12 Character-Filled Spaces for Pets in the Home
Give your best friend pride of place with these pet-friendly spaces
Dogs and cats have an important place in most Australian homes, but there are practicalities to consider. Adapting your house to suit your pets can make life easier for us as well as them, and can even add a welcome sense of humour.
Here are some ideas to make your pet feel more like part of the family.
Here are some ideas to make your pet feel more like part of the family.
2. Built-in bowls
How fabulous is this kitchen island? Store your dogs’ food, leads and toys in the drawers above and their food and water in the bowls below. Note the over-bowl lighting – we can’t have the pooches not being able to see what they’re eating, now can we?
How fabulous is this kitchen island? Store your dogs’ food, leads and toys in the drawers above and their food and water in the bowls below. Note the over-bowl lighting – we can’t have the pooches not being able to see what they’re eating, now can we?
3. Stylish snoozing
This snazzy dog bed has been built into the kitchen island. You may think the colour-coordinated cushions and mattress cover is going a little too far, but I beg to differ. The dogs may not care – they’d be just as happy with an old blanket thrown on the floor – but you’re the one who has to look at it, so why not make this space as beautiful as the rest of the house?
This snazzy dog bed has been built into the kitchen island. You may think the colour-coordinated cushions and mattress cover is going a little too far, but I beg to differ. The dogs may not care – they’d be just as happy with an old blanket thrown on the floor – but you’re the one who has to look at it, so why not make this space as beautiful as the rest of the house?
4. No-go zone
As much you love your dog, some rooms may be off limits. Setting down the rules is easier when there’s a clear boundary. This pop-up barricade blends in effortlessly with the staircase.
As much you love your dog, some rooms may be off limits. Setting down the rules is easier when there’s a clear boundary. This pop-up barricade blends in effortlessly with the staircase.
5. Just for cats
Kitty litter is a fact of life for indoor cat owners. This hilarious cupboard door makes it clear what’s inside and adds serious fun factor to this house.
Kitty litter is a fact of life for indoor cat owners. This hilarious cupboard door makes it clear what’s inside and adds serious fun factor to this house.
6. After-dark
The laundry is often the best place for a dog at night-time if uninterrupted sleep is important to you. These comfy built-in beds can be left where they are during the day and never get in the way.
The laundry is often the best place for a dog at night-time if uninterrupted sleep is important to you. These comfy built-in beds can be left where they are during the day and never get in the way.
7. Canine nook
If you’ve wondered whether you could make better use of that space under the stairs, why not make it a space for your dog to eat and nap?
If you’ve wondered whether you could make better use of that space under the stairs, why not make it a space for your dog to eat and nap?
8. Built-in crate
Dogs like having a space they know is just for them, and a den-like home like this one means yours will never mind going in for the night.
Dogs like having a space they know is just for them, and a den-like home like this one means yours will never mind going in for the night.
9. A room of one’s own
If you have the space, glam it up for your fortunate friends with custom-made furniture and purpose-built sleeping quarters. Fido can have all his friends sleep over, too.
If you have the space, glam it up for your fortunate friends with custom-made furniture and purpose-built sleeping quarters. Fido can have all his friends sleep over, too.
10. Room to move
The birds will stay safe from the cats that live in this house. With all these stairs and runs to explore, there’ll be no time to try to escape outside. Yes, the cat run continues into the other rooms of the house as well…
The birds will stay safe from the cats that live in this house. With all these stairs and runs to explore, there’ll be no time to try to escape outside. Yes, the cat run continues into the other rooms of the house as well…
11. Bath time
It’s the age-old dilemma. Do you wash the dogs in the laundry sink? In the bath? The shower? With the hose outside? There are drawbacks to all of these options, but this home has it sorted. The bath is raised off the ground enough to save your back, keeps splashes at bay, has a flexible hose for easy rinsing, and is simple to clean. What more could a dog owner ask for?
It’s the age-old dilemma. Do you wash the dogs in the laundry sink? In the bath? The shower? With the hose outside? There are drawbacks to all of these options, but this home has it sorted. The bath is raised off the ground enough to save your back, keeps splashes at bay, has a flexible hose for easy rinsing, and is simple to clean. What more could a dog owner ask for?
12. Grand entrance
This playful take on a cartoon mouse door is actually the cat’s entryway into a cupboard off the main bathroom that houses the kitty litter tray. Genius.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
How have you catered for your pets? We’d love to see the weird and wonderful ways you show them some love, so attach your high-resolution photos in the comments section below.
This playful take on a cartoon mouse door is actually the cat’s entryway into a cupboard off the main bathroom that houses the kitty litter tray. Genius.
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU…
How have you catered for your pets? We’d love to see the weird and wonderful ways you show them some love, so attach your high-resolution photos in the comments section below.
If you don’t want your dog sleeping in bed with you but can’t bring yourself to put them in another room, a dog bed with matching linen placed next to yours could be the answer. Life isn’t meant to be too serious, is it?