The Dog Room is one of the hottest, new trends in dog care. As more people choose to live with a dog, they realize that dogs have a lot of STUFF.
Let’s face it, dogs need stuff.
Stuff like a bed, bowls for food and water, storage for dog food and treats. Let’s not forget about the dog toys. The list goes on and on but I will stop there.
All that stuff can be overwhelming when it doesn’t have a permanent place in the house. Introducing the Dog Room, a dedicated place for your dog and all their stuff.
Here we will show you Dog Room Ideas that you can do too. Plus tips on how to create the perfect dog room for you. Oh, and your dog too.
Get Started with These Dog Room Ideas
What is a dog room?
A dog room is a room or even space in another room that is dedicated to your dog’s needs in some way. Some people create a quiet place for their dog to chill out or a space to store all their stuff.
It can also be a place that is dedicated to taking care of them, like a dog bath, grooming station or feeding station or all of the above.
Dog rooms can be as simple or elaborate as you want. Here is an example of a dog room that was created in a basement.
As you look at the two pictures below you can see that the room is small with no windows, this makes having proper ventilation important since it’s equipped with a dog bath.
Basement Dog Room Ideas
This room has everything your pup needs. A space to sleep, eat, bath and storage for food and other necessities.
Compact Dog Room Ideas
Here is another example of a dedicated space for a dog room. In this case the creation of the dog room was part of a laundry room renovation.
In addition to cabinets to store their dog’s stuff, there is also a vented space in the bottom cabinet for them to sleep, a place for the bowls on the side of the cabinets and a dog shower to keep them clean. This compact design even has a place to hang wet towels.
Dog Room Ideas for Multiple Dogs
The dog room pictured below was part of a mud room addition for a family with multiple dogs. The room has almost everything you would need to care for five dogs. Unlike the first room we showcased, this room has lots of windows, allowing for easy ventilation and plenty of light.
Each dog has their own personal food bowl plus there is space for food prep, a water bowl with a faucet, lots of storage space and of course a dog bath.
No more bending over a bathtub, this innovative dog bath shown above is raised to standing height. Plus there are hidden stairs that allow easy access for the dogs.
On the opposite side of the room that is a cabinet to house all their stuff, plus four more feeds bowls. The tile floor makes for easy clean up after a bath or dog walk in the rain.
There is even a place to hang all five leashes. The designer used festive pictures placed high on the wall to brighten up the walls.
Should dogs have their own room?
Most dogs would prefer to be with their family at all times, so a room of their own is not required. Having a few comfortable places for your dog around the house would be a better option. But most dog rooms are created to make the lives of dog owners easier, rather than a private room for their dog. As you look at the dog room ideas we have in this post you will see that many of the dog rooms do double duty.
There are a few exceptions to this generalization though.
- One is a rescue dog that has not been raised around people. They may find it comforting to have a safe space away from people and noises.
- An older dog might also enjoy a place out of the way in a busy household. But they will still want to be in a place where they can see everything that’s going on. As you can see by the picture below, a space was carved out under the staircase for one lucky pup.
- Another reason to have a dedicated room for your dog is to keep them safe. If you have a puppy or a dog that has a knack for getting into trouble, it’s best to have a dog proof space, when no one can watch them. While many people use a crate for this, having a larger area that they can move around in will make it easier on your dog and ultimately you.
Some dogs like the Bernedoodle have been known to eat a sock or two. In this case having a safe place where they can be when no one is around to keep an eye on them is a good thing.
Our Dog Room
When we created a mudroom from unused space in our home, we decided to add a dog bath for our English Springer Spaniel. She had a tendency to “collect” stuff in her fur. During the winter it was snow that clung to her long fur and in the warmer months it could be mud or even twigs.
In addition to the dog bath we made sure to include storage for her food and toys, plus a place to hang her leash and harness. It was not as fancy as the pictures here but it served its purpose.
This was one of the best improvements we made to the house, but we no longer use the bath. Now our 20lb poodle mix fits just fine in the mud room sink.
How to Create a Dog Room
1. Decide on the purpose of the dog room
The first thing you need to do when creating a dedicated room for your dog is to decide on its purpose. Here are a few reasons people create dog rooms:
- Safe place for them to be in the house
- A place to store all their stuff
- An out of the way place for food and water bowls. I can’t tell you how many times I have kicked the water bowl.
- One really hot trend in dog rooms these days are dog baths.
