Whether you have one furry friend or six, you’re probably familiar with the sight of pet gear scattered throughout your home. From crates to food bowls, fellow pet parents will know that as your pet’s needs evolve, so do the number of supplies needed to take care of them. As much as we love our furry friends, having a wire crate in the living room or a pile of leashes by the door can sometimes stick out like a sore thumb.
Regardless if you live in a small studio in Toronto, ON, or a house in Miami, FL, there are plenty of design-savvy pet items and storage solutions that can smoothly blend into your home’s background. We reached out to experts to get their best tips for seamlessly integrating pet supplies into your space without sacrificing style. From chic pet furnishings to creative storage solutions, check out these pet area ideas to keep your home looking sharp while also making your pets feel right at home.
Small space pet area ideas
1) Buy furniture-style pet products
Limited in space? Choose pet products specifically built into furniture to blend into your existing decor while serving your pet’s needs. For example, choose entertainment centers and side tables that serve as dog crates or ottoman footstools that serve as pet caves for relaxation. You can even repurpose existing furniture, such as converting a dresser into a dog bed. –Dog Endorsed
2) Opt for ottoman storage that can double as a coffee table
For spaces with limited storage for pet toys, we recommend utilizing a flip-top ottoman. With storage on the inside and a top that can be flipped to double as a coffee table, this option offers multiple solutions in one compact package. –BuildASofa
3) Utilize that odd space under your stairs or the bottom of a hall closet
Adding a pet door to access an unused space is a great way to make a special area for your fur baby. Create an access panel (for cleaning) under the stairs and add a pet door so cats can come and go with all litter box supplies out of smell and sight. If you have a dog, place a comfy bed at the bottom of a hall closet and add a decorative gate inset in the door to create a snuggly dog crate. –Toe Beans
4) Use a dog bed that doubles as extra storage for blankets and clothes
Want a dog bed that comforts your pup and helps reduce waste? The Molly Mutt Bed can be stuffed with pillows you’re replacing or even off-season blankets and clothes. This keeps textiles out of the landfill and helps if you’re short on storage space, plus the bed will smell like you — which your dog loves. –Molly Mutt
Create a space that suits their needs
5) Design areas that evolve with your pets’ needs are they grow
Designate a pet area on each level of your home. As pets age, they may be less likely to climb or descend stairs. –Cat Naps Cattery
6) Utilize dog stairs to ensure that your space is functional and practical
When looking for pet steps, make sure the steps are secure on the floor and won’t slip or move when your pets use them. If the pet doesn’t feel immediately secure, they may not use the steps again. Try using contact paper or grip tape secured to the bottom of the steps. You can also use the grip tape on the stair treads. –Animal Haus Interiors
7) Create a “catch-all” in the entryway
Avoid messes in your home by creating a space in your entryway for your dog to dry off and wipe down after taking a walk or playing outdoors. Store dog treats, wipes, grooming supplies, and other essentials in a cabinet or basket with a lid at the front entry. –Cocoa’s Pet Shop
8) Potty training? Designate a space for your pet that’s easily accessible
If you’re limited on space or need a convenient location for your pet to go potty, opt for a natural grass potty tray. Your dog will be drawn to the real grass potty patch and will want to go potty there. Your pups are creatures of nature, and their instincts tell them to go on real grass. So, if you have a new puppy, begin your potty training with real grass from the start. And even if you have a dog that has used other potty solutions and is ready to make the switch, it won’t take long for them to get the hang of it. –Patio Pet Life
9) Design a grooming station that works with your pets needs
When designing our new home, we incorporated a deep stainless steel sink with a spray faucet and tile backsplash for bathing dogs in our laundry room with cabinets surrounding the sink to hold grooming supplies, including shampoos, conditioners, towels, combs, brushes, and clippers. Larger dogs are bathed in a walk-in shower with a detachable sprayer, and the sink can handle dogs up to about forty pounds. We also designed a vertical space for the cats that provides out-of-the-way feeding and litter box spaces, allowing the cats to have privacy while decreasing tracking of litter through the home. At the top of the cabinets, we have bridges and shelves from Catastrophic Creations to allow the cats to completely circle the top of the room. This provides a safe haven for the cats when friends or dogs come to visit. –Dr. Judy Morgan
Include a pet zone that both you and your furry friend can enjoy
10) Bring the outdoors in with a custom catio
A catio (aka Cat Patio) is an enclosure, generally attached to a house, that enables cats to safely experience the benefits of the outdoors without the inherent dangers. Like real estate, when it comes to catios, think about location. Choose a spot that gets fresh air, sun, and shade near trees, bushes, plants, and flowers. The birds, squirrels, and bugs attracted by all the green goodness will keep your fur baby stimulated and happy. Also, build high, not wide, and consider placing hummingbird or bird feeders nearby. -Alan “Catio Guy” Breslauer, Custom Catios
11) Share your home office
While working from home, you can share your desk space with your pet. Try incorporating a dog or cat bed right into your workspace. Save a drawer or shelf and pop in a comfy bed to keep your four-legged supervisor happy. –Ozzie’s Pet Shop
Protect your furniture with clever hacks
12) Spruce up and protect your chairs with table runners
If your pet loves to cuddle with you at home, try draping your chairs with decorative, durable table runners. They can not only add a fresh color pop to your furniture but also help prevent your pet from leaving scratch marks on your chairs. –Barkitwear
Get creative with your storage solutions
13) Keep everyday supplies within reach
Hang an apparatus with several hooks to hold your keys, doggie harnesses, and leashes, fanny-pack, etc., near the entrance of your home. Also, get something that has a place to store things like poop bags, your sunglasses, hat, or belt with a prism reflector for nighttime. –DOGUE By Gina
