Homeowner's Clever Design Gets Rid Of The Dog Kennel Eyesore: 'I Love It!'

When TikTokker Kimberly Burton posted three practical ideas from her new-build home in 2024, she likely did not expect the biggest chunk of the conversation to focus on the way she achieved a built-in dog kennel by using cabinetry in her well-appointed laundry room, avoiding the eyesore of a standalone crate. Many commenters heaped praise on Burton's space-saving and aesthetically pleasing hack, noting, "I love functional customizations," "Build in dog kennel is a great idea," and, "I love it." But, I was truly surprised that so many of the 307 comments ripped into the concept of crating dogs rather than this specific project, with remarks like, "I'll never understand people who cage animals! Humans should be caged instead." Aren't the naysayers aware that the veterinarian-endorsed practice of crating dogs indoors is well established, and the concept of making kennels less conspicuous is actually trending?

Like Burton's concept, lots of designs make it easy to build a homemade haven for your dog as a DIY crate cabinet. Dog owners are building crates into end tables, bookcases, benches, and more, as in a seamlessly disguised dog crate with a genius IKEA dresser hack. I did something similar when I had dogs by integrating a crate with a side table in my living room. Having seen many designs on social media that serve double-duty as decor and furniture pieces, I was impressed with such a simple design that uses existing cabinetry. The commenter who lamented, "I sooo wish I was handy to build one of these," probably could do so. The lower cabinet appears to have had only a few minor modifications — a lattice cutout used as a cabinet door panel for airflow, the bottom of the cabinet removed, and a hook-and-eye latch for the door to keep the pups in.

Kimberly Burton did herself no favors with the words she used in the TikTok video's voiceover, in which she said, "We added a built-in dog kennel in our laundry room so that when we're gone, the dogs could be hidden away, still comfortable, and we wouldn't have to have a big, ugly dog kennel in the house." This prompted remarks like, "It's a great idea if it doesn't mean banishing your fur babies to a dark cabinet out of [sight] to not ruin your aesthetic." One commenter retorted to Burton's many defenders with, "Whatever you say, Mrs. Dursley," a reference to the "Harry Potter" character who locked Harry in a cupboard. But seriously, what's wrong with integrating dog crating into your home design? Let's put an end to crate-shaming. 

Unlike many TikTokkers I've seen, Burton graciously responded to most comments, explaining that the kennel goes all the way into the back corner of the cabinet and is bigger than an extra-large standalone kennel. She also assured those concerned that her two small dogs love being in their kennel and seek it out on their own. 

I particularly loved the excellent suggestion several people made to place a sticker on the front door of the home to alert first responders to the unusual location of the doggos in case of an emergency. You can even get free rescue stickers from the ASPCA. If you're looking to make your home more dog-friendly in a way that saves space and doesn't compromise your decor, I recommend taking Kimberly Burton's critics with a grain a salt, doing your own research on crating, and let your creativity loose on a dog crate that meets your needs.