When designing a home, it's essential to consider the needs and comfort of every family member, including your beloved pets. Pets bring joy and companionship to many people's lives, so creating a pet-friendly environment is crucial; plus, it keeps them safe from harm (and protects your house too). Read on to find out what architectural design ideas would be perfect for homes with pets so you can add them if you need to.
1. Pet-Friendly Flooring
Choosing the right flooring for your home is a crucial decision for homeowners when they are designing somewhere to live, and when there is a pet involved, there is even more to consider. You'll need to think of materials that are durable and long-lasting, and that won't show up any scratches or marks. Some great examples include ceramic tiles, laminate, or luxury vinyl.
You'll also want flooring that is easy to clean, which is why carpeting might not be ideal. You can always add a rug to your harder floors to soften the interior of your home if that is something you want to do. The rug will be a great design feature, and because it's more mobile than a carpet, you can clean it – or replace it – if need be.
2. Built-In Pet Areas
Your pet might be allowed to wander all over the house, and that is a nice thing to be able to let them do if you are happy with that. However, do you really want them to be able to do this when you're not there? They could get into all kinds of mischief, they might get lost, or they might get hurt. Step 1 is to have great multi pet insurance to help if any of this were to happen, but step 2 is to ensure that you've done everything you can to prevent any accidents where possible. You have the backup of having cover if an accident were to happen, but you have done what you can to reduce the number of accidents.
One way to deal with this potential problem is to build special pet areas in your home. You can do this using barriers and stair gates, but if you want it to look good, it's best to have an expert create the ideal little sanctuary for your pet. The understairs area is often a good space, but there could be many more to choose from. In this way, your animal has its own space to go when it needs to be alone, and you'll know they are safe and sound when you're not there.
3. A Mudroom
Although not all pets are going to make a mess and get muddy, if you have dogs (or cats, but to a much lesser extent), you'll find they can get very dirty when they come back from walks or even playing in the garden. To save all this mud and mess from getting into your home, you can build a mudroom. A mudroom is a transition area between the outside and the rest of your home, and it's the ideal spot to wipe down dirty dogs and even clean their feet if you need to. Have a dedicated washing station to help you with this, complete with running water, towels, and dog shampoo.
