A poll of 2,000 cat and dog owners found 48% have a reserved room for their pets or a space in the garden, with 55% wanting them to have their own ‘chill out’ area
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Kelly Brook shows how to design your home around your pets and stay stylish
Nearly half of the UK’s pets are living the dream with their very own room to kick back in, according to fresh research. The study, involving 2,000 cat and dog owners, discovered that a whopping 48% have set aside a special room for their furry friends or even a spot in the garden just for them.
A majority of 55% fancy giving their pets a personal ‘chill out’ zone, while 34% are all about maxing out on comfort for their four-legged pals. And it seems 30% of pet parents like to keep their animal’s gear all in one tidy place.
However, for 18%, the main reason for this pet paradise is simply to stop their belongings from cluttering up the rest of the house.
The survey also found that 46% of those with pets have gone as far as tailoring their home decor to suit their animal companions, though 21% confess they wouldn’t purchase pet-friendly items if they clashed with their home’s aesthetic vibe.
This intriguing data comes courtesy of Homesense – part of the TK Maxx family – which has teamed up with celeb Kelly Brook to roll out a pet and interiors content series dubbed ‘Barkitectural Digest’.
Mimicking a posh home interior mag, Kelly and her cherished pooch, Teddy, feature in a swanky setting filled with chic yet wallet-friendly homeware and pet products, aiming to inspire other pet owners.
Kelly Brook shared her thoughts, saying: “I adore Teddy. He’s family and a big part of my life he is, so it’s no surprise that there are elements in my home designed around him.”
“It turns out I’m not the only one, and I am thrilled to help inspire others to design their perfect home and pet haven.”
The survey also revealed that for those who have tailored their homes for their pets, popular modifications include lifting fragile items out of reach (29%), installing a cat flap (21%), and putting up a garden fence (20%).
Some have ditched carpets for hard flooring (16%) or invested in scratch-resistant furniture (11%), while 9% opt for dark decor to hide pet hair.
A significant number, nearly one in five (17%), have put in baby gates to contain their roaming cats and dogs, and 19% use throws to cover damage caused by their pets.
Yet, 38% feel there’s a lack of stylish pet-friendly home design ideas out there. And a whopping 75% find it tough to locate pet products that strike the right balance between quality and affordability.
According to the study conducted via OnePoll, 41% of pet owners have found the cost of keeping an animal higher than they anticipated, with insurance and food being some of the more unexpectedly pricey aspects.
Interestingly, 15% spend more on their pets than on their kids, vacations, or cars, with the average pet owner shelling out £708 annually on their animal companion.
Consequently, due to financial constraints, 59% have had to cut corners when buying pet products, particularly when it comes to food, toys, and bedding.
A representative from Homesense stated: “We’re a nation of animal lovers, and we believe you should never have to compromise when it comes to your pets.”
