8 Ideas for Home Improvement With Your Pet in Mind

Anyone who has ever shared a home with a pet knows that it does not matter who pays the bills; the one who melts our heart with a wag of the tail is often the one who dictates how the home is run. When considering home improvement projects, it is important to keep your pets in mind from the beginning to ensure everyone is happy in the end.

In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, here are some pet-friendly renovations for your home that can be beneficial to dogs already residing there and those who may join your family in the future.

1. Create an Indoor Sanctuary

There are times a home can be loud or chaotic, especially when visitors are present or the weather turns tumultuous. Create a space in your home where your pet can go to calm down or avoid over-stimulation.

If you have a catch-all closet, consider transforming it into a welcoming dog nook. Build an insulated frame or one that can be draped with a blanket to make it soundproof. Add a plush pillow to the floor for easy access and possibly another on top of the frame for pets who prefer a little height when they sleep.

Be sure the bedding you choose can be easily washed or have removable coverings to reduce potential odors and make it easy to clean. The upper part of the closet can be segmented out for pet-related items, such as bedding, food and treats, leashes, and grooming tools.

2. Remodel With Pet-Friendly Flooring

Flooring is one of the first places pet owners see wear and tear. Choose a flooring that is hard enough to withstand your dog’s nails and consider a design that can camouflage scratches that inevitably occur over time. There are several choices that can make both you and your furry family member happy, including dog-friendly vinyl planks that look just like wood floors but without all the maintenance.

Take it one step further and add in radiant heat beneath the floors. Walking on a warm floor can help minimize aches and pains your pet may get over time and is a cozy bonus to the humans in the house as well! Discover the many flooring options available to you.

3. Furnish With a Purpose

Home improvement projects often go hand-in-hand with new furniture. Take the extra time to research pieces that interest you to ensure they are easy to clean and can withstand life with a dog. This does not mean you have to forego your preferred style, just that you should put in due diligence to learn how pieces need to be cleaned and protected in advance.

You may have to tweak your choices a little bit for a more pet-friendly home, but it will save you the headache of having to replace items before you are ready down the road. Want to convince your pet to stay off the sofa? Build a DIY Murphy dog bed that can be pulled down to create a perfect nap zone and folded up when you prefer it out of the way.

4. Include a Dog Shower

One interesting way to add a pet-friendly upgrade and also increase the value of your home is to build a dog shower. When remodeling a bathroom, give your shower additional function by adding in a second showerhead about 3 feet off the floor with an extended hose and nozzle that can be detached.

Or consider adding a tiled dog shower to a mudroom or near an entryway to clean muddy paws before they leave tracks through the rest of the house. A laundry room is another prime location for a small bathing station due to the likelihood of already-present drainage and the ease of throwing towels into the wash.

5. Landscape With Your Dog in Mind

Create a yard that is interesting to both you and your pet by creating pathways with shrubbery and trees as well as areas where they can roll around and play. Choose hearty greenery that will not be easily destroyed by paws that may trek through them, and avoid plants that are dangerous to canines.

If you live in an area where your yard may be covered in snow at times, avoid designs that include rocky areas, drops, and other elements that can result in injuries to your pet if hidden in a blanket of white.

6. Choose the Perfect Fence

All fences are not created equal. Make sure the fence is tall enough that your pet will not be able to jump over and installed deep enough that they will not dig beneath. Dogs can wreak havoc on some outdoor materials, so verify that the fencing you choose will be able to withstand any abuse that comes its way. A professional can help you learn more about your fencing options as a pet owner.

7. Incorporate Ramps

Whether your dog is aging and dealing with joint issues or is young and spry, consider adding ramps to your remodeling design. This allows your pet to move about your home with ease and eliminates the stress that stairs can place on the body in later years. Having ramps placed as alternatives to stairs and sizeable jumps can also eliminate the potential for injury in eager pups or small breeds who do not always recognize the limitations of their diminutive size.

8. Rethink Your Decor

Avoid heartbreak by minimizing fragile pieces throughout any space that your pet can access. If you have a fragile family heirloom, it is best to find a secure home for it on an upper shelf. Wagging tails are notorious for swooshing breakables off lower surfaces and onto the floor.

That oversized blown glass vase that would look perfect by the newly remodeled entryway? It likely will not survive the excited reception your pet gives each time you arrive home. Stick with sturdy decorations that can withstand an occasional knock and minimize decor that is set directly on the floor whenever possible.

At Best Pick Reports, we have an array of resources to get you started with your pet-friendly upgrades.  Visit us to find companies who can help with your home renovation and remodeling projects.