How To Design A Pet Friendly Kitchen
When you’re designing your perfect kitchen, you’ll want it to be just right for your whole family to enjoy. Anyone with a pet knows that they’re a part of the family, so why not make it pet-friendly to include everyone?
Additions to make your kitchen pet-friendly don’t just benefit your beloved pets, but also the whole family. After all, you’ll be more bothered about scuff marks and muddy paws than your pet will be!
When designing a kitchen with your pet in mind, you can go as bold as you’d like – if you want dedicated spaces that are just for your pets, then go for it! However, this isn’t at all necessary to make your kitchen pet-friendly. You don’t need to make any drastic changes to your design plans to make your space suitable for pets, just make a few small but considered tweaks to your original plans.
Here, we outline some of the many features you could incorporate into your kitchen plans to make your space pet-friendly.
1. Opt for Easy-Clean Materials
It’s no secret how quickly kitchens can become messy if they aren’t kept on top of. This is thanks to all family members, humans and animals alike. Whilst your pets won’t leave the washing up in the sink or spill their drinks on the counter, they can tread their muddy paws through your bespoke kitchen designs. The last thing you want after designing your perfect kitchen is to Walk in a trail of dirt from outside.
If you choose easy-to-clean materials such as laminate or tiled flooring, you’ll be able to mop up any traces of your pets’ outdoor adventures in no time!
2. Steer Clear of Light Tones
Light tones in your kitchen emphasise every speck of dirt as well as every scratch and scrape. It would be very optimistic to think that you can keep your kitchen unscathed when you have pets – especially the surfaces lower to the ground!
Pets are notorious for brushing against any surface they can reach, often meaning scuff marks and blemishes on your clean surfaces. Dark tones like black, navy, and charcoal help to disguise any unwanted marks in your kitchen. This doesn’t just apply to your cabinets and cupboards, but also to any additions like tables and chairs. Opt for furniture with dark-toned legs to hide the wear and tear your pet will inflict upon it.
It’s absolutely possible to achieve a perfect luxury kitchen and still be mindful of your pets. All you have to do is be mindful of the areas that your pet can reach to ensure they won’t look worn and tired.
If you’re dealing with a smaller-sized kitchen and you’re worried about using dark tones instead of light tones, you can combine the two. Try darker tones for your lower units, and lighter tones for your higher wall cabinets. This combination gives you the airy open feel of a light kitchen, with the practicality of a darker kitchen where your pets can reach.
3. Add in Hidden Storage
Can you really ever have enough storage? Extra storage won’t go amiss in any kitchen, especially if you have pets.
If your family includes pets, you’re likely to have an array of items dedicated to them – from food and bowls to leads and toys. Why not keep everything pet-related in one place so that you always know where to look? It’s also a good idea to keep pet food away from things such as cleaning products and human food, just in case!
If you’re working with a smaller space for your kitchen, hidden storage can be essential for maximising your space in a small kitchen.
4. Open Plan
You definitely want to opt for an open plan kitchen with dogs or pets running around. You don’t want any mess on the floor, dog toys or leashes getting caught in between you making dinner with a hot pot on the stove.
It is also healthy for you to have an open plan space so that you can keep an eye on your pet and if they are playing with your kids. And whilst you’re there, why not have a designated dog or cat area on the side of the kitchen, perfect for their bed and bowl. No doubt your pet loves eating dinner when you do as well!
5. Separate sink and wash area
If your dog has come in from a muddy walk, it can be worth having an extra basin as part of the kitchen or utility room, with a hose like a tap, perfect for washing them off and getting them nice and clean.
If you have a house cat, you probably don’t have this problem. But if you have a canine and don’t want muddy paws to ruin your kitchen masterpiece, you can consider having a designated wash area for your dog, which is separate and hygienic, so that it is away from your main kitchen sink and any food preparation.
