Home Improvement Ideas for Today’s Modern Pet Owner
According to Market Watch, an estimated $480 million dollars were spent on pet Halloween costumes and accessories in 2018. So, you may or may not be surprised to learn that since 2000, dog ownership in America has increased significantly. In the year 2000, there were approximately 68 million pet dogs in America. By 2017, that number increased to 89.7. That probably explains the seeming increase of pet groomers, dog parks, and pet accessories we see in our midst—not to mention dog spas and doggy Halloween costumes.
Similarly, there were about 58 million cats in American households, presumably doing cute cat things, playing piano, and recording those viral YouTube videos that have caught the best of us in those very familiar YouTube binges. And just like we involve our pets in Halloween and Christmas, homeowners have also found ways to involve their pets in their home design projects.
Let’s take a look at some creative ways that people have found to pamper their pets through especially-made environments in their homes. According to some studies—one conducted by the Joint Center for Housing Studies done by Harvard—shows that homeowners commonly spend on home improvement projects and many of those will be for our beloved furry friends.
Pet Home Improvement Projects:
A doggy corral or doggy walk
How’s about putting up fencing that separates your dog from the rest of the yard? Many homeowners find that having a fence in their yard is important, particularly because they’re able to offer a necessary barrier.
Laminate flooring
While watching a dog trying to run on a slippery floor is always a sight for sore eyes, our beloved floors often get quite the scratching from dog paws. Many people will choose to install laminate floors in their houses or portions of the home in order to add an extra layer of protection.
Doggy door
This is probably one of the most popular home improvement projects for pet owners. Pets need to go outside and while we’re at work or out during errands, it’s good when they can control when they are in and out of the house to do their business. The costs of a dog door installation will vary based on different factors including size, the material of the door you’re looking for.
Kitty closet
The litter box is probably the biggest nuisance to owning a cat, especially if your dog wanders over there on occasion ever so intrigued by these “kitty treats” buried in the litter. Many people have started building small additions to closets that hide the litter box.
Heated floors
Yes, it’s a thing! If your dog sleeps on the floor, maybe adding a section of heated floor (especially for those cold winter nights) will be a great way to keep their comfort to a maximum.
Home Renovation Projects
If you want to go a little deeper with your design ideas and make some real changes to your home, you might find some of these possibilities quite tempting as well:
Dog washing stations
This is a fast-growing trend for many homeowners, since converting a not-often-used corner of their home into a well-fitted dog washing station. Imagine having a dedicated spot where your furry friends can get their monthly bath or wash off after they drag the mud through the house. Most of these will look like a short shower stall. For smaller breeds, it might even resemble a sunken tiled tub or sink.
Platform beds
Think of these as built-in dog beds, much like window seats. It is a built-in space to put a small mattress, cushion, or doggy bed, that maximizes space and makes clean up easy and efficient.
Are You a Pet Owner Looking for a Perfect Home? Let us Help!
If you’re like millions of other pet owners in America, you likely consider every member of your family when looking for a home. This would include, of course, Fido, or Rex, or, Benji, or whatever creative name you used for your pup. Here at Summus Realty, we can help you look for options when looking for that special spot for the entire family!