For many of us, pets become family members — furry children who never mature much beyond the toddler stage, requiring our help with everything from feeding to bathing for their entire lives. We plan playdates for them, take them on vacations and schedule our days around their needs.
I recently lost my 14-year-old dog, Max. Aside from hearing loss and arthritis, he appeared in good health and his death was unexpected. As Max had gotten older and less mobile, I’d remade parts of my house to accommodate his needs. I put down inexpensive, washable runners so Max wouldn’t slip on the hardwood floors.
And I took my bed off its frame, sleeping with the box spring and mattress on the floor for more than a year so he could jump up more easily. The runners weren’t attractive and, in addition to being uncomfortable for me, the bed on the floor looked ridiculous, as if I’d just moved into the house the day before.
Like me, three in five people give their pets free reign in all areas of their home and a similar number allow pets on the furniture, according to the 2024 U.S. Houzz Pets & the Home Study released this week. And, like Max, pets are more likely to sleep with their owners (47%) than in their own bed or crate (38%).
I would make the adjustments to my home that I made for Max all over again, but there’s something to be said for designing interiors that accommodate our pets while maintaining their functionality and style.
In its survey, Houzz found that nearly half of respondents (48%) prioritize pets when making decisions about home upgrades.
How many questions do you ask about clients’ pets and their needs in your initial questionnaires and meetings? Do you have specific pet policies for homeowners and contractors to follow during renovations to keep both people and pets safe?
Making people and pets happy
About two-thirds of Americans have a pet, and the pet market is enormous. The American Pet Products Association estimates U.S. consumers spent $147 billion on their pets in 2023, up from $136.8 billion the year before.
“As pet ownership rates continue to increase, we’re seeing an impact on home renovation decisions,” says Marine Sargsyan, staff economist for Houzz Inc., a platform for home building, remodeling and design. “Whether selecting pet-friendly materials or incorporating built-in feeding stations and cozy nooks, homeowners are designing spaces that prioritize the needs of all family members, including pets. This highlights the important role pets play in shaping how people invest in and customize their homes.”
When designing interiors for pet owners, performance fabrics and durable flooring are obvious items to incorporate. In the Houzz survey, 51% of pet owners who were renovating their homes planned to replace flooring.
But there are so many other pet-friendly details to consider:
* Mud rooms with hooks for leashes/harnesses and storage for pet carriers
* Showers specially designed for washing dogs and doing quick clean-ups of muddy paws
* Feeding stations for food and water bowls, plus nearby storage for kibbles, canned foods, treats and medications
* Built-in litter box nooks with nearby storage for litter, trash bags and cleaning products
* Built-in areas — perhaps under the stairs, in a corner of the kitchen or in the primary bedroom — for sleep or quite time
* Custom-built play towers for cats
* Custom-built ramps or stairs to help pets onto the homeowner’s bed (something I’ll consider before I adopt my next dog)
If you want to go the extra mile for pet owners, add a fun surprise at the reveal of the finished project, maybe a pet bed covered in a washable fabric that coordinates with other upholstery in the room or chests/boxes for corralling balls, stuffies and other favorites toys.
To paraphrase Roger Caras: “Pets are not our whole lives, but they make our lives (and our homes) whole.”
