How To Create A Space Specifically For Your Dog

You consider yourself king of your castle, but let’s face it, your dog is actually the king of the house! However, your home is your sanctuary and should be designed with your family’s needs and taste in mind. And while you want to set up your house according to your likes, your dog needs to be brought into the equation when setting up a happy and safe environment. But how can you create a space that is specifically for your dog when you are trying to make your house nice?

Although your home is not solely for your dog, it is important to keep in mind that dogs are animals and they get into things that they shouldn’t touch. That being said, homes should be dog-proofed so that your dog will not break your most treasured heirloom that was prominently displayed on the edge of a glass table in your expensive living room. Maintaining a balance of living in a nice home where your dog is safe is doable. Read on for tips on how to create a space specifically for your dog.

Tips For Creating A Space Specifically For Your Dog

There are many ways you can create a space that is set up specifically for your dog within your home. However, as with any decorating endeavor, the options and decisions of what to add and where to put everything can be overwhelming. Doggie renovations are no different. You want your little buddy to have a great space where he can settle in and relax, a zen-like area just for him, if you will. Follow these tips on how to create a space specifically for your dog.

When creating a space specifically for your dog, it is helpful to remember the 4 Ds:

Decide type of space needed
Designate an area
Determine amount of space
Decorate!

Getting more into each of the 4 Ds consists of :

Decide what type of space your dog needs (bed, food station, toy area, etc)

dog bed placement is a great way to designate a spot specifically for your dog to have their own space

Dog Beds

Dogs love their dog beds! Placement is key in giving your dog a space that will allow him to relax comfortably in that comfy bed. Find that perfect nook in your home that is out of your way, but somewhat close to the action so your dog does not feel as though they are missing out on something!

Feeding Stations

We know dogs need to eat and drink to stay healthy. Providing a designated space to eat is important in establishing a routine. After all, routines & consistency are imperative in raising a well adjusted dog. Set up the bowls where the food and water won’t get knocked over easily, preferably in an easy to clean area.

setting up a feeding station with your dog bowls provides your dog the perfect spot to eat in peace

organizing your dog's toys and designating a toy storage bin is a great way to keep organized while giving your dog their own space to play

Toy Area

Being a spoiled dog means having lots of dog toys! Give your dog all the toys, but keep them tidy. Don’t let the dog toys overrun your home. Think of toy boxes, storage boxes, and plastic bins. These are great tools for organizing your dog’s toys and keeping order in your home.

Designate an area specifically for your dog

You don’t have to live in a mansion to allocate a dog space. In fact, dogs generally prefer smaller areas. Quiet and cozy, even enclosed spaces are great choices because dogs are den animals. Further, minimizing your dog’s territory could be beneficial in curtailing unwanted behaviors like chewing or accidents in the house.

Almost any space in your home can transformed into your dog’s territory. A nook within the kitchen is great for a food station. An empty space in a room could be the perfect spot for a toy bin. A laundry room, spare bedroom, or in a cozy corner in the living room are great spaces to set up your dog’s bed.

Determine the amount of space (dimensions) that you will allot to your dog’s area

Now that you know what your types of doggie space your dog needs, the measuring process begins. Fret not, you probably don’t need a tape measure, a good guestimate can most likely be done with your eyes. Most dog owners will not need to hire a contractor to help set up a doggie space within their home. However, I’m sure many dog owners have been known to do that!

Start moving your dog’s items to their new respective spots. The great thing about moving around dog items is that they are generally lightweight. And most dog things do not need to be fastened to walls. Therefore, “measuring” can be done by trial and error. And when you find that perfect spot for everything, you will know. Your dog will tell you when they curl into a ball on that cushy dog bed of theirs!

And if your dog’s bed is too large for that nook in your living room, maybe you need to buy a new dog bed. Dog beds could use some turnover every so often anyway. On the flip side, if your dog is moving into a larger space, this could be the perfect time to upgrade to a king size bed for your pup.

Decorate your dog’s sanctuary

Dog owners work to provide their dogs with all the finer things. It’s okay to spoil your dogs, no judgment here. There is no shame in loving and letting your dog live their best life!

There are so many cute ways to decorate your dog’s space which come in a variety of colors and styles. Whatever your personal style is when it comes to decor, I bet you will find something you can use for your dog’s bed, crate, food station, and even their toy area. If you like classy, you will find many classy dog beds on sites like wayfair.com, www.potterbarn.com, and even amazon.com.

The picture below is one of the dog crate furniture pieces that I have for each of my dogs. After renovating my kitchen and dining room, a wall that had anchored my dogs’ crates was no longer there. A reconfiguration was in order. And what a transformation from a foldable wire crate to this:

dog crate furniture that looks like an end table, but is a decorative dog crate

I wanted to up the ante so to speak and wanted new crates. Specifically, I wanted crates that would look like furniture. The fact that these decorative crates double as end tables was a huge win! These Ecoflex Dog Crates come in a variety of sizes and colors. I have Boston Terriers who weigh approximately 15 lbs. Therefore, I went with the size small in the espresso color. The link is here:

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Happy Dog, Happy Home

Giving your dog a place to escape reduces anxiety and helps them cope in stressful situations. Even if your dog doesn’t suffer from anxiety, they enjoy having a safe place to relax and decompress at times.

Ultimately, the goal in setting up a space specifically for your dog is to keep the dog décor inline with the interior design of your home while giving your dog a special place of their own.

However much space you decided to allocate to your dog, your dog will be appreciative of you. After all, it is very easy to please a dog! After just a day (or even a few hours), your dog will know exactly where to go to eat, play, and sleep. If only kids were as easy…