Designers Share Their Secrets to a Purr-Fect, Pet-Friendly Home

A pet is a human’s best friend and trusted companion, but they’re also a homeowner’s roommate. After years of impulse-buying a cat tree that’s on super-sale or the first water bowl you find—and, in doing so, writing those pet essentials off as an afterthought—homeowners are ready to give their furry friends the spotlight. Naturally, in the design world, that means cleverly integrating your pet’s needs into your home.

For Morgan Blinn of Rumor Designs, a pet-centric approach has been long overdue. “Homeowners shouldn’t have to sacrifice beautiful finishes for their pets,” says the Steamboat Springs, Colorado designer. “Fortunately, brands are catching on and offering durable options that can withstand the slightly more chaotic nature of pet ownership.”

Courtney B. Smith, who owns her eponymous design firm in California’s Marin County, agrees and says it’s time to think outside of the box. “The best way to design a home that works as well for pets as it does for humans is to integrate the necessities using the same thought and taste level you do for other decor and furniture selections,” she shares.

Read on for the clever ways the pros are designing homes with Fido in mind.

Consider Their Needs

Design by Rumor Design; Photo by David Patterson Photography

Your pet pooch needs to eat, sleep, and bathe, so why not have designated spots to do so? Blinn recently carved out a pet-washing station in her client’s mudroom—and it has become the home’s underdog. 

“Their dog is a huge part of their lives, and because they include her in all activities, they wanted an easy place to bathe her after a muddy hike, lake day, or outdoor outing. It’s an easy solution for a dirty dog.” The handheld nozzle and slightly raised shower floor create an intuitive setup for all parties.

Discreet Decisions

Design by Courtney B. Smith Design; Photo by Bess Friday Photography

Kristina Khersonsky of STUDIO KEETA in Los Angeles says the smartest ideas are hiding in plain sight. “The goal isn’t to erase the fact that an animal lives there but to make their presence and rituals considered and therefore account for them in the design development to ensure a seamless, stylish looking space,” the designer explains. 

The magic, Khersonsky says, lies in some careful planning upfront. If you know you want to create a pet-friendlier home, you can integrate a feeding zone into the kitchen’s millwork or allocate some precious closet space for an impressive leash display. Or, in Smith’s case, thinking ahead can help you make the most of those awkward, under-utilized spaces. The Northern California designer recently hid a crate area in her client’s laundry room behind a floral café curtain. 

“Rather than clutter corners with eyesores like plastic food bins or unsightly metal crates, up-level the basics to reflect your home’s style,” she adds. “Who says form and function aren’t best friends?!” Meanwhile, Lindsay Olson, who runs Lulu Designs in California, added a custom feeding zone and built-in nap nook to a recent project.

Purr-fect Finishes

Courtesy of Lulu Designs

Materials always matter, but they’re even more pressing when your home is full of muddy paws and slobbery kisses. “We specify materials that are going to age beautifully or when it comes to soft furnishings, textiles that are performance or have a high rating for the abrasion test,” Khersonsky says. “Lucky for us, many textile houses have invested in developing quality performance fabrics that no longer are equivalent to outdoor fabrics or are too rigid and stiff.”

Performance fabrics might be paramount, but Olson doesn’t discount a room’s underfoot. “I avoid high-gloss finishes and narrow planks that amplify every imperfection,” she reveals. “I’ve found that wide-plank oak with a matte finish, honed stone, or large-format tile with minimal grout lines hide scratches, don’t show every paw print, and clean up in seconds.”

All the fun of having a pet minus the relentless upkeep? Sounds paw-fect.