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It doesn’t matter whether you have a Siberian husky or a Siamese cat, almost all pet parents have the same problem: Owning an animal requires a lot of stuff.
In 2023, people spent more than $64 billion on food and treats and $32 billion on medicines and other supplies, according to the American Pet Products Association — and all of those bones, balls, leashes, collars, bowls and beds take up a lot of real estate.
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“People love their animals but don't necessarily want them to take over the whole house,” says Patrick Ahearn, principal at Patrick Ahearn Architect. “The more design-sensitive people want to incorporate design elements so it’s not just their dog bowls, bed and toys all over the floor.”
Here are creative storage solutions and design strategies to curb your pet necessities and accessories — beyond just a catchall basket by the front door.
Budget-friendly design options
Disguise dog crates. Dog crates take up a lot of space, which is problematic in a smaller home — and the wire crates aren’t exactly aesthetically appealing. Wendy Trunz, partner and head organizer at Jane’s Addiction Organization, a home organization company, points to crates disguised as end tables, coffee tables and console tables as stylish, space-saving solutions. Double-duty crates cost anywhere from $100 to $5,000 and can be purchased at online retailers ranging from Chewy to Wayfair to high-end furniture stores.
You can keep a lamp or accessories on the surface and keep your dog cozy in your living area without sacrificing the floor space that a large crate requires.
Focus on food storage. There’s nothing attractive about a giant bag of dog food sitting on the kitchen counter or taking up a corner of the laundry room, Ahearn says. Although the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University recommends storing pet food in its original packaging — the bags help minimize pests and protect the nutrients in the food — there are creative ways to hide it.
Consider storing large bags of pet food in a pullout cabinet designed for a trash bin or purchase a custom feeding station from Amazon, Etsy or Pottery Barn that includes a large drawer for pet food and an elevated area with built-in bowls. You can expect to spend $100 to $500, depending on the style and quality. Ahearn notes that built-in feeding stations are more popular with design-obsessed pet parents who prefer a seamless aesthetic.
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