Upgrade Your Pet's Food Station On A Budget With Items You Can Find From The Thrift Store & Dollar Tree

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Your pet's food station is an indispensable part of your home. Given its importance, it doesn't have to be purely functional; it can be aesthetically pleasing, too. The best part? You don't need to spend a significant sum on designer containers for your messy pets. Simply trade in the boring stainless steel dishes or basic plastic ones for eye-catching, thrifted glassware. Go thrifting to bring home decorative glass bowls on a budget. It's even better if you can find two identical ones, as this will give your pet station a cohesive look and hide the bowl's humble origins. And if you aren't a fan of cleaning your floors after every feeding session, set the thrifted dishes on a tray. Either use an old tray (if it's still in good condition) or grab one from Dollar Tree, like the Rectangle Silver Charger Plate. This will contain the mess and prevent water spills from ruining your hardwood floors.

Besides upping your feeding dishes' cool quotient, glass will promote a hygienic environment. This is primarily because glass, as a material, is non-porous. So, it won't harbor bacteria, reducing the risks of contamination. Additionally, it won't absorb odors, letting your furry friends have their meal in peace. You also won't have to worry about stains dulling their shine. Plus, they're quite simple to maintain, and you can clean these things in your house every day without issues. Bonus advantage: Most glassware is clear, so you can easily monitor your pet's eating and drinking habits. Just be sure to only buy glass bowls after careful consideration, though. You don't want to accidentally set down a chipped set in front of your pets and risk them cutting their soft tongue.

In theory, the idea is quite simple. Just get two matching glass bowls from your local thrift store and plop them on a beautiful tray. However, there are certain things you must factor in to ensure your pets like their upgraded food station as much as you. For starters, consider your dog's ear length since this will determine your bowl's shape and style. To illustrate, beagles, bassets, cocker spaniels, and other breeds featuring long, floppy ears will appreciate a narrow bowl with tall sides to keep them from getting wet. Similarly, take your pet's face shape into account. For example, pugs, English bulldogs, and Boston terriers (basically, dogs with a flat face and small ears) will prefer a wider container that they can fit their mouth into.

Coming to the tray, don't just consider whether your selected piece's design and color match (or complement) your interiors flawlessly. Since their primary job is to minimize pet food messes, pick them after you get the bowls, so you can choose one that fits the new dishes comfortably. That being said, get one that's slightly bigger if your pet is a messy eater and you don't want the area around the station to resemble a kibble stand after every feeding session. Additionally, only buy a tray that won't slip on your floor constantly. In case it isn't possible to judge, place your tray on a non-slip mat, such as Jorvila's 2 by 3 Feet Rug Pad Gripper, whenever it's mealtime. Ensure it's slightly smaller than the tray, or you'll have to clean it, too.

Despite the many benefits of glass feeding dishes, you want to keep a few things in mind to avoid harming your pets. To elaborate, remember that glass bowls can break or chip easily. So, they won't make good food containers for your overly energetic or clumsy dogs. You should also avoid them if you plan on putting them on a platform for your cats. They might knowingly or unknowingly knock over the bowls, leading to unwarranted accidents. Even if your pets fall in the well-behaved category, don't invest in glass that feels too delicate. Reinforced or tempered bowls are a better option.

Also, always check you're not relegating valuable vintage glassware from the thrift store to pet food containers. Besides the obvious reason (they're now expensive or are a collector's item), they may contain lead and poison your beloved companions. So, always check whether your beautiful vintage glass is safe to drink from prior to making it a part of your furry friend's food station. As a rule of thumb, glassware that's made in the U.S. and carries the safe for food mark will be safe for your pets to eat and drink from.