25 Ideas For Creating A Pet Space The Whole Family Will Love

The love we have for our pets is a unique one, and there's an invaluable measure of warmth and comfort that they add to our homes. Many would argue that walking through the front door to find a jumping dog who is beyond excited to see you is one of the better feelings in the world. Whether it's a cat you've had since you were a teenager or a gerbil that's been your daughter's best friend for all of three months, it's undeniable that these furry critters capture our hearts quickly. And in the last few years, the U.S. has continued to see an increase in the number of families welcoming pets into their households.

A 2021-2022 annual survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) found that 70% of U.S. households have a pet, amounting to 90.5 million homes. Cats and dogs are certainly the most commonly owned animals, with 69 million families owning dogs and 45.3 million owning cats, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of homes welcoming rabbits, birds, and guinea pigs. Regardless of which furry friends are roaming your halls, there are countless ways to keep your home stylish and comfortable for them while also keeping it nice and tidy for you.

There's no need to waste any critical storage space. Instead, take on the DIY project of creating a cozy hideaway for your pet under the staircase. These areas can store any toys and accessories you desire whilst offering the cutest space for your animals to retreat. 

Working from home has many benefits and that includes spending all day with your beloved animals, and it's no secret that they prefer to be where we are. Create a designated area for them to relax with you as you work the afternoon away. Love seats, day beds, benches, or just a good old fashioned dog bed are all great ways to ramp up the style in your home office.

Lucky for us, our pets tend to be smaller than humans and don't need nearly as much space. If you don't have an extra bedroom at your disposable, a closet will work just as well. Create a cozy retreat for your beloved pet that has all their favorite toys and the comfiest bed. Then use the curtain rod to hang their winter coats.

Even if you don't want to take on DIY projects for pet accommodations, you can still create a space that feels entirely meant for them by giving your animal their own style. Color coordinate their toys, collars, sweaters, bed, and more for a look that solely belongs to them yet fits right into the family vibe.

Most of us give our pets a slew of toys, sweaters, and collars, which offers the perfect opportunity to personalize these accessories with their names. Take it a step further and get your pet's name engraved on their food bowl. Then finish off the look by hanging a sign for them above their bed.

Investing in multipurpose furniture is a seamless way to integrate your pets into the home. With endless possibilities of entertainment centers that double as dog kennels to side tables that are also cat boxes to cages for birds and bunnies that look like china cabinets, your home will be infused with stylish glamor alongside your critters.

Ultimately, pets do better in a home where the possibility of accidental damage is low. As dogs and cats run crazy across hardwood floors or a new puppy has an accident on the carpet, it's very easy for our floors to quickly deteriorate. Vinyl flooring is a durable, waterproof, and affordable alternative that will ensure your pets can roam wild as they work out their daily zoomies.

Some weeks you are unavoidably too busy to make it to the dog park, so bring the park to your home. In a room that is dedicated to your pets, or simply in a corner of the living room, consider laying out a ball pit along with some tunnels and slides. This will also give indoor-only pets like cats or ferrets a fun obstacle course to work through. 

Pets of all different kinds have been shown to prefer running water as it signifies to them a cleaner drink than stagnant water would provide. Giving your pets small fountains for their water intake will not only make them happy, but it'll look absolutely adorable as there are so many styles to choose from.

Cats love to climb and bounce around on our tables and cabinets; surely all cat owners know this from the broken lampshades and tchochkes often left in their wake. Mounted cat trees free up floor space and give your feline a dedicated area up high for all their parkour tendencies.

For smaller animals especially, indoor play pens are super easy to create with baby gates. Along with a bed and toys include fake grass patches, and try placing it near a window for sunshine and a comforting view of the outdoors.

Rather than sell that expensive crib your child has outgrown, turn it into the perfect bed or crate for your furry friend. Whether or a dog, cat, or other small pet, there are ample design opportunities here to create a cozy resting place for your animals.