According to the 2024 U.S. Houzz Pets & the Home Study, 48% of surveyed pet owners considered their pets important when making home upgrades. Flooring was the most common recent remodeling project among pet owners, with 51% upgrading their floors.
Pets deserve a place in the remodeling conversation, whether you're updating a kitchen, renovating a bathroom, or making improvements throughout your home. Many of the features that make life easier for pets also improve organization, durability, and comfort for the people who live with them. Yet when planning a remodel, it's easy to focus on cabinetry, flooring, lighting, and room layouts without considering how the family's animals use those same spaces.
Here are nine pet-friendly remodeling ideas worth exploring.
1. Choose Flooring and Finishes That Stand Up to Pet Life
Material selections should reflect the home's character, the animals living there, and the amount of maintenance homeowners are comfortable performing. Scratched hardwood, stained carpet, and muddy paw prints are common concerns for pet owners. In Salem, OR and throughout the Willamette Valley, where wet weather is a frequent companion for much of the year, choosing materials that tolerate moisture and regular cleaning is especially important.
Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and luxury vinyl plank (LVP) are popular alternatives to hardwood because many products offer good scratch resistance and are relatively easy to maintain. However, the best choice depends on the size, activity level, and habits of the animals living in the home.
Engineered hardwood is another option, although quality varies considerably. Less expensive products sometimes have a thinner wood veneer that cannot be refinished when scratched. Solid hardwood and higher-quality engineered hardwood with thicker wear layers may allow refinishing, extending the floor's useful life.
Natural stone requires careful consideration. Softer materials such as marble and limestone can be vulnerable to scratches, staining, and wear. Pet-friendly carpeting with stain-resistant fibers and moisture-resistant backing or underlayment may be a better choice for rooms where comfort is a priority.
Durability isn't the only consideration. Some pets dislike walking on smooth tile or vinyl, and older dogs may struggle to maintain traction. Washable rugs or a combination of flooring materials can provide more comfortable surfaces without compromising the overall design.
The same principles apply to cabinetry and trim. Stained wood cabinets may conceal minor scratches better than painted finishes, particularly white cabinetry. Solid wood baseboards are more resistant to moisture damage than lower-cost medium-density fiberboard (MDF), which can swell when wet. Tile baseboards are another practical option in bathrooms and other tiled areas.
Not every home has space for a mudroom. Many existing homes in Salem and surrounding communities have compact entryways, with families entering through the garage, front door, or directly into a living area.
A dedicated pet center can bring some order to these spaces without requiring additional square footage. Think of it as a convenient location for the items used regularly to care for your pets. A cabinet might hold food, treats, and grooming supplies, while hooks keep leashes within reach. Drawers or baskets can organize toys, waste bags, and towels for drying muddy paws.
A laundry room near an exterior entrance is a natural location, but a cabinet in the kitchen or a storage area near the door can accomplish much of the same purpose.
Pay attention to how your family moves through the entry. When children, adults, and pets arrive together, there should be enough room to remove shoes, hang coats, and manage the dog without blocking the doorway. If you're already remodeling a kitchen or adjoining living area, a modest adjustment to the cabinetry or layout may be all that's needed to give pet supplies a permanent home.
For homeowners with active or high-maintenance pets, washing muddy paws and bathing animals can become a regular chore. A dedicated dog wash station is one solution, particularly for families who spend considerable time outdoors or have pets with frequent grooming needs.
A washing area can be incorporated into a laundry room, utility room, or garage where plumbing and drainage are available. Handheld sprayers, slip-resistant surfaces, waterproof walls, nearby towel storage, and designated anchor points for securing leashes make these spaces easier to use. However, a dedicated station may not be practical for every home or budget.
An existing bathroom remodel may offer a more versatile solution. Walk-in showers with an enclosure door, handheld showerhead, and built-in bench can serve both people and pets. The enclosure keeps water contained and helps prevent the dog from wandering away mid-bath. A bench can provide a convenient place to wash smaller dogs when it is safe and stable for them.
For small pets, a generously sized kitchen or utility sink with a pull-down faucet may also be sufficient.
Consider how frequently bathing creates a problem in your household. If it's an occasional task, adapting a shower or utility sink may make more sense. If you're constantly struggling to clean a large dog, a dedicated washing area could be a worthwhile addition to a larger remodeling project.
Pet bowls often end up wherever there's an open patch of floor. Unfortunately, that can mean placing them in walkways, near cabinet doors, or where family members prepare meals.
During a kitchen remodel, feeding areas can become part of the cabinetry design. An open space at the bottom of a full-height cabinet can accommodate food and water bowls without obstructing traffic. A pull-out drawer or cabinet nearby can store food, treats, and other supplies, while retractable cabinet doors can conceal food bowls until meal-time.
Placement deserves careful attention. A feeding station at the end of an island or along a less-traveled wall often works better than one positioned between the refrigerator, sink, and dining area. You may also need multiple feeding stations depending on how your pets interact while eating.
Maintenance matters, too. Bowls recessed into a cabinet surface can stay securely in place, but they should be removable for cleaning. A tile surface beneath the feeding area can protect surrounding cabinetry and hardwood floors from spilled water.
These details allow pets to have their own place in the kitchen without interfering with the people who use it.
