Home Design Has Gone to the Dogs (and Cats): Creative Ways to Store Your Pet Gear

Tuck away the toys. When it comes to corralling balls, rope toys and squeaky stuffed animals, look for low-profile storage containers that can be tucked under the couch or bed. Options range from wood and wicker to plastic costing as low as $20 at Walmart. Or tuck toys into a stylish storage ottoman that matches your decor.

For easy access and easy cleaning, Trunz advises keeping toys in the room where your dog likes to spend time. “It’s best to have one big catchall for cleaning up the toys.”

Make a to-go bag. You may reach for leashes and doggy sweaters, raincoats and booties as often as you grab your car keys, so keeping them accessible is essential. Trunz suggests allocating a shelf or a segment of hanging space in a closet for your pet’s essentials.

If you can’t stuff anything else in your closet, store pet gear in clear zip bags with labels and tuck it into an easy-to-access drawer.

Pet wardrobes. You could purchase customized pet wardrobes or hanging racks. You can find prefab pup-sized wardrobes on Amazon for less than $100. Custom closets and clothing racks complete with engraved nameplates cost a few hundred dollars when ordered on Etsy.

Evelina Juzėnaitė, principal interior designer at Planner 5D, suggests lockers for storing your pet gear. “If you have several pets, having a space designated for each is a great way to know where everything is,” she says. “You can even add a name or portrait of an animal to the doors.” Score vintage lockers on Facebook Marketplace or purchase new (in traditional metal or bold colors) from big-box retailers.

Next-level pet design

Some people take pet-centered design very seriously. The trend, sometimes called “bark-itecture,” includes several upscale options.

Sliding dog gates. When you need to secure the dog in a separate room, skip the unattractive baby gates. Pocket dog gates, similar to pocket doors, disappear into door frames and can be tucked out of sight when not in use, Ahearn says. You’ll need to hire a contractor to do the job and can expect to spend $800 to $2,500 for the high-end option.

Platform beds. Building a platform beneath your bed creates the perfect spot to tuck cozy dog beds beneath.

The dog gets “its own little compartment to sleep in at night but is still in close proximity to the owner,” Ahearn says.

Basic versions of beds with built-in cubbies beneath are sold through Walmart and other retailers for around $400; custom designs go for much more.

Pet wash stations. These are among the more extravagant amenities that are trending, according to Floss Kelly, interior designer and cofounder of TileCloud, a bathroom renovation company. Pet wash stations, which Kelly calls “a genius idea,” are often installed in mudrooms or laundry areas. Mini-showers with pet-height faucets and rinse heads allow you to bathe your pet without getting grime and dog hair in your bathroom. The price tag can range from $300 for a DIY version to upward of $10,000 for a custom station that involves designers, plumbers and tile installers, according to Angi.

“This setup is fantastic for cleaning up your dog after a day out before they trek dirt through the house,” Kelly says. “Add built-in shelves for pet shampoos and grooming tools and a towel rack for the dog towel [to keep it] out of your living space.”

Pet-only laundry. Ahearn has seen a trend toward installing separate washers and dryers in the laundry room that are used exclusively for pet clothing, towels, beds and blankets. A compact washing machine was designed for pet owners who don’t want to contaminate their washing machine with items covered in pet hair and dander. To get one at thepetforge.com: $299. To wash your clothes separate from dirty dog beds: priceless.

Doggy den. Ahearn’s clients love built-ins. Under stairs — areas once considered dead storage — he’s designed pet nooks complete with doors, beds, toys and food and water dishes all hidden from sight of the main living areas. One Instagram influencer spent $5,000 to turn a closet under the stairs into a custom doggy den for his four-legged friend.

Despite the high price tag, Ahearn says the bespoke storage and design solutions will endure.

“With COVID and everyone being home … it precipitated a rethinking about how important animals are in people’s lives,” he says. “From the bedroom to the mudroom to the garage, we see more and more people being concerned and want to incorporate things in their dog’s life that makes it easier and better.”