How to Design a Pet-Friendly Bathroom
Why have a pet-friendly bathroom? According to a 2021-2022 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 90.5 million families in the United States own a pet. That’s 70% of all U.S. households! If you’re in that majority, and you own a cat or a dog, chances are there are many areas of your house that have been pet proofed. You know that window blinds with cords are a no-no; you recognize that wagging tails are hazards for vases and other collectibles; you know that furniture can become scratching posts for kitty claws or teething tools for puppy jaws. But do you have a pet-friendly bathroom?
The Problem: Your Dog Goes Bonkers at Bath Time
Wrangling dirty dogs into the bathroom is no small feat – ‘bath’ is a four-letter word, after all. But once you’ve managed the miracle of getting your muddy mutts into the bath, now you’ve got to keep them there!
The Pet-Friendly Bathroom Solution:
Wall-mounted hand showers aren’t just a nice luxury for humans, they’re also an essential tool for transforming your bathroom into the ultimate dog-washing station. Likewise, doorless, walk-in showers are a much better option than closed showers or awkward tubs for keeping your Fido’s showers fast and hassle-free.
The Problem: The Litter Box is an Eyesore and a Nose-Nuisance!
Putting the litter box in the bathroom seems like an obvious choice. Like humans, cats prefer a quiet space to do their business. Good lighting, airflow, and easy-to-clean floors all contribute to reasons why many homeowners choose to share their bathrooms with their beloved feline family members. But a bathroom with a litter box can quickly become a stinky, unsightly space, especially if Mittens doesn’t have good manners!
The Solution:
For a more pet- and design-friendly bathroom space, consider converting unused bathroom cabinets or closet space into a home for your cat’s litter box. Add a small kitty door so she can easily get in and out. Or consider another space in your house. Houzz.com features some ingenious, yet high-style solutions for litter boxes behind walls, in kitchen cabinetry, in laundry rooms, under the stairs, and yes, in bathrooms, too.
The Problem: Floors That Aren’t Designed for Your Four-Legged Friends
Nails and claws can damage hardwood flooring. Carpets does a terrible job of hiding pet accidents, fur, and stains. (Plus, carpet in the bathroom is a major no-no, setting a homeowner up for issues with mold, mildew, and water damage!)
The Solution:
Thankfully, there are plenty of reasonably priced flooring options for pet-friendly bathrooms. Tile, luxury vinyl plank, cork, bamboo, and vinyl all have their merits. And, once of the most accommodating bathroom flooring choices for pets is traditional ceramic tile. To keep things extra-easy, consider floor-to-ceiling tiles for easy cleaning – and drying – if your pup likes to shake it off after a bath.
The Problem: A Cool, Tall Drink of Toilet Water
Many cats and dogs seem to be drawn to drinking water straight from the toilet bowl while their designated water bowls in the kitchen go ignored. The toilet bowl might seem like a harmless source of cool, fresh drinking water, but it could be dangerous for Fido or Fluffy. Toilet cleaners aren’t intended to be consumed and some are made with toxic chemicals. If any toilet cleaner residue (or worse – fecal bacteria!) lingers in your toilet water, your beloved four-legged family member could get sick.
The Solution:
There are some simple, low-cost ways to divert your pet’s attention from the toilet, but If you can’t keep Fido or Fluffy from lapping up toilet water when you forget to close the bathroom door, consider installing a Drink No More device or a child’s safety lock.
Just like you, most of the kitchen and bath designers at Swartz are pet owners and pet lover. We know how important it is to balance the needs of your four-legged family members with your desire for fresh, stylish, and fully functional bathroom design. Contact us today to schedule an appointment where we’ll share more design ideas for you and your pets.
How to Design a Pet-Friendly Bathroom
Why have a pet-friendly bathroom? According to a 2021-2022 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA), 90.5 million families in the United States own a pet. That’s 70% of all U.S. households! If you’re in that majority, and you own a cat or a dog, chances are there are many areas of your house that have been pet proofed. You know that window blinds with cords are a no-no; you recognize that wagging tails are hazards for vases and other collectibles; you know that furniture can become scratching posts for kitty claws or teething tools for puppy jaws. But do you have a pet-friendly bathroom?
The Problem: Your Dog Goes Bonkers at Bath Time
Wrangling dirty dogs into the bathroom is no small feat – ‘bath’ is a four-letter word, after all. But once you’ve managed the miracle of getting your muddy mutts into the bath, now you’ve got to keep them there!
The Pet-Friendly Bathroom Solution:
Wall-mounted hand showers aren’t just a nice luxury for humans, they’re also an essential tool for transforming your bathroom into the ultimate dog-washing station. Likewise, doorless, walk-in showers are a much better option than closed showers or awkward tubs for keeping your Fido’s showers fast and hassle-free.
The Problem: The Litter Box is an Eyesore and a Nose-Nuisance!
Putting the litter box in the bathroom seems like an obvious choice. Like humans, cats prefer a quiet space to do their business. Good lighting, airflow, and easy-to-clean floors all contribute to reasons why many homeowners choose to share their bathrooms with their beloved feline family members. But a bathroom with a litter box can quickly become a stinky, unsightly space, especially if Mittens doesn’t have good manners!
The Solution:
For a more pet- and design-friendly bathroom space, consider converting unused bathroom cabinets or closet space into a home for your cat’s litter box. Add a small kitty door so she can easily get in and out. Or consider another space in your house. Houzz.com features some ingenious, yet high-style solutions for litter boxes behind walls, in kitchen cabinetry, in laundry rooms, under the stairs, and yes, in bathrooms, too.
The Problem: Floors That Aren’t Designed for Your Four-Legged Friends
Nails and claws can damage hardwood flooring. Carpets does a terrible job of hiding pet accidents, fur, and stains. (Plus, carpet in the bathroom is a major no-no, setting a homeowner up for issues with mold, mildew, and water damage!)
The Solution:
Thankfully, there are plenty of reasonably priced flooring options for pet-friendly bathrooms. Tile, luxury vinyl plank, cork, bamboo, and vinyl all have their merits. And, once of the most accommodating bathroom flooring choices for pets is traditional ceramic tile. To keep things extra-easy, consider floor-to-ceiling tiles for easy cleaning – and drying – if your pup likes to shake it off after a bath.
The Problem: A Cool, Tall Drink of Toilet Water
Many cats and dogs seem to be drawn to drinking water straight from the toilet bowl while their designated water bowls in the kitchen go ignored. The toilet bowl might seem like a harmless source of cool, fresh drinking water, but it could be dangerous for Fido or Fluffy. Toilet cleaners aren’t intended to be consumed and some are made with toxic chemicals. If any toilet cleaner residue (or worse – fecal bacteria!) lingers in your toilet water, your beloved four-legged family member could get sick.
The Solution:
There are some simple, low-cost ways to divert your pet’s attention from the toilet, but If you can’t keep Fido or Fluffy from lapping up toilet water when you forget to close the bathroom door, consider installing a Drink No More device or a child’s safety lock.
Just like you, most of the kitchen and bath designers at Swartz are pet owners and pet lover. We know how important it is to balance the needs of your four-legged family members with your desire for fresh, stylish, and fully functional bathroom design. Contact us today to schedule an appointment where we’ll share more design ideas for you and your pets.