You can hear it, can’t you? The click click click of your dog’s nails on the floor as she follows you from room to room…and you can totally picturethe way your cat stretches in that perfect sunbeam before claiming it as his throne for the rest of the day!!
Our pets make our homes feel like home. So why not design for them, too?!
Designing with our pets in mind means anticipating their needs and removing friction for their natural routines. It’s the same philosophy we use for our own wellness. And with the right design acumen, your home can look better for it, too.
Here are some of my FAVORITE ways to integrate pets’ comfort and safety (and your stress-free care and cleaning) seamlessly into your home…and I KNOW some of these will surprise you!!
How to Design for How Pets Move Through Space
Every pet has a path they trace through the home day after day. They patrol, they observe, they nap in rotation. It’s almost architectural when you start to think about it…
Right now, get a pen or open a digital notepad. Jot down the places you know your pets will be found at least once each day.
Dogs, for instance, naturally establish “watch points” where they monitor the front door or yard. And how does that inform design? By placing an intentional low bench or rug near those areas, you turn your fur babies’ instinct into a design feature that completes the space.
Cats, of course, move vertically, so giving them access to high-up zones of your home (through tiered shelving or window perches) gives them a sense of ownership.
These design features quickly turn into a mental playground of possibilities!!
A home with pets that’s designed with this awareness feels less chaotic. You stop tripping over toys or stepping into their path…and they move knowing where their spaces are. It’s a small layer of empathy that changes the rhythm of daily life…for ALL y’all!!
Intelligent Comforts
If there’s one thing I’ve said more than anything else during 30+ years of design, it’s that comfort must be intentional and beautiful. And if we live with pets, then they’re part of that, too.
Let’s dig into some specific, comfort-focused ideas!!
Split-Level Window Perches
You know the “patrol” that cats do from window to window? Designing tiered window nooks at varying heights gives them a dedicated way to do it…offering sunlight and views for them, and sculptural beauty for you.
Under-Stair Retreats
The void beneath a staircase can be magical when turned into a fur-baby-optimized retreat. Think soft walls, washable surfaces, and you have the coziest hidden den…
Warming Baseboards (or Heated Pet Floors)
Radiant warmth along the baseboards OR in tile floors creates those irresistible “curl-up” spots for dogs and cats. These low-temp luxury zones feel like love…
Where Performance Meets Practicality!!
True performance design (home design that’s intentionally durable, comfortable, healthy, and sustainable) should simplify life for every living thing in your home.
Consider, for instance…
Custom Upholstery with Performance Fibers
Technology in textiles has come SO far!! Today’s performance fabrics can repel oil, dander, and paw prints without losing that high-end handfeel. Your pets AND your sofa will thank you…
Read about how performance fabrics have changed, just in the last five years!!
Washable Wall Finishes
If you’ve EVER seen a wagging tail whip against a wall after a walk in the rain, you’ll appreciate this one. Quality plasters and scrubbable matte finishes make cleanup effortless while keeping your walls beautifully textured…
Learn everything you need to know about what textured walls are dated, why they’re used, and what’s right for your home!!
Hidden Litter Room Ventilation
It’s time to say GOODBYE to litterbox odors!! Seriously, think about this for a moment: a motion-activated mini exhaust fan in a concealed litter area to keep air fresh. Automatically.
The Nighttime Home: Tips for Pet Safety After Dark
When the lights go low and your home goes quiet, your pets experience the space differently. Their senses sharpen. Their patterns change. And a well-designed nighttime environment keeps them feeling comfortable and secure.
For instance, subtle motion-sensor lighting along corridors or near their favorite sleeping spots can prevent midnight missteps. (A soft amber glow is all they need to navigate safely without disrupting the circadian rhythm of everyone else in the household.)
If your pet sleeps in a laundry room or mudroom, consider soundproofing that space or adding a soft white noise source. The hum of appliances, garage doors, or HVAC systems can trigger anxiety, especially in sensitive pets.
Temperature control also plays a role!! Breathable textiles where they rest can make an enormous difference.
Everyday Luxury for Living Together
Life with pets is full of routines—and a home’s design can make those moments sweeter for them (and smoother for you).
Hidden Pet Grooming Nook
This one is a favorite for SO many people. Install a waist-height tub in your laundry room or mudroom, and it can be designated exclusively for your pet’s “spa days.” Grooming can be a ritual instead of a wrestling match!!
Smart Collar-Linked Doors
Back to ideas that use occupancy sensors and other super home technology…how about an RFID-enabled microchip reader to allow doors to open only for your pets—no raccoons, no strays. It’s safety, privacy, and freedom, all wrapped in your boo’s collar!!
Biophilic Design with Fur Babies in Mind
Since biophilic design in homes is SO big, it’s important to talk about this in the context of pets. Adding living plants is one of the greatest joys of modern home design…but not all greenery is pet friendly. Awareness can make the difference between a calming home feature and something harmful that can lead to a terrible accident.
Cross-check your favorite pet-friendly plant below to the low-maintenance indoor plants listed here, and you’ll have a win-win selection!!
Pet-safe plants to include:
- Boston fern
- Areca palm
- Spider plant
- Parlor palm
- Bamboo palm
- Rosemary
Plants to avoid:
- Lilies (highly toxic to cats)
- Aloe vera
- Philodendron
- Pothos
- Sago palm
Aesthetics with Heart
Your home tells your story…and your pets are an important chapter! So why not honor them in style?!
Designated Pet Art Gallery
One of my FAVORITE pet-specific home touches: a gallery display of your pet’s portraits or keepsakes, displayed as intentionally as any artwork in your home.
Get even more gallery wall ideas…there are sooo many fun (and surprising) ways to go!!
How to Design a Home That Loves Them Back…
Our homes are where the love happens.
The family greetings, the dinners with friends, the photos on the walls. Our homes are where we experience every kind of love. And, of course, it’s in the daily, shared routines with our pets that life feels grounded, and love feels SO constant and secure.
It’s worth it to design with your pets in mind because it supports wellness and connection at every level. And there’s NO need to compromise aesthetics!! This is why I’m part of Designers for Dogs…after all, pets give us sooomuch joy. It only makes sense to me that our homes should give some of it back!!
Ready to reimagine your space for every member of your family?! We’d love to help you design a home that truly loves them back…inquire with us now!!
About the author:
Robin Burrill, RID, NCIDQ, ASID, IDS, CAPS, is an award-winning professional kitchen, bath, and interior designer. Robin and her husband, Robert Mathews, have owned Signature Home Services, Inc. for over three decades, establishing a superior in-house team with a widespread reputation for delivering meticulous design to their many repeat clients.
In 2022, the national publication, Kitchen and Bath Design News magazine, named Robin to their Top Innovator list in recognition of her achievements in the field of kitchen and bath design. In 2024, she was named one of the Fall 2024 Market Pros and “tastemakers” by ANDMORE at High Point Market. Also in 2024, Fixr identified her as one of the Top Professional Interior Designers for their nationwide audience. At the start of 2025, she then acted as one of Dallas Market’s “Style Eyes” at Lightovation and Total Home & Gift Market.
Over her extensive career, Robin has been quoted in Architectural Digest and Forbes multiple times; her design work has been featured in top national trade publications; and she has been interviewed for Designers Today magazine’s “Profiles in Design” video series, among others. Widely respected for the depth of her knowledge, Robin is a sought after speaker and judge for many design industry events.
In 2023, Robin designed a bench for Charleston Forge, making her foray into product design. Robin currently serves as a volunteer on the board of the Dallas/Ft. Worth chapter of the Interior Design Society.
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