Decor And The Dog: 5 Tips For A Dog Friendly Mudroom

Monday, March 18, 2013

5 Tips For A Dog Friendly Mudroom

I think a lot of home bloggers dream of their homes being featured in a magazine. I know that was a dream of mine. And now it’s a reality.

Okay, so my dream didn’t involve our home in a dog magazine. High Desert Dog to be exact. None the less, it’s still pretty cool. I would be lying if I thought my blog would be as successful without the Ike man. The editor at High Desert Dog was great to work with. The current issue of the magazine has some great articles like “Is Your Dog a Good Roommate” and “Blindness in Dogs”. It’s a great resource for dog owners in the Southwest. There are many articles about local dog parks, events, and shelter information. Makes me wish there was something available locally for Ike and I.

The article isn’t available on-line so I thought I’d share it with you all today! (I’d like to thank my friends Danielle and Kim for proofreading/giving suggestions during the writing process! This biology major appreciated their English skills that I ain’t got.)

Five Tips for a Dog Friendly Mudroom

Dogs are a lot of things- energetic, fun-loving, and loyal. When I walk in the back door door, I know my Wire Fox Terrier, Ike, will greet me with a wagging tail and sloppy kiss. Ike’s love for me is unmatched by anyone else-besides my husband. Maybe.

Ike and I share many interests . Long walks, cuddling in blankets and peanut butter. One interest we do not share is home decorating. Ike, like many dogs, has little concern for design or style. He doesn’t care if he runs with messy paws on hardwood or linoleum. He thinks mud looks great on any wall color.

As you probably already know, decorating with dogs can be a challenge. Dogs are messy and have little regard for high-end design. Most dogs are, however, valued members of the family. It is important for a homeowner to be able to show their sense of style while still considering the needs of their pets.

A good place to begin- the mudroom. The mudroom is an excellent space for homeowners to begin decorating with their dog in mind. Mudrooms are typically informal spaces located near a back entry- a perfect place for a dog to eat dinner or have dirty paws wiped clean.

There are five important factors to consider when creating a stylish dog-friendly mudroom: walls, flooring, safety, storage, and style.

Walls:

Choose satin paint for your mudroom walls. Dogs drool. Dogs shake water on walls on rainy days. Walls painted with satin paint are much easier to clean than walls painted with flat paint. To truly design the
mudroom with your dog in mind, consider painting the walls yellow, blue or grey. These are the only colors that dogs are able to see. Currently, greys are a popular color in home decor.

Flooring:

Choose a durable, scratch-resistant floor for a mudroom. Ceramic tile is an excellent choice because it is easy to clean, difficult to scratch and resistant to most animal stains. There are many great tile options available to fit almost any decor. Hardwood flooring would be your next best option. Hardwood floors are easy to clean but are easily scratched by larger dogs. If hardwood floors are your choice, choose a light to medium finish. Low gloss or distressed woods are less likely to show pet scratches. Regular grooming of your pet’s nails will also aid in keeping wood floors looking their best. Carpet is not recommended as it is difficult to clean and absorbs pet odors. If you choose carpet, consider carpet tiles which are easy to replace.

Safety:

Organize your dog-friendly mudroom to make it free of clutter. Often, the mudroom ends up being a catch-all space for towels, shoes, plastic bags and purses. Dogs love to chew on things that they shouldn’t. Design your mudroom so as to minimize the amount of opportunities for a dog to ingest something they should not or injure themselves. An important part of a safe mudroom is plenty of storage.

Storage:

A mudroom is a great place to store your dog’s belongings. Keep in mind that you will need a place to store a dog’s leash, food, treats, towels, bones, medications and paperwork. A closet is a great place to
store items like medications that should be kept out of the pet’s reach. Baskets on shelves are an inexpensive solution for storing dog toys and treats. Vintage egg crates are a great looking storage option for dog toys. Keep food sealed in a cool and dry location. Store towels in a place where they are easy to access after a trip outside. I also recommend storing leashes within easy reach. A special hook next to your coat is an easy and stylish solution for leash storage. Store food and water dishes underneath
a mudroom bench to keep them out of the way of the humans while remaining easily accessible for your dog.

Style:

Can you have a beautiful pet and a beautiful house? Absolutely. It is important to keep your personal style in mind while decorating your home and mudroom. Your mudroom doesn’t have to be plastered with dogs bones and “woof” signs. You can paint the walls a color to please your dog and choose your favorite color as an accent color. Or vice versa. If you are opposed to tile in your home, choose hardwood instead. Storage baskets or containers are available in a wide range of colors and materials to match any style. Have a custom portrait of your pet made to use as wall art. A less expensive option would be framing favorite family photos or photos of your dog as a puppy.

Dogs may not care about home decor trends but that doesn’t mean that dog owners can’t. Keeping these simple tips in mind, you can take a purely functional and boring mudroom and turn it into a room everyone can be proud of. And this is something on which man and man’s best friend can agree.

What tips do you have for a pet friendly mudroom? Do you dream of your house showing up in a magazine? Is your blog popular because of your dog/kid/etc?

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