Ideas for a Stylish and Efficient Pet-Friendly Remodel
May 28, 2025
When planning a home remodel, you must consider the needs of your household. This means designing for every member of your home, including the furry family members! If you are like us, your pets are more than just loyal companions; they are a treasured part of your family, and their needs must be catered to throughout your home.
Pets come with a lot of equipment, food, and accessories, which is why we see a growing trend to integrate pet-friendly features into home remodeling projects. From kitchens with built-in feeding stations to living rooms with customized beds and pet-friendly flooring, or laundry rooms with built-in litter boxes and dog washing stations, there are many ways to easily integrate your pet’s needs into your home design.
The team at Haile Kitchen & Bath is committed to creating functional and stylish spaces that cater to the entire family, including furry family members. Let’s explore design features that balance stylish and functional solutions for key areas in your Gainesville home, creating spaces that are beautiful, efficient, and safe for everyone to use.
Kitchen Design: Where Classic Style Meets Pet-Friendly Functionality
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and where many of us spend a large amount of time. It is also where the best smells in the house come from, which naturally makes it a popular spot for your dog or cat. Let’s face it, pets want to be near you, but also on hand to receive treats! Your kitchen design must be efficient and safe for all family members, so it makes sense to create a design that allows for your pets’ needs.
1. Efficient Layout
The layout is the foundation of any kitchen design and provides the basis for your room’s flow of traffic, storage, work spaces, and more. When planning your kitchen’s layout, consider spaces where your pets will be welcome and areas you want them to avoid, then plan pet zones for things like food, beds, and more.
2. Built-In Feeding Stations
Incorporate pull-out drawers with built-in feeding bowls to keep the kitchen organized and tidy, and to prevent tripping hazards from having bowls underfoot. If you don’t want to include built-in bowls, then consider an out-of-the-way space for feeding pets and add drawers in your kitchen cabinets to tuck bowls away when not in use.
3. Hidden Storage for Pet Supplies
If the kitchen is your main area for storing pet supplies, then designate specific cabinets or drawers for keeping pet food, treats, leashes, and toys. This is essential, especially if you do not have another suitable space where you can stow these items. Including custom storage ensures your essentials are organized and put away, but also within easy reach.
4. Cozy Nooks with Built-In Beds
Aside from being on hand for treats, many pets’ favorite activity is napping. Your pets like to be near you, so why not create a purpose-built environment for them within the kitchen? This means they can be close by, but have a quiet space to sleep while you do all the work!
You could create a built-in bed under the kitchen island or in a quiet corner, allowing pets to relax while keeping a close eye on you (you never know when food will fall to the floor!). For cats, consider a custom cabinet design with a bed inside and a small entrance hole for a secluded resting spot.
5. Durable and Pet-Friendly Flooring
Floors bear the brunt of activity in the home, especially if yours is a busy household with kids and pets. Claws, especially, can do a number on your floors, so it pays to choose a durable and stylish material that will last for years to come. Opt for scratch-resistant and easy-to-clean flooring materials like luxury vinyl tile or plank, or porcelain tile. These materials are hard-wearing, but also easy to maintain. LVT/P has the added benefit of being comfortable for pets to walk and lie on.
6. Safety Enhancements
Make sure your kitchen design is safe for everyone in your household. This is especially important in a home with children, for aging in place, and of course for your pets. For your furry family members, consider incorporating pet gates to restrict access to the kitchen during cooking times. You could also install induction cooktops for a reliable, easy-to-clean, and efficient cooking method that helps to prevent accidental burns from hot surfaces.
Living Room Design: Comfort and Functionality for All
Next to the kitchen, the living room is one of the areas where we tend to spend the most time in our homes. They offer comfortable seating, entertainment centers, and cozy features ideal for relaxing or hosting guests. They are also a favorite among pets who like to curl up while we binge-watch our favorite program, or to retreat away from the busy household for a quiet daytime snooze. By including your pet’s needs in your living room design, you will create a space where everyone is comfortable.
1. Pet-Friendly Furniture and Fabrics
We all say we will avoid letting our pets on the furniture, but let’s face it, that only lasts so long. Cats invariably wind up on furniture, because cats do whatever they want! While dogs may start out banned from the couch, those puppy dog eyes always win in the end. Plan for having pets on your furniture by selecting options with durable, stain-resistant, easy-to-clean fabrics that can withstand pet hair and claws. You might consider options with slipcovers that are easy to remove and wash.
