Five Amazing Ways To Make Your Custom Home Pet-Approved

Every home has a rhythm with routines all its own.

The four-legged companions that bark or meow and give us that look when it’s time to fill their bowl or take their business outside are as much a part of what makes a house a home as your family, friends, and neighborhood.

Here are some simple ways to take your custom-built Schumacher Home design from pet-friendly to pet-approved.

1. Choose Durable Materials Throughout (Especially Flooring)

A fully grown, 65-pound, adult male chocolate lab and a 6-month-old capricious kitten have very different habits and personalities. One thing they have in common is they both add to the wear and tear on your home’s interior.

Your floors by far are going to bear the brunt of your pet’s activities (and messes). As previously featured, when it comes to a surface that’s perfect for paws, Luxury Vinyl plank flooring is durable, stylish, comfortable and cost-effective.

For finishes and design-choices that are tough enough to take a cat’s claws or several attempts at puppy training, how you choose to paint your walls can make a difference. We recommend a satin or semi-gloss paint; it helps repel fur and keeps walls looking fresh and clean.

Schumacher Homes offers a variety of durable materials to outfit your home in a wide spectrum of styles, colors, and patterns. We’re committed to providing high-quality and long-lasting building materials to meet your budget needs on everything from cabinetry to countertop materials.

2. Dedicated Pet Spaces

Or imagine creating a custom-built space for food bowls and storage in a cabinet pantry or around a kitchen island. What about the versatility of a built-in pet bed or a dedicated pet dwelling area in a living room or study? We can help you imagine and re-arrange rooms from any of our existing floorplans and repurpose part or all of a smaller space with a pet-centric focus.

Carving out an area dedicated solely for your pet to relax independently will help keep other high-traffic areas in your home clean and de-cluttered while providing easy access to items for your pet’s care and well-being.

3. Convenient, Safe Windows And Doors

While not necessarily the most obvious way to make your home a more pet-friendly place, the right windows and doors can significantly contribute to your pet’s physical activity and safety. They also provide convenience to pet owners as well!

Consider a large window in an open space of your home to give pets (and people too) a natural-light source with an uninhibited outside view.

Dog doors provide the pets freedom to access a backyard without having to prompt their owners. Installing custom hooks next to a rear exit door to hang leashes and other outdoor pet gear make frequent walks and bathroom breaks easy.

4. Outdoor Domain

Most pets require an appropriate outdoor domain. The call of the wild calls all year long. Snow or rain. Windchill or heat advisory. Considering an appropriately-sized yard with a fence should be a part of any custom home lot and land evaluation.

A backyard is also another pet-dedicated area that offers a place to exercise and play. For dogs especially, an adequately fenced backyard with ample space to roam and explore can encourage healthy socializing amongst other dogs.

5. Consider Your Pet In Your Floorplan

Maybe we’re restating the obvious with this last suggestion. But we’re rounding out our list with this concept because it’s fundamental and often overlooked. More importantly, if you’re thinking about a custom home, it’s simple to do. With proper planning and by asking the right questions, simple updates to any floorplan can improve your home’s form and functionality making your pets as happy and excited to be home as you are – even when you’re not.

Finding a floor plan that’s right for you and your pets needs is just another way each Schumacher Home floorplan can be adapted to your family’s individual taste and lifestyle.