Some pet owners go to great lengths to offer a luxurious atmosphere for their pets. That is particularly noticeable when it comes time to remodeling and making home improvements. They spend a lot of money on remodels that they hope their pets will appreciate, from installing in-wall cat tunnels to designing outside dog runs. However, sometimes the secret to the best pet-friendly remodeling ideas lies in simplicity. You don’t have to splurge to create a safe haven for your furry friends. Here are some tips.
Photo Credit – Pexels1. Your pet’s safety should be above all else
Remodeling is an excellent way to make your home more pet-friendly. However, it can also be hazardous to your pets. Keep the following safety precautions in mind when renovating your property.
- Ventilation is important
Even if you have an open-plan living space, you still need to ventilate the area. Especially if you tend to clean your home with some more potent chemicals, make sure that it won’t harm your pet. Installing a ventilation system may sound a bit extreme. Nevertheless, you should objectively estimate the situation and do everything necessary.
- Create a first aid kit storage for your pet
Taking a drawer and filling it up with items that’ll aid your pet in their time of need is necessary. It should be easily reachable, and the ideal place would probably be the bathroom. Here, you can keep anything from disinfectants and bandages to probiotics and vitamins.
2. Create more storage in your home to make room for pet-friendly home remodeling
To be able to keep all the goodies that’ll inevitably come with owning a pet, your home will need some space. Luckily, there’s plenty of great pet-friendly house remodeling ideas out there for you to take inspiration from.
- Install as many shelves as your home allows you
- Make sure to completely utilize your basement and attic
- Use hooks to hang anything you can store that way
- Purchase double duty furnishing
If you own a lot of things and can’t create storage inside your home, don’t worry. You don’t have to get rid of everything that you own. Finding a place for all your extra items is possible. However, you will need to prioritize. Separate items you use daily from those that you could live without. Once you’ve divided them into two piles, get the less necessary one ready for storage. Moving your things to a storage unit has been a life-saver for many.
3. Your pet needs its own space
This one might be the most important one to remember out of all the pet-friendly home remodeling ideas. Even though your pet is dependent on you, and it’ll spend most of its time right by your side, they still need a section of your home that’ll be just for them.
- Built-in beds
According to several experts, it is critical to provide your furry friends with a separate sleeping area. Crates aren’t usually a very appealing option. They can also take up a significant amount of space. Pet beds can be integrated into shelves, cupboards, and other built-in features of your home instead.
- Kitten highways and other playful objects
If you’re looking to create the perfect playroom for your pets, there are plenty of options out there. A cat highway is an excellent idea that you can play around with. It can be as small or as big as you want. There’s a lot of flexibility and great design ideas that could go with nearly any interior.
- Mudrooms
Shelves, hooks, and other storage options are typically found in mudrooms. They keep outdoor gear nice and organized, both for you and your pets. Some mudrooms come with a large faucet for simple cleanup, which could be ideal for bathing small dogs. Some may even include a walk-in shower, which is perfect for cleaning and drying medium to large dogs.
4.Install a feeding station
Most pet owners prefer their dogs and cats to dine in the kitchen with the rest of the family. However, because kitchens are the busiest rooms in most homes, it’s easy to knock over pet dishes. Spilled kibble, water, and wet food can also scatter throughout the kitchen if your pets are messy eaters. A built-in feeding station is a terrific pet-friendly home improvement concept for keeping the area clean and feeding time regulated. This is a great way to both remodel your home in a pet-friendly way and to save yourself the trouble of having to clean your kitchen more times than you can count.
5. Make your home a welcoming place for your future pet by making adjustments
Especially if you’re adopting your pet from a shelter, chances are they’ll be a bit timid at first. Of course, the best way to deal with this is to be kind, loving, nurturing, and patient. However, more often than not, that’s not enough. Creating a pleasant atmosphere with some items from their past could do the trick. Talk to the people that have gotten to know your furry friend. Ask them if they have any scents they prefer, for example. Or if they maybe have a blanket they’d feel comfortable sleeping with. These are some seemingly insignificant changes you can make in your home but would make all the difference.
Ask professionals for some advice
Before you get to the remodeling part of the equation, contact professionals for anything you might need in the upcoming period. Movers are ideal for many different aspects of a remodel. They can assist you in transporting your belongings, storage solutions, giving you helpful advice, etc. All you need to do is find a trustworthy company. As the guys from hansenbros.com tell us, many people hire professional moving services when they do some remodeling work.
6. Pet-proof your yard as well
Similar to childproofing, you’ll need to get your backyard ready during your pet-friendly home remodeling. Here are some tips to achieve great results without much effort:
- Get flowers that are safe for your pets. Don’t treat your lawn with pesticides or anything potentially harmful.
- Secure your garbage. Make sure that your pets can’t reach your trash.
- Put up a fence around the swimming pool if you have one.
- Check if your fence has any weak spots, your pets could quickly run away.
- Maintain your lawn regularly – ticks are a real danger. Additionally, take your pets to the vet and get them tick-repellent collars.
- Keep everything clean, and make sure to oversee if your pets bring some stuff in with them.
- Ensure that your pets can always reach water and that there’s shade in at least a small portion of your yard.
- If you live in an urban neighborhood, you can even enclose it and ensure that your pets have a secure place to run around and play.
7. Minimalism is in right now
The less cluttered your home is, the fewer chances there are for your pet to get hurt. If you’re looking for a pet-friendly home remodeling idea for your home, this one is as simple as it gets. Any useless knick-knacks are a no-go. Remember to keep an eye out for extension cords and power tools that your pet could reach.
Written By Sophia Perry – Edited By Ashley Pasquale
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