Opt for multifunctional pet furniture
14) Incorporate your pet’s crate into your home decor
Keep your pet safe & close while maintaining training without sacrificing space or design with a dual-purpose pet crate. Multifunctional pet furniture allows you to keep your pets close with custom-built products to suit your pet’s needs. Consider end tables, sofa tables, TV consoles, or dining room hutches which can all be handcrafted dual-purpose pet crates. –Ginny Bins
15) Turn your pet’s crate into a tabletop
If you have limited room, make some of your essential pet accessories multifunctional. A table leaf or small tabletop placed over your pet’s kennel can utilize that extra unused space while also providing your pet a cozier place to sleep. Your pet will explore every nook and cranny it can, so using every bit of space can go a long way. –Splendid Beast
16) Build a custom accent table
Crates are an excellent tool that can help you protect your pets and your home from destructive behavior. As the Covid-19 pandemic dials down, you’ll likely find yourself leaving fido unsupervised more often than you’d like. Therefore, consider adding a wooden crate that combines function and style into your home decor. You can use these crates as an accent table in your living room, office, or bedroom. –PawDiet
Be mindful of different finishes and materials
17) Choose your pet products like you would choose your furniture
Find pet products that are made with furniture-grade materials, like fine wood or clear lucite. Using modern, quality materials for a pet gate or dog crate can elevate your pet furnishings into modern architectural elements rather than unattractive or cumbersome distractions. Quality materials with trending metal finishes in gold and silver allow essential pet furnishings to blend seamlessly into decor. Also, remember, less is more. Choose pet products with clean lines and simple design elements. Pet products need to be safe, durable, and easy to use but do not need to be overly ornate or complicated. –Hiddin
18) Use pet-friendly fabrics
We love our pets, but sometimes even the best behaved pets can damage our furniture. You don’t have to pick between fury snuggles and your new sofa. You can have both. Choose leather, tight weave fabrics, and medium-colored patterns to hide dirt and scratches. –Platinum Leash
19) Opt for durable solid woods when choosing dog crates
Buying dog crate furniture is an investment not to be taken lightly. To be sure you make the right choice, here are the two biggest items to keep in mind:
- Durability: How long do you plan on owning your furniture? No one wants disposable furniture. Make sure your builder has a well-laid out proven replacement component program.
- Materials: Did you know not all hardwoods are very hard? For dog furniture, avoid species like Alder, Poplar, Birch, Pine, and designs made of all plywood (no solid wood). Instead, go with more durable solid woods like Maple (used in butcher blocks and gymnasium floors), Ash, Walnut, or Oak. –Carolina Dog Crate Co.
20) Choose washable fabrics and materials to keep your home clean
Cleanliness is important for both your cat’s health and the overall look and feel of your home. Choose washable cat beds or place a beautiful towel on top that you can wash regularly. Plastic cat bowls/toys/puzzle feeders also harbor more bacteria which could lead to feline acne. Go ahead and splurge on that beautiful towel, washable cover, non-plastic puzzle feeder, or pretty set of ceramic bowls for your cat. –Catlyco
21) Pick materials and fabrics that reflect your home’s style
Pets add love and enhancement to a home, but most of us want pet item designs to be organic and not cliché or cheap looking. Consider shopping with direct-to-consumer brands or makers that carry items to match the textures and tone of your home design to ensure that your pet’s pieces reflect that tone holistically. Examples could include a midcentury, elegant raised dog bowl that matches your walnut furniture, or a higher quality washable bed, allowing your pet design to prioritize longevity, sustainability, and high design. –Woof Republic
Pick the perfect bed that blends into your decor
22) Customize the pet bed to fit your pet, space, and home design
Custom-made pet beds that follow the size, shape, and colors you need are a great option that considers the specifics of the pet and honors the room’s style at the same time. That is also the best space saving option that can help you optimize nooks, niches, and quirky spaces. Don’t settle for what’s on the market right now if it’s not the perfect fit — Customize and make a sustainable choice by selecting products that contain biodegradable, natural, and breathable materials for the filling and the pet bed’s fabric. –Cottoned Shop
23) Provide comfy areas for your pet throughout your home
The biggest mistake that we find homeowners make is that they provide their pets with one bed. Sure, the parents have one bed, but they also have couches and chairs all around the home – places that they can find comfort throughout the day. Our pets are no different. Try to provide areas of comfort throughout your home using traditional pet beds and cushions, blankets and throws, and weather-resistant solutions for the outdoors. – Jon Daugherty, Director of Product Development, Tall Tails
24) Choose a low-maintenance and stylish fabric that blends in with your decor
Say goodbye to an unsightly dog bed and hello to a fresh, clean dog bed. PawSheets® are fitted sheets for dog beds that are easy to put on and take off. Using a universal, elastic design, they fit most dog bed styles and come in a variety of colors. –PawSheets®
Show your furry friends some love with customized supplies that fits your home’s aesthetic
25) Personalize and customize
Whatever pet items and furniture you need, such as dog pillow beds, blankets, or toys, personalize them with your pet’s name and customize the features and colors so that the item is no longer just something lying around. Your pet’s items will be a custom piece that makes a statement and shows that your pet is loved and deserves to have that part of the living space dedicated to them. –Doogma
26) Make sure to update ID tags and collars when moving to a new home
Just like updating your decor might include a different pet bed to match your new style, your pet’s ID tag and collar should be refreshed to keep it in good condition and update its look. If you are moving to a new home, make sure to get an updated ID tag for all of your furry friends with your new address and phone number on it to keep them safe. –100% Angel
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