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How to Design & Organize a Dog Room

Wondering how to make a room for your dogs? Whether you have one canine or seven, your four-legged companions deserve their own dog-safe space. A dog room is a dedicated space for your pet to play, rest, and unwind that’s incorporated into a common area of the house as barkitecture. Check out these 22 dog room ideas and learn how to organize your pooch palace!

  • Where to Make Your Dog Room
  • Dog Room Design & Organization Ideas

Where to Make Your Dog Room

You don’t need to give up an entire room for your pet, but you can designate some pro-pet areas to make a relaxing dog space. Here are some ideas for where to put a dog crate, bedding, and supplies for maximum convenience!

Double Up Your Laundry Room

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A great dog room idea is to combine your laundry room with a pup playroom! Add a comfy dog bed next to your washer and dryer to easily create a multi-purpose room. Do you need to make a permanent built-in dog room? Take the door and screws off a cabinet to create a sleeping zone or feeding zone under a pre-existing shelf.

Choose Your Mudroom

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A mudroom isn’t just a drop-zone for shoes and jackets! It’s also the perfect spot for a puppy palace, with a dog kennel and discrete storage space for chew toys, leashes, and food. Putting a dog space in the mudroom will also help stop messes at the door—make sure you have space for dog towel storage, so you can effectively wipe their paws before they get to the rest of the house.
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Make a Dog House Under the Stairs

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Create a dog room under the stairs and take advantage of an otherwise wasted space! Building a dog zone in this spot can be tricky, so use a stud finder before you begin to maximize your space under the stairs. This dog room idea is more difficult to keep tidy as a pet parent, but your pup will certainly love having a space all to themselves.

Use an Extra Bedroom

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Who says you can’t dedicate an entire bedroom for dogs? Especially if you have multiple canines who need a place to eat, sleep, and relax—go ahead and dedicate a spare room to their needs! With the additional space of an entire room, you’ll be able to invest in more dog room decor, canine accessories, and give your furry companion the space they deserve. Having their own pet room can even improve your dog’s quality of life and make them feel secure in your home.

Designate a Corner or Closet

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Don’t have enough space for an entire dog room in your house? Think of the spaces in your home where there isn’t much room as the potential spot for your dog area. Choose a flex room and use a baby gate to help distinguish it as a dog corner. Install a see-through or Dutch door to store their bedding and other supplies. Setting up a dog bedroom in a closet will also allow you to easily hang up their collars, seasonal sweaters, and winter boots for easy dog storage!

Go with a Basement Space

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The indoor dog room ideas are endless when you have an open basement. Basements and other areas of your home that typically serve as bonus rooms can provide an open area for your furry family members to play, relax, run, and more. Your basement area can also provide lots of dog storage for toys, leashes, and other pet must-haves.

Include a Dog Zone in Your Office

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Do you have a home office where you spend a lot of your time? You can organize your home office to make room for an indoor dog den, so your best friend can be near you! Add a dog crate under your standing desk or install a dog cubby in your study. This cozy spot will allow you and your dogs to spend quality time together—whether you’re working or gaming online!

Create Space in Your Garage

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A garage is the perfect puppy zone! If you don’t plan to store cars, lawn equipment, and other tools here, transform your garage into a cute dog space—complete with beds, blankets, dog toy storage, decor, and more. Although a garage can be a great space for your dog, it’s not advisable to leave your dogs in the garage without some way to regulate the temperature. Install an AC system in your garage, or check out alternative methods to help keep your dog cool—like dog cooling vests, cooling crate pads, and more!

How to Design & Organize a Dog Room

Whether your dog is large or small, they can acquire a lot of stuff, and you’ll need to be strategic about your dog room organization! Check out these dog room ideas for decor, pet furniture, and storage that will provide a home for leashes, water bowls, toys, and treats!

Select a Color for Your Dog Room

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What colors your dog can or can’t see isn’t just limited to black and white! The belief that dogs can’t perceive color isn’t totally accurate—your pup can actually see some colors, just not on the same level as humans. If you want to choose a stimulating color for your dog room design, consider blue or yellow tones. You can also incorporate a dog room theme of things you and your dog enjoy like dinosaurs, junk food, or plants to help them relax even more in their space.

Choose the Right Dog Kennel

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When deciding on a dog kennel, make sure to pick a crate size appropriate to your pup’s size and breed. Depending on your dog’s size, you might need to purchase a custom dog kennel or DIY a dog kennel. Once you’ve purchased or made your pet’s kennel, consider turning it into multi-purpose furniture by adding a flat top to make it an end table, or adding drawers for additional dog supply storage.

