Good Design for Fur ‘Babies’

Good access, workflow and organization are high on many homeowners’ wish lists for their kitchens, bathrooms, closets and laundry rooms. But what about the home spaces dedicated to pets?

Don’t pets — and their two-legged caretakers — deserve good, functional design too? Based on the 3.9 percent compound annual growth rate in durable pet-care products between 2015 and 2020, as documented by research firm Packaged Facts, it’s safe to assume that homeowners have a keen interest in devoting resources to their fur babies.

When designing for pet needs, factors you must consider include the type of pets and their general needs for sleep spaces, feeding stations, bathing and grooming areas, and access to outdoor spaces and litter boxes.

Sleeping and Security Spaces

Many pets have soft, transportable beds that are simply placed on the floor. However, when floor space is at a premium, it’s just a matter of getting creative by designing built-in sleeping nooks with or without doors in base cabinetry, murphy beds or under interior stair accommodations (think Harry Potter closet).