Most pets have favorite places to sleep. Some dogs want to be near family activity, while others prefer a quiet corner. Cats may seek an elevated perch, a secluded spot, or a place to watch the outdoors.
A dedicated pet bed can be incorporated into the lower portion of a full-height kitchen cabinet or within living room cabinetry. This gives pets a defined resting area without introducing another piece of furniture.
Under-stair spaces and integrated kennels are other possibilities, although they require more planning.
A built-in enclosure must accommodate the animal's size and behavior. Dogs need enough room to stand, turn around, and rest comfortably, along with adequate ventilation and a suitable temperature. A decorative kennel isn't automatically an appropriate place for a pet to spend extended periods.
For cats, the location may matter more than the enclosure itself. Some enjoy watching birds and outdoor activity, while others prefer a quieter space away from stimulation.
Before designing a permanent feature, observe where your pet naturally chooses to rest. That behavior offers a useful starting point.
Finding a suitable location for a litter box can be challenging, particularly in a smaller home. It needs to be accessible to the cat, convenient for cleaning, and located where odors won't become a persistent problem.
A dedicated cabinet or niche can conceal the litter box while protecting the surrounding room from scattered litter and occasional accidents.
However, simply placing a litter box inside an enclosed cabinet may trap odors and discourage the cat from using it.
Ventilation should be part of the design, including planning for the electrical connections needed to operate the system. Any ventilation equipment should run quietly enough that it won't frighten the cat. Interior lighting isn't necessary, although it may be convenient when cleaning the enclosure. Cats can see well in low light, and a motion-activated light that suddenly turns on may startle them. The cabinet should also provide easy access for removing the litter box and cleaning the surrounding surfaces.
Materials are equally important. Tile or stainless steel at the bottom and sides of the cabinet interior creates a washable surface that helps protect surrounding woodwork and flooring from moisture.
These practical details distinguish a well-designed litter box cabinet from a decorative enclosure that solves one problem while creating another.
Outdoor living improvements can benefit pets as much as people.
For dogs, a secure fenced yard, covered patio, or dedicated outdoor area can provide space to exercise and relax. Shade, water, appropriate surfaces, and visibility from the house are useful considerations.
Many homeowners are choosing to add enclosed outdoor spaces called “catios”, which offer fresh air and opportunities for cats to observe and experience the outdoors without unrestricted roaming. Catios can be attached to the house, incorporated into a patio, or constructed as separate enclosures. They need secure materials, weather protection, and enough room for the cat to play and move comfortably.
A conventional screened porch isn't necessarily sufficient. Cats can climb and damage ordinary screening, so enclosures intended for them require suitable materials and construction details.
Pet doors are another option, although they aren't ideal for every household. In the Willamette Valley's changeable weather, some homeowners prefer to control when their dogs go outside rather than allow unrestricted access that brings mud and moisture indoors. If you're considering a pet door, evaluate security, insulation, weather sealing, and the safety of the area it opens into.
When a remodel includes new exterior doors, a patio, or an addition, coordinate outdoor planning early. Working with a landscape designer can help address fencing, drainage, planting, and access before construction decisions limit the possibilities.
A young dog or cat may have no trouble racing across hardwood floors or vaulting up the stairs when they get zoomies. But as pets age, those same surfaces and transitions can become problematic.
Flooring with adequate traction can help older animals move more comfortably. Strategically placed rugs may provide additional stability in areas where smooth surfaces are unavoidable.
Low thresholds between rooms and at exterior entrances can reduce obstacles. When changes to doorways or outdoor access are already part of a remodel, it's worth evaluating whether these transitions can be made easier to navigate.
Sleeping and feeding areas should remain accessible as well. Elevated spaces that work for younger pets may become impractical as mobility changes.
These considerations have much in common with universal design, which makes homes easier and safer for people of different ages and abilities.
Even a well-planned remodel temporarily changes the household environment. Construction introduces unfamiliar people, noise, dust, equipment, and disruptions to established routines.
For pets, these changes can be stressful.
The 2024 Houzz study mentioned above found that 57% of renovating pet owners made special arrangements for their animals during construction.
Some pets may be comfortable staying in a separate part of the house. Others may do better spending time with a family member, friend, or pet care provider during particularly disruptive work.
During our pre-construction walkthroughs, Kraft Custom Construction discusses pets with homeowners and establishes entry routes for Trade Partners. We discuss where pets will stay, how workers will enter the home, and what precautions are necessary to prevent animals from escaping or entering unsafe areas.
On a recent project, the project superintendent made sure everyone working in the home knew there was a dog and understood how to interact with it. He even encouraged Trade Partners to greet the dog before beginning work. The homeowner specifically appreciated that attention.
It's a practical example of how good communication and respect for the household extend to the animals living there.
A pet-friendly home doesn't necessarily need elaborate built-in features or a separate room devoted to the family dog or cat.
Sometimes the most useful improvements are relatively simple: flooring that's easier to maintain, a convenient place for food bowls, better storage, or a shower that makes washing the dog less of a struggle.
The best solutions come from understanding how your household functions and incorporating those needs into the design from the beginning. That includes choosing materials that will last, planning spaces that remain adaptable, and making improvements that benefit the entire family.
Planning a home remodel? Explore our Home Remodeling Guide for practical advice on creating a home that better supports everyday life.
When you're ready to discuss your project, schedule a Home Remodel Discovery Session to explore what's possible for your home.