Pick the Perfect Bed

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No pet palace is complete without a throne! Set the mood in your pet’s room with a comfy dog bed to help your pup relax. If you have multiple dogs that need a place to sleep, try building DIY dog bunk beds. Whether you opt for a bed that attaches to yours, choose a funky shape, or pick a multi-purpose piece of furniture like a dog sofa—make sure you consider your dog’s personality and size. As your dog ages, invest in an orthopedic dog bed to help relieve their joint pain, improve mobility, and increase energy levels.

Design for Your Dog’s Senses

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It’s not always possible to be around your dog. One way to think about dog room design is to envision how you can help your dog relax when you’re not around. You can incorporate things like a TV playing Dog TV, a speaker emitting soothing sounds, or something as simple as leaving a piece of your clothing with your scent. Whether you’re making a small or big dog room, taking these kinds of steps can make your dog happy.

Use Your Dog as Decor Inspiration

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What better way to use pet room decor than with your furry friend’s face? Display your dog’s likeness with a photo, painting, tapestry, tape outline, and more. This dog wall decor idea will add a dash of personal style, as well as make a truly one-of-a-kind space! Companies like Crown & Paw, West & Willow, Purr & Mutt, and more let you upload photos of your dog that they recreate as portraits. Hang photos from a pet photography session or selfies of you both together. Or embroider your dog’s name on items like pillows, hats, clothes, and dog toy boxes to help keep everything organized while adding some personalization to the space!

Designate a Spot for Toys

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Even if your playful pup isn’t the best at putting things away, having a designated area for dog toy storage will help keep your pet room clean. Options like dog toy baskets and bins are a great way to keep things in one place while still leaving them accessible for your four-legged companion. If your dog shows their toys some extra love, try using floating shelves to keep the playthings out of reach until you get back home to supervise.

Install a Pet Accessory Area

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Stop wasting time digging for dog accessories! You can make your life easier when decorating a dog room by installing hooks on the wall or right by the door for convenient dog leash storage. Hang your dog’s towels to make drying your pet a faster process after their latest bath. Store pet clothes in drawers and over-the-door hangers. Or set up a dog clothes closet to keep their coats, sweaters, and shirts organized.

Create a Dog Feeding Station

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No matter what kind of dog you have, you’ll want to set up a dog feeding station to ensure they stay hydrated and get the nutrients they need to thrive. These dog food stations can be placed anywhere from your kitchen to the garage. A great dog food storage idea is to use a sealed bin to make the room look more cohesive, help food stay fresh, and keep any curious pups out. Keep dog food bowls exposed for grazing, or have automated food and water bowls to set designated feeding times. Or consider getting a refillable dog water bowl so they can have access to water when you’re away from home.

Use Hidden Pet Storage

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Dog furniture can be stylish and functional at the same time! Opt for hidden living room storage like a dog feeder that can slide into a cabinet when not in use. And space-saving furniture is a great way to create storage for small spaces—so pet owners get the most out of their space, no matter the size of the dog or home.

Utilize Dog Stairs for Elevated Areas

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When designing your pet’s bedroom, remember to get practical dog room furniture to help prevent your dog from hurting themselves. If your best furry friend is allowed on furniture or has their own special spot on the sofa beside you, consider dog stairs. This is a good pet area idea for elderly dogs, puppies, small dogs, and dogs with underlying, breed-related medical issues! You can get solid stairs or collapsible steps for easy dog storage.

Add a Grooming Station

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Avoid having to go to the groomer and keep your pets smelling fresh by installing a dog grooming station in your home! Not only will this give you a spot to clean up muddy paws, but a dog wash station will make bath time a breeze, too. Install the dog bath waist-high to avoid bending over uncomfortably while washing your dog. Or place it near the ground if you have a large dog that’s hard to pick up.

Consider Your Flooring

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Even the most well-behaved pets have an accident every now and then. Plus, between claw-clipping appointments, shedding fur, stray slobber, and more—it’s a good idea to think about flooring, especially for your dog’s areas or room. Hard surfaces are often stain-resistant and are easier to clean than carpet, which is prone to stains. Materials like tile and hardwood are fantastic hallway, bathroom, and kitchen floor upgrades that are durable. Or choose a more affordable alternative for flooring, like laminate—which is a more budget-friendly option for pet cleanup.

Boost Your Dog’s Health

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The most important part of maintaining your dog’s wellness is providing a variety of toys to keep them stimulated and relaxed. Choose training, treat-dispenser, enrichment, and other types of dog toys. You could also invest in durable dog toys to help prevent your dog from chewing furniture, ease separation anxiety, and curb other unwanted behavior.

Check In on Your Dog

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If you know your dog has separation anxiety, consider installing dog surveillance cameras to keep tabs on them during the day. These allow you to check in on your anxious dog when you’re away from home or keep an eye on your new, energetic puppy. Some models even let you speak to your dog and dispense treats while you’re away!
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