath a tall larder unit
- A cosy recess at the end of a run of cabinets
- A raised section within a kitchen island or peninsula, ideal for both bed and bowls
Cut-outs for food and water bowls are a particularly clever touch. They keep spills contained and surfaces looking tidy. Creating a proper, dedicated space for your pet not only gives them a spot to call their own, but it keeps the flow between spaces clear of the toys, bones, and general doggy what-not that can otherwise take over a room entirely.
Pet Toy Storage Ideas: Taming the Chaos
Pet paraphernalia can be as out of control as the kids’ toys, if you are not careful, and again there are a range of options to contain these potential trip hazards. Thankfully, there are plenty of stylish pet toy storage solutions to choose from:
- Bespoke toy boxes designed to complement your existing furniture
- Pull-out drawers within existing kitchen or hallway units
- Low-slung wicker or rattan baskets that look intentional rather than improvised
- Purpose-built freestanding furniture pieces
Personally, my ideal would be one bespoke piece that combines the bed, bowls, and toy storage all in one place – if only I could find the space! It’s the holy grail of luxury pet-friendly interior design, and it’s more achievable than most people think when it’s planned from the outset.
Designing for Our Four-Legged Family Members
At its heart, designing for pets is simply about extending the same thoughtfulness we bring to every other aspect of a home and acknowledging that our animals aren’t afterthoughts. They live here too.
Whether you’re doing a full renovation or simply reimagining a single room, bring your pet into the brief from day one. The results for the whole family (human and canine alike) are always worth it.