- Plus for dogs that need frequent haircuts like the mini Goldendoodle, a grooming station.
2. Where to create the dog room
Once you decide on the purpose of the room, next you need to find the space. In one of the dog room ideas shown above for the five dogs, the homeowner added the dedicated dog room onto the back of their house. In the next pic below this dog bath was part of a garage and mudroom addition.
Dog Room Ideas – House Additions
Dog Room Ideas – Room Conversions
But you don’t have to add on to your home to create a dog room. Using a spare room will also work. The dedicated dog room shown below was part of a sunroom remodel. In this case they used premade window benches they customized to make elevated dog beds with a step for easy access.
On the other side of the room there is storage, plus food and water bowls with a dedicated facet. No more spilling water during the trip to the kitchen sink.
They even have a dedicated storage for their dog food with a prep area on top.
Double Duty with the Laundry Room or Mudroom
The most common two spots that homeowners create their dog rooms are the laundry or mudroom. For many people these rooms already do double duty with each other. Here are a few examples of Dog Rooms that share space with the laundry room or mudroom.
Our first design takes the dog room idea to the extreme. Here the dog room shares space with the laundry, but you would never notice just looking at the pictures. Did you notice the elevated panels to the right of the dog washer?
Instead of a dedicated dog bath this dog room utilizes a large farm sink to double as a place to wash fido. This is a great idea for smaller spaces if you have a small dog.
Next to the large sink is a place for dog food storage, food prep and a pull out drawer that houses the food and water bowls.
The table in the middle of the room is used for folding laundry and brushing the dog. Plus there is a shelf for toy storage underneath. In the picture to the right you can see a dog fountain in the wall.
In our next dog room ideas example the homeowners used space between cabinets in a laundry room to make space for a multifunctional dog bath.
Here is another laundry room renovation that uses hard to use space for their dog. In addition to a sleeping space next under the counter, they have also incorporated a water bowl with a spigot on the side for easy refilling. Plus there are food bowls hidden in the lower drawer on the cabinet.
Space under the stairs
That empty space, unused space under the stairs is the perfect place for a quiet dog spot. Just make sure to have an expert determine if it is safe before knocking out any framing. Here are some innovative ideas people have come up with for their dogs.
This tucked away space under the stairs has everything a dog needs; a comfy bed, with pillow to lay their head. A place to hang the leash and even a pull out tray to eat.
Here’s another under the stairs space that truly mimics a dog cave. The added doors with an open lattice makes this dog cave double as a crate when the homeowners go out.
To get more ideas for tucked away spaces for your dog take a look at our post: The Home Office – Finding Space for Your Dog
Unused Closet
A large closet can also double as a dog room as seen below. What once was a simple under-stair storage area was turned into a cozy pet parlor. The Dutch door turns the quiet space into the perfect kennel when you need to keep your pup safe.
Portion of a larger room
In our next example the homeowners took a small space from the open concept mudroom to create a space for their pup to stay safe. If you look carefully you can see a built in rolling gate that can block the dog area from the rest of the house when needed. You can also create a a dog friendly space in your home in a larger room like the kitchen by tucking in a dog bed under the cabinets.
Here is the other side of the mudroom wall where the dog bed is tucked away. In this picture you can see that the gate is closed.
What to Put in a Dog Room
So now that you have decided on the purpose and a space for your dog room, it’s time to decide what is going in it. Just remember that if you have a dog that gets into stuff or you have a puppy you need to puppy proof the area.
1. Flooring and walls
When designing your dog room you need to be practical about how it’s created. Look for materials that will be durable.
Young puppies and older dogs both have accidents. Having a waterproof flooring will be a better choice than hardwood floors or carpeting. You will notice many of the Dog room ideas we presented here have tile floors.
Also think about moldings and drywall. Both of these items can be destroyed by a bored dog.
2. Lighting
Lighting is another area you may not think about when creating your dog room. If your dog room is located under the stairs or in a basement make sure you provide a safe light source for your dog. Again only you know your dog, but if your dog has separation anxiety or you may think that they will chew it, make sure all lighting and electrical wires are out of your dog’s reach.
3. Storage
Unless the sole purpose of your dog room is a safe place for your dog, storage is a common request when designing the room. But before you start buying cabinets, make a list of all your dog’s stuff. This should include items like food, leashes, toys, grooming tools, towels, etc. Basically everything you use for your dog. Once you have your list you can start thinking about the best way to store them.
