Should You Consider Pets When Designing Your Custom Home?

Many families these days include at least one furry friend. Although almost half of all homes have a pet they often get left out of the design process when building or renovating a house. This can have many implications from endangering your pet to destroying your freshly built or renovated house. Here are a few things to keep in mind when starting a design process that will have your cat purring and your dog forever wagging his or her tail.

If you are looking to build a new home or are looking for a home to renovate consider a few things for your pet(s).

Location, Location, Location

Investigate what parks or trails are nearby. Dogs need their exercise so make sure that you have enough green space nearby that you know your dog will enjoy. Make sure that you have somewhere within walking distance and check to see the regulations of the parks to determine if they are on or off leash parks.

Cleaning and maintenance

When I brought my dog home, the breeder told me that he didn’t shed because he had hair and not fur. Boy was she wrong. It seems that there is always hair to be found just minutes after vacuuming. Consider a central vacuum as they have great suction power and are easy to grab and use regularly. Avoid white walls and finishes as you will eventually become dirty from your pets rubbing against them.

Choosing a heating system

Forced air is a great way to heat a house but make sure you install a good air filtration system and replace your filters regularly as a lot of hair and dirt from your animals can get circulated through your furnace and blown back into your home. Baseboard heat eliminates this problem but can be expensive to run. Consider radiant floor heating as an efficient alternative. Your home will have a consistent temperature throughout and your animals will spend more time off the furniture and on your climate controlled floors.

Flooring

There are few flooring options that are ideal for your pets. Avoid installing wall to wall carpet as it is a magnet for pet dander and hardwood will scratch before you have finished unpacking. Consider laminate hardwood as it is very resilient to scratching. Tile is another great option as well but can come with a high price tag. If you are set on installing hardwood make sure that it can be refinished in the future and if you want carpet consider getting a colour similar to that of your animal(s) to hide their fur.

Just for your pet

Consider doing something special for your pet in the design phase. Consider where you want their water and food bowls to go and design a spot so they are not in the middle of the floor. Create a specific place for your litter box so you can avoid the sight and smell of it. If you have a specific location where your furry friend hangs out when you are not home, (a popular place is the laundry room) design the space so they feel comfortable and want to spend time there. Consider an area in your living or family room that will fit a dog bed. If you are installing shelving or cabinets in those rooms customize an area in them that will fit their bed to maximize space and avoid a tripping hazard.

We all love our animals and include them as part of the family but they can sometimes be neglected when making big life decisions such as home building and renovations. But that added effort to include your pet in the design process can truly make your pet happy and turn a house into your home.