Posted on September 4, 2024 by Miller and Smith Blog Team
For many, a house isn’t a home without the pitter patter of little feet: multiple little feet on little furry bodies, that is.
But bringing a pet into a home requires as much care and prep as bringing in a new child. And data shows that most of us prioritize our pets when upgrading our home (48% in one survey).
As one of the Washington, D.C. area’s premier home buyers since 1964, Miller & Smith has built award-winning homes for over 20,000 homebuyers. With this experience comes the knowledge of what makes all our new homeowners happy – even the four-legged ones.
So, to make your new Miller & Smith home perfect for your whole family, we’ve put together a list of our top 7 pet-friendly ideas! Please note: These ideas are mainly geared towards dogs and cats, but other four- and two-legged pets might also benefit from them.
Pets are like young children, only with bigger teeth, sharper nails, and more legs. They are, by nature, going to make a mess. Probably more than one. The best thing to do is to be prepared in advance. Don’t put easily destructible curios within their reach and firmly secure any elevated ones if you have a pet that enjoys heights.
Look out for sharp corners, easily scratched surfaces, and delicate fabrics. Remember that shedding happens seasonally, so having lint rollers, protective blankets for couches, and other fur-removal tools is important. And invest in a good wet/dry pet vacuum and well-rated cleaning solution—and have it loaded and ready for any accidents. Because remember accidents are really accidents. Pets are children and are just trying to feel their way through and learn about the world. So, with preparation, love, and guidance, the accidents will disappear as your pets grow and mature.
Greenery and its many flowers add a (literal) living vibrancy to your home. But some are very toxic if dogs and/or cats eat them. Different types of lilies, for example, can lead to kidney disease and worse in cats—even if they just breathe in the pollen!
The good thing is, you don’t have to figure this out on your own. The ASPCA has its own Animal Poison Control Center, and they’ve put together a handy graphic of some of the most common non-toxic (yay) and toxic (boo) plants and flowers pet lovers need to know. The ASPCA also has a sortable and filterable online database cataloging thousands of plants and their toxicity risks.
Now it’s time to get into all the fun ways to make a home pet friendly, starting with creating a dedicated place to keep your bestie beasties clean and beautiful. As an example, let’s look at one of our Birchwood Brownstones in Birchwood at Brambleton (a 55+ lifestyle community). In this home, you have the option for a full bath on the main level, which would make an ideal pet wash space.
About midway between the front and back doors, and easily accessed from the garage entrance, this bathroom would be easy to lead (or carry) muddy pets to that need a bit of clean up. It would also be a valuable “away from the rest of the home” space for containing the furry fallout of grooming. Add some pet-themed art and a Bluetooth speaker for soothing music, and you have the perfect spa for your pet.
Pets need exercise, and if you have a dog, that means frequent walks. Make your home pet friendly by putting together a walkies station. You’ll need your pet’s leash, collar and/or harness, waste-collection bags, inclement weather gear, and (because paws can get wet and muddy) a towel or two.
You can arrange these nicely on a table, hang them from hooks, or even store them in a coat rack/storage chest combo that many people favor for their mud room. Your walkies station should be in a space, though, that is easily accessible and close to where you normally leave from and return to for walkies (front door, back door, etc.). Not only will this make it effortless to go on outdoor excursions with your pet, it will also prevent their gear from spreading all over your home!
As we’ve already said: accidents happen and the best thing to do is be prepared. Part of that is having a first aid station ready for your pets. And since you just set up a walkies station, having your pet first aid station there, too, makes a lot of sense.
Pet-friendly bandages, a pet first aid handbook, a tick remover, styptic powder, and the phone numbers and addresses of your vet and an emergency vet are just some of the things you’ll want in this station. Everyone should know where it is, review basic pet first aid, and know what to do in case of emergency. Hopefully, you’ll never need to use this station, but having everything organized just in case can be of the utmost value in case you do!
Dedicated/built-in feeding stations are very popular with pet owners (39% report it’s the most popular pet-based renovation they’ve added). A feeding station provides your pet a set space for food and water—it’s just that simple. Often times, though, it can also include storage for extra pet food.
Not only will a feeding station help with after-meal cleanup, it can also be better for your pet. When dogs and cats have a dedicated place to eat, they can lose or diminish food insecurity (the fear of not having enough food). Then your pets will have a better relationship with food, which can lead to less stealing, begging, and being overly concerned with treats. Plus, feeding stations are adorable places to decorate special for your furry friends.
Everyone needs some fresh air, and pets are no exception. Indeed, outdoor enclosures are the second most popular renovation according to that same survey we’ve referenced a few times in this blog post. Good thing our example home in Birchwood at Brambleton has options for a partial or full screened porch right off the spacious dining room.
Your pets will love watching and experiencing the world outside their domain, with all the joys of being out in the open. And you will feel more comfortable knowing that though they can sniff and feel the fresh air, they are still protected inside your home. It’s a win-win scenario!
Creating pet-friendly spaces in your new Miller & Smith home isn’t just about making room for your furry friends: It’s about enhancing their quality of life while also preserving the charm and functionality of your home. Whether it’s designating a bathroom to be a pet spa, installing built-in feeding stations, or creating a sunny spot for your pet to nap, your new home is full of possibilities. With the right mix of creativity and practicality, you can enjoy a beautifully designed space that welcomes every member of your family, both two- and four-legged.