Food Storage
To keep food fresh and also to keep your dogs out of it make sure their food is enclosed in an airtight bin. Many people use under the cabinet trash bins (new of course), but you would be better off replacing the bin with something that is seal-able.
Dog Toys
If you want to allow your dog access to their toys, a low shelf with a basket will work for their storage. Just keep in mind that while a decorative basket will look nice, a destructive dog might decide to turn it into a chew toy. Another option is to use bins behind closed doors.
Leashes and other outdoor accessories
For items that are used everyday, like leashes and waste bags, simple hooks and shelving work well to store these items. In the picture below, this homeowner incorporated easy access storage solutions to make getting out the door fast. The resulting look is clean and simple.
The hooks over the bath not only offer a place for the dog’s leash, but also a place to hang wet towels that can drip into the bath.
A place to store their crate
Many people including myself believe that being crate trained is a life skill every dog needs to have. But once our dog was comfortable in the crate we stopped using it. However, there are still times that we need to use it, like when we travel, so having the crate accessible is important.
In the dog room shown below, the owners not only incorporated storage and a dog bath but they also included an area for their dog crates. This idea is both simple and practical, Not only are they out of the way but the crates can be used right where they are. This is a less expensive option than built in crates and also can do double duty.
4. A place for their food bowls
Having a built-in feeding station gives a nice clean look to any room. Especially if they can be closed when not in use. But you need to make sure your dog has access to water when they need it. Also place the feeding station in a place that is out of the way. In the below pictures the feeding station is placed in a buffet that is located outside of the kitchen’s main work area.
Another option is a feeding station that is located in an open cabinet. This option still keeps the bowls out of the way but allows easy access to your pup. The homeowners below opted to have the feeding station just outside the kitchen area. This is a great choice for a busy kitchen or for dogs that can get skittish when eating.
Yet another option for a feeding station is an alcove for stand alone bowls. In the first picture the bowls are raised up on a shelf or you can skip the shelf and just have an open area on the floor like in the next photo.
5. Bedding
Finding a comfy place to sleep is most dog’s way of dealing with boredom, so giving them a nice place to stay is an important part of creating a dog room. Especially if they are going to be staying in the room for any length of time. But before you start looking for a bed for your dog, think about what your dog’s needs are.
Large dogs will need a bed made for large breeds. These beds can stand up to the weight of a large dog and not sink down to the floor. Dogs bred to live in cold climates will get hot quickly, so that nice warm dog bed may never get used.
Also pay attention to heating and cooling vents as you are designing your room. You don’t want to place your dog in a crate where they can get too warm or too cold.
Try to stay away from dog beds that contain harsh chemicals. I prefer to only buy dog beds made in the USA. I have found that they last much longer than other, cheaper beds.
6. Door or no door
If the purpose of creating a dog room is to keep your dog safe when you are gone, you are going to need a door or gate to contain them.
This modern Dutch door with see-through glass inserts is the perfect option for when you want to keep them in safe but you don’t want to isolate them from the rest of the home.
Here is another option for keeping your dog in their safe place. This hinged gate looks adorable as an entrance to this private dog room.
This pup’s safe place is a small section of the room that is divided by a pocket door. When not in use the pocket door is hidden in the cabinetry.
Things to consider when creating a safe room for your dog
- It’s important to remember that dogs are pack animals. They want to be around us or at least other dogs. Leaving your dog locked in a room or in a crate by themselves for long periods of time is not good for your dog. It will only make them nuts.
- When dogs are left alone for too long or too often they can and will be destructive.
- You also need to be careful when leaving more than one dog together in a small enclosure. Dogs can get into disagreements and start to fight. Never leave your dogs home alone, together, if there is any chance a fight will break out.
- I prefer to leave our dog collarless when home alone. Although there is a risk that they will get out and get lost, there is also a risk of them accidentally getting hung if the collar catches on something.
7. Decor
This is where you can let your creative juices go wild. After all, it’s not like your dog is going to complain about the decor. Artistic dog pictures are just one way to create a fun space for your dog. Just make sure it is safe for them to be around or make sure it is out of reach.
8. Dog Bath
Adding a dog bath is probably the most expensive item in dog rooms. It requires a decent amount of work and the plumbing required can be expensive. Plus they take up a lot of space. Before you incur that expense, first decide if you really need it. If you have a small dog a mudroom sink might be able to do double duty.
There are so many things that go into creating a dog bath that it really needs to be its own post. Please keep a lookout for it in the future.