If you are like me, you always have at least one fur baby running around the house. Whether you prefer dogs, cats, or both, there are things you need to consider for their safety and fun. Since you are designing your home from scratch, you might as well make it enjoyable for the pets as well. Here are just a few ideas to consider.
Flooring
If you have pets, you know how damaging they can be to flooring if you do not have the right type of flooring. There are some great hardwood floors to choose from these days that look elegant as well as being scratch and stain-resistant. You can also consider luxury vinyl or tile, but my experience has been that the wood flooring looks better, is more flexible, and will withstand just about anything (we have both cats and dogs in our home).
The one thing you do not want in areas where the pets traffic is carpeting because it is easily stained, will wear out, and can hold odors. One pet accident could result in having to tear up the entire room and padding for replacement.
Easy to Clean Surfaces
In addition to the floor, consider using wall finishes that are easy to wipe down and won’t stain, especially if you have a dog. Those muddy paws can get all over the place, and if you do not have easy-to-clean surfaces, this can be quite costly.
Dedicated Pet Rooms or Zones
Whether you like it or not, your pet is going to claim a certain area of the home as theirs. So, why not build them a room that is their little play space? You can fill the room with comfy pet beds and toys. If you have cats, consider putting climbable shelving on the walls, maybe a flashing laser they can chase, and some hanging toys for them to attack… I am sure you get the picture. Literally a pet playroom.
Safe Outdoor Spaces
If you allow your pets outdoors, you want to make sure you keep them safe, so install a pet-safe fence to keep them from wandering off as well as keeping other animals out of the area. You also need to ensure you do not plant anything that can harm your pet in that area. Add a watering station and shaded retreat for them to get a break from the sun.
You may also consider a bathing hut for the animals so you are not cleaning them in the house and suffering through the dreaded “shake” that can send dirt, hair, and water everywhere.
Pet-safe Staircases
Staircases can be a scary venture for pets, especially dogs, so if they are going to have access to staircases, make sure they are wide and not every steep. You can also put gripper treads on the steps to help prevent accident slips that would send them tumbling down the steps.
Extra Storage
As you well know if you are a pet owner, supplies, toys, and food can take up a lot of space. Build some extra storage in their playroom as their feeding area so you have enough room to store it all.
Pet Doors
This is a great way to give your pet access to the outdoors so they can come and go as they please without opening up the door to let all the cool air during the summer and all the warm air out during the winter.
Most of us treat our pets like family members, not animals, and incorporating their lifestyle into your home is just an extension of that. For more tips on custom-built homes, check out our blog (click here).