For most families, pets are an integral part of the household, and they affect how the home gets used every single day. Yet, most homes are designed without them in mind at all, which is why so many homeowners end up with food bowls in the middle of the kitchen floor, crates crowding the living room, and muddy paw prints across brand-new flooring.
When you build a custom home, you can plan for your pets the same way you plan for everyone else in the family. Here are some of the most popular pet-friendly features we help our clients include, and why they're worth considering in your own design.
A Dog Wash Station in the Mudroom
This is easily one of the most requested pet features in custom homes today, and for good reason. A dedicated dog wash station — usually a tiled, walk-in basin with a handheld sprayer — lets you clean up a muddy dog right at the door before dirt ever reaches the rest of the house. Placing it in the mudroom or near the garage entry keeps the mess contained to one durable, easy-to-clean space.
Practical details make a big difference. Consider a raised basin height so you're not bending over, storage for towels and shampoo within arm's reach, and a floor drain nearby for easy cleanup. Middle Tennessee weather brings plenty of rainy days and muddy backyards, so this feature tends to pay off quickly.
A Built-In Feeding Nook
Food and water bowls take up floor space in the busiest room of the house, and they're easy to kick over in a crowded kitchen. A feeding nook solves that. Built into a lower cabinet, the end of an island, or a corner of the mudroom or pantry, it gives your pets a dedicated spot to eat that stays out of the main walking paths.
Many of our clients add a pull-out drawer for food storage below the bowls, a pot filler or small faucet nearby for refilling water, and tile or stone at the base so spills wipe up easily.
Built-In Crates and Sleeping Spaces
A wire crate in the corner of the family room rarely fits the look of the rest of the home. Built-in crates do the same job while blending into the cabinetry. Common spots include under a mudroom bench, beneath a staircase, or within a laundry room built-in, with ventilated doors that match the surrounding millwork.
The same thinking applies to sleeping areas. A recessed nook for a dog bed keeps your pet close to the family without their bed sitting in the middle of the room. These details are simple to include during design and ensure even the smallest details of your home look considered and seamless.
Outdoor Spaces Designed with Pets in Mind
Your pets will spend plenty of time outside, so the yard deserves the same attention as the interior. Fenced areas planned around the home's design, covered porches where pets can stay dry, hose spigots placed near entry points, and durable landscaping near doors all make daily life easier. If you're building on acreage, your home builder can also help you plan sight lines from the kitchen or living areas so you can keep an eye on pets in the yard.
Plan for Your Pets from the Beginning
Like most custom features, these are easiest and most affordable to include when they're part of the design from day one. Plumbing for a wash station, cabinetry for a feeding nook, and ventilation for built-in crates should all get worked into the plans before construction ever starts.
If you've been searching for custom home builders near you and want a home that works for every member of your family, including the four-legged ones, we'd love to help. Contact Hannah Custom Homes at 615-822-8042 or contact us online today to get started.