10 New Home Features Every Pet Owner Needs

/ Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Ambassador/

1. PET BATHING STATION

If you’ve ever tried washing your dog in the tub, then you know what a disaster the whole process can be. There’s no greater challenge than trying to give Fido a good scrub while trying to keep him from escaping mid-bath. By the time it’s all said and done, you’re left with an aching back and a tub coated in pet hair. The solution? A built-in bathing station! Many homeowners have started incorporating a pet-sized walk-in style shower in their mudroom or garage to make bathing their dog easier. The design’s open concept allows for dogs of all sizes to fit inside the tub, while a handheld showerhead and built-in eye hooks keep your pup—and the water—inside the tub.

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2. FOOD AND WATER FEATURES

Everybody has to eat and your pets are no exception – but your pet-friendly custom home can make this part of your day just a little bit easier. Here are a few convenient features to include your pet’s eating and drinking habits into your new home’s design.

  • Built-in Pet Food Storage: Add pet food storage to your new home’s kitchen cabinets or in the pantry. Not only will it keep pet food bags from clashing with your home decor, but you know the food will be safe from your cat or dog because it’s kept in a secure space.

  • Built-In Food and Water Bowls: Keep your kitchen looking neat and tidy with a built-in area for pet bowls. A dedicated space makes it less likely that you’ll trip over the bowls and prevents food from spilling everywhere. You can even take it to the next level and install a faucet near the pet food station to make it easier to refill water bowls.

  • Outdoor Water Bowl: An outdoor water bowl is a huge advantage for pets and their owners in the warm summer months. Incorporate a permanent water bowl into your home’s landscaping by placing a sturdy basin underneath an outdoor water spigot to ensure your pet has access to water throughout the summer.

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3. PET DOOR

Built-in pet doors aren’t an entirely new concept but they’ve come a long way in recent years. Instead of your basic pet door with unsightly plastic flaps, homeowners have a lot more options and can be integrated into your home’s design.

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4. HIDDEN LITTER BOX

Cat person or not, there’s no denying just how unsightly a litter box can be. The good news is that innovations in the pet industry have begun to provide more attractive solutions for litter boxes. Litter boxes can be hidden in anything from chic furniture to faux potted plants. Another option is to build a nook into your home’s cabinets so you can discretely slide the litter box inside. This is great to do in the bathroom, as you can use the fan to take care of any unappealing litter box smells.

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5. DURABLE FLOORING

Households with pets can be chaotic and your home’s flooring can take a lot of abuse. To minimize the effects your pet’s claws will have on your flooring, opt for a more durable option like a luxury vinyl plank (LVP). Luxury vinyl plank flooring is much sturdier than traditional floorings like laminate or linoleum and is known to be scratch and water-resistant. Having grown in popularity, LVP is now available in a wide range of colors and designs, including realistic wood grains.

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6. BUILT-IN PET BEDS

More and more homeowners agree that their pets can benefit from their own space within the home. For that reason, a new home feature many homeowners are adding to their existing cabinetry is a built-in pet bed. Built-in pet beds keep your home free of clutter while still ensuring your pet has a quiet space to relax.

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7. BUILT-IN PET GATE

Sometimes, there are just places you don’t want your pet to access. For a lot of homeowners, that’s the kitchen while meals are being prepared. In those cases, a built-in pet gate comes in handy. While a traditional baby gate is an effective solution, incorporating a built-in pet gate is a much better option because you can customize it to your home’s design. Consider adding a swinging gate or a half-door so you can keep the desired area pet-free without completely closing it off fpet has a quiet space to relaxrom the rest of the home.

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8. OUTDOOR RAMP FOR AGING DOGS

As dogs age, they often find it difficult to go and downstairs. If your pup is getting up there in years, consider adding a ramp to your deck or porch to make it easier for him to get around. As an added benefit, a ramp reduces the risk of joint damage and other injuries in younger dogs.

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9. ENCLOSED CAT PATIO

An enclosed cat patio—or catio, if you will—is an essential new home feature to provide your indoor cat with a safe place to enjoy the sun. Simply add outdoor fencing to your patio or deck. Adding climbing posts and perches will also encourage your kitty to get some extra exercise while she’s enjoying the great outdoors.

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10. CENTRAL VACUUM CLEANING SYSTEM

While there’s no doubt we love our furry friends, living with pets often means dealing with pet hair all over the house. One new home feature dedicated to combating all that hair is a central vacuum cleaning system. With a central vacuum cleaning system and multiple outlets throughout the home, cleaning up pet hair is as simple as sweeping it into the vacuum outlet.

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Shout out to Hibbs Homes in Chesterfield, MO for these great tips. Want to incorporate some of these wonderful new features into your new home here in the Omaha area, give me a call at 402-630-5953. Sallie Elliott and the Priority Group would love to guide you through the process of building your dream home and making it pet-centric.