2. Integrated Pet Spaces
Pets enjoy having a variety of spaces to sleep and lounge. Design built-in crates or pet beds within custom cabinetry, in a cozy corner, or under a window seat. Remember that cats like high-up spaces, so consider where they can sleep, such as in a window or on a designated shelf.
3. Flooring Considerations
Select flooring materials that are resistant to scratches, easy to clean, and simple to maintain, such as tile, luxury vinyl, or sealed hardwood. In an open plan kitchen and living area, you could select a single, durable flooring material to connect these spaces. Add area rugs with non-slip backings and that are easy to clean to make your living room more comfortable for all users.
4. Storage Solutions
Incorporate storage in the living room for pet toys and accessories in customized cabinetry, drawers, or on shelves. This keeps your living room organized and their toys, blankets, and more readily available for playtime.
Laundry Room and Mudroom: Create Functional Spaces for Pet Care
No matter how much you take care of your pet, most are inherently messy creatures. Dogs get dirty on walks or when running around in your backyard. Cats’ litter boxes smell, even when you clean them regularly, and they invariably spread litter around. Both dogs and cats shed fur, no matter how hard you try to keep them groomed. Pets also have a lot of equipment and accessories, such as grooming supplies, leashes, coats, and more. For the messy part of pet ownership, a customized pet area in your laundry room, utility, or mudroom can be a lifesaver.
1. Dedicated Pet Washing Stations
Install a customized washing station in an enclosed laundry or utility room. If your laundry is not enclosed, then put pet gates up to keep your dog contained during washing. Include a handheld sprayer for easy cleaning of muddy paws after a walk or for a full wash and grooming session.
2. Built-In Crates and Beds
Include space in your laundry or mudroom’s custom cabinet design for built-in crates or pull-out beds. This offers pets a comfortable resting area away from the main home living spaces.
3. Secluded Space for a Litter Box
If you have cats, then you know how important it is to have a space away from your kitchen and living areas, yet still accessible, for the cat litter box. An enclosed laundry or utility room is the ideal spot, provided you can keep the space available to your cat at all times. Include a custom cabinet for the litter box with a cutout to give your cat easy access and a door that opens to make it simple to clean. Or designate an out-of-the-way space to place your litter box, with room to store clean litter, a litter scoop, and trash bags. An alternative solution is to include space in a seldom-used spare bathroom design where the litter box will be out of the way.
4. Organized Storage for Pet Essentials
Just like in any other room, it is essential to include space in cabinets, shelves, or drawers for storing pet food, grooming supplies, and your pet’s outdoor gear.
5. Durable Materials
Rooms like a laundry or utility require durable and water-resistant materials anyway, since they are moisture and dirt-prone spaces. This makes these rooms ideal for pets since the same materials can stand up to their messy paws and spilled water bowls. Include water-resistant and easy-to-clean materials like tile for flooring and walls, particularly around a pet washing station or feeding area.
6. Feeding Station
An enclosed space, like a laundry or utility room, can also be ideal for your pet’s feeding and water station. However, make sure they have ready access to this room so they can reach their water bowl whenever they need a drink. If you have multiple animals, where some pets need to be fed separately, you could have one feeding area in the kitchen and another in the utility room.
Other Ideas for a Pet-Friendly Home Design
There are beautiful and functional features you can incorporate throughout your home to make sure your pets are safe and comfortable.
1. Smart Home Integration
Incorporate smart pet doors that allow controlled and monitored access for pets to the outdoors. Smart cat doors with a microchip let your cat exit and enter while keeping other cats out of your home. Use automated feeders and water dispensers to maintain a regular feeding schedule. In-home cameras let you keep an eye on your pets while you are out.
2. Safety Measures
Make sure your trash cans are secure and pet-proof to prevent pets from getting into them. Keep food items safely stowed to avoid pets consuming foods dangerous to them. Store cleaning supplies, laundry products, and other hazardous materials in locked cabinets.
3. Aesthetic Touches
Pets are an integral part of your family and household, so choose beds, accessories, and feeding stations that integrate with your home’s style. Find beds, food bowls, leash hooks, and toy storage that match and enhance your home’s décor. Where possible, use custom cabinetry that matches your home’s cabinets to store necessities.
Show Love for Your Pets By Including Them in Your Home Remodeling Plans!
It’s important to plan designs for your home that fit all family members, including your furry children. By integrating pet-friendly features into your home, you will ensure the comfort and safety of the entire family. Clever design features provide room for pets that keep them close without interfering with the movement of humans throughout the home. Work with our professional design and remodeling team in Gainesville (who are also pet lovers!) to create a home that is stylish, efficient, and accommodates your pets. Contact us today to get started!