The main purpose of any home improvement project is to enhance the enjoyment of the space for all members of the house. While you may consider the needs of your human family members during this process, many times our pets are left out. This can lead to altering designs or later modifications that can end up costing you more. To avoid this dilemma, try adopting these seven pet owner approved renovations into your home.
1. A Bed of Their Own
Sure you love your pet, but you might not love sharing a bed with them. The best way to get them out of your bed is to build them a bed of their own. This way you can spread out and enjoy your bed all to yourself without a paw hitting you in the face while you sleep.
You can hire either a carpenter or a handyman to help you out with this project. Whether you need a custom bed built to help with the arthritic joints of a senior dog, a hammock installed under a window for your cat or something funky made for your turtle, you can custom design a bed to make you both happy. You will both sleep better having separate beds.
2. Convenient and Custom Mudroom
Many Canadian homes have mudrooms either at the front or back of the house. These rooms are usually by the main entrance of your home and maybe separated by a door. The purpose of a mudroom is to help keep mud, snow and slush from entering your home. It’s typical for homeowners to decorate their mudrooms with practical items such as coat hooks, shoe racks, and a good quality welcome mat.
If you’re renovating an entrance area in your home, consider creating a custom mudroom for your furry friend. Based on the available space you have, you can create a paw cleaning station for your dogs to wash up after coming in from a long walk. You can also install leash hooks, add storage bins for their clothes and toys, and hang your walk essentials for a convenient experience each time you leave or return from a walk. Connect with a handyman who can help you create a custom and convenient and custom mudroom for your pooch.
3. In-House Pet Grooming Station
Grooming your pet can be a very challenging task. Brushing their hair, bathing them, clipping their long nails, cleaning their teeth and ears, cleaning their water tanks (for fish and some types of turtles), and the list can go on and on! Hiring a pet groomer every week or making special appointments to pet grooming stations every month can be quite expensive. You can groom your pet at home and save on cost and time if you have a personalized grooming station as per your pet’s needs.
Based on the type of pet(s) you own, you can create a luxurious bathroom for them along with small vanity space. Basements are perfect areas to build such stations. Your local basement renovation pro can help you with plumbing, electrical and carpentry work to set up a brand new grooming station for your pet in your basement.
4. Smart Feeding Stations
Just like the rest of the electronics in our homes, pet feeding stations have evolved over time. They are great if you have multiple types of pets who may be on different feeding schedules. When renovating your kitchen or mudroom, think about incorporating a smart feeding station for your pets.
To enhance the meal experience of your pets, you can get a brand new fully automated pet feeder. You can set it up on voice command, set specific times to dispense food or treats, and even watch your pets enjoy their treats from a built-in pet cam! These automated pet-feeding stations are life-savers if you’re travelling, going to work or have to leave your pets alone at home.
“By being able to set my fur baby’s mealtimes automatically I can sleep past 6 am with no interruptions and go on overnight trips without worrying about her missing a meal. I don’t need to worry about power outages either since there’s a backup battery in case of a blackout when I’m gone.”
-Shelby Davis, Email Developer, B2B Customer Marketing, HomeStars
5. In-House Safety Fencing
We love our pets, but sometimes we need privacy and distance from them to get work done. In-house fencing is a great idea if you have multiple dogs and want to create a pet-free zone on one side of your house. Many homeowners like to add in-house fencing to their basement, nursery and study rooms. Whatever your reason may be, you can also add a high fence door with a lock and prevent your dogs from entering a specific room of your choice. You can hire a local fencing expert to add this custom fencing to your doors without damaging door frames and walls.
6. Pet-Friendly Carpet
Carpets can add a luxurious feel to any room. They are comfortable, reduce sound and are the best alternative to expensive flooring alternatives. However, not all types of carpets are pet-friendly. Pet birds, cats, dogs, ferrets and rabbits can easily ruin your carpet with their sharp claws, by having an accident on it or just by the shedding of their hair. You can buy a high-power vacuum cleaner and clean the carpet every day or simply buy a pet-friendly carpet to save trouble! You can hire a company to help you purchase and install a pet-friendly carpet as well as local carpet cleaners as per your requirements.
7. Wall Mounted Cat Trees
Any cat lover will tell you that cats love climbing, especially on high-up structures. In this process, they can often knock over and break decorations and plants placed on top of cabinets, bookcases and storage units. Instead of shooing your cat down daily or decorating around them, you can instead build something specifically for them.
By enlisting the help of a carpenter or a handyman, you can build a fun and challenging cat tree on your wall. Other options include utilizing the structural pillars in your basement or main floor. While store-bought versions do exist, they can be flimsy. If you want only the best for your pet, invest in something built just for them.
If you have pet rabbits, you can build a similar structure for them as well using big spiral tubes with large diameters to protect them from falling from a great height. You can drill some holes from the top in these pipes to help them breathe and drop treats for them as they embark on a long spirally adventure.
Pets are an important part of Canadian homes and families. Whether you own a bird, cat, dog, ferret, fish, guinea pig, hamster, rabbit or turtle, you can hire a pro on HomeStars to create a personalized space for your pet. If you happened to get a puppy during the pandemic, check out these projects perfect for new puppy owners. Ready to get started? Check our Pinterest board for more design inspiration or ask a local pro for a custom quote today!
