Man’s best friend can brighten our day, keep us active and offer valuable companionship – it’s no surprise that a whopping 63.4 million American households keep a dog as a pet.

That’s why your dog or puppy deserves an indoor dog room to keep your furry friend safe and cozy. If you’re looking for dog room ideas, we’ve collected our top tips and tricks to help you create a pup-friendly space in your home.

8 Indoor Dog Room Ideas

Dogs prefer a safe space indoors to keep them warm on colder days and out of the sun when the temperature rises. A dog-friendly space can be used when you’re not at home, so your dog has somewhere familiar to rest and relax with minimal opportunity for naughty behavior.

Keep things cozy with their favorite bed, a selection of toys, food and fresh water. We recommend installing a digital security camera that can be monitored on your smartphone. This way you can keep an eye on your treasured pet to make sure they are ok while you’re working, or out for the day – not to mention a mid-day peep on your pup can provide a break from the everyday hustle and bustle.  

1. Where Will The Room Be?

An indoor dog room should be easy to keep clean, free of clutter, and have plenty of ventilation to keep your pup happy (and to stop any smells from lingering). Hard floors, such as tiles or wooden floors are good, as these are easy to mop and dry.

The room you choose can make a difference to those final design decisions – so pick wisely. Here are just a few things to consider:

• Laundry room – While you may only venture in here to wash your laundry, your pup will love the cool tiled floor and the gentle hum of the washing machine while you’re out at work.
• Attic – If you have a converted attic space, this is a great spot for a dog to enjoy during the day. This is best for smaller dogs who can be carried.
• Garage – If your garage isn’t crowded with clutter, you could transform it into a cozy space for your pup.
• An unused recess – If you have space under the stairs, this could be perfect for a dog bed.

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2. Convert Your Garage

Kick your car to the curb and transform your garage into an indoor dog room. These spaces are cool, airy, and easy to clean up if an accident happens. You’ll need to spend some time fixing the garage up, ready for your furry friend, which could mean having to declutter.

Any larger items you don’t want to keep in your dog room can be stored in a storage unit for a later date, while the rest can be sold at a yard sale or donated to goodwill.

Remove any sharp tools and toxic chemicals (car fluids, antifreeze, glues, fertilizers, and insecticides) that are commonly found in garages. You can keep these locked away in a storage cupboard or move them out to a separate shed or workshop, if possible.

Dogs like enclosed spaces, so consider building a den along one wall of the garage, with a countertop that they can get cozy underneath. Add a box for their favorite toys to keep them entertained and ensure that access to your home is blocked if you want them to remain here when you’re not at home.

3. Convert Your Shed

Here are some important things to consider when creating a dog room in a shed:

• Insulation is very important – Ensure your dog stays warm in the colder months when they’re in their dog room. Use blanket insulation sheets or foil insulation and attach these to the walls, before securing in place with plywood.
• Raise the shed off the ground – This stops any moisture rising through the floor, keeping your pooch warm and dry. You can raise it with cinder blocks or build a raised base with treated wood.
• Consider a heat lamp – If you live in a particularly cold state, install a heat lamp to keep your dog warm on those cooler nights or when it snows.
• Create a dog-friendly entrance – Your dog needs easy access to its living space, so create a dog-sized entranceway and cover this with tarp or burlap to stop the wind from getting in.

4. Convert Your Basement

 The basement doesn’t have to be dark and dingy, take some time ensuring yours is free of damp, has plenty of light and is painted a bright color. Basements are large enough that dogs can play and can be easily kitted out to create a comfy, cozy space.

It’s also important that you look for hazards. Basements are typically where you’ll find electrical outlets and mains pipes, so ensure these are covered or boxed off so your dog can’t get into trouble. A raised bed is the ideal solution in a basement to keep your dog from the cold floor.

5. Under The Stairs Dog Spaces

The space under the stairs makes it a great solution when finding space for your pup. This enclosed space will keep your dog feeling safe and secure, while providing an area to store treats, leashes, and toys.

Get creative and decorate the interior with lights, doggy themed wallpaper, pictures of the family, blankets, and a comfy bed. This snug dog room will keep them happy, and they can hide themselves away when they fancy a snooze.

6. In The Laundry Room

This ready-made space is cool, calming and usually tucked away from the main rooms of the house. We love the idea of creating a dedicated space for your pup, where they can sleep, play, and be groomed – while still finding room for your washing machine and dryer.

A drawer unit nearby can house everything from dog-friendly shampoo to grooming brushes, keeping what you need in one place.

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7. Multi-Use Furniture

Low on space or don’t want to dedicate a whole room to your pup? No problem. That’s where multi-use furniture comes in. You can quickly transform a large cabinet or dresser into a haven for your dog.

Remove the bottom half of your cabinet or dresser to make space for the dog bed. This also creates an enclosed, den-like space that they’ll love. You can then keep any cupboards or drawers above to house things like their leash and bowls to keep them tucked away when not in use.

A converted cabinet and multi-use furniture can be painted to match the space and easily moved when you fancy a change.

8. Places To Store Dog Treats

That’s the dog room sorted, but where do you keep those all-important treats to reward your pup for good behavior? Here are some quick and easy solutions:

1. Mason jars – Mason jars are a useful and trendy solution to dog treat storage.
2. Repurposed metal tins – Not sure what to do with holiday cookie tins? Don’t throw them away. Instead, use them to store your dog’s favorite treats.
3. Laundry hamper – Like to buy dog treats in bulk? Then pop everything in a laundry hamper that matches the décor of your home. Place something heavy on top to ensure clever pups don’t lift the lid and get inside.

If your garage, spare room or laundry room is overflowing with clutter, furniture or bulky items like books, records, clothing or bedding, consider a storage unit.

You can make enough room to arrange a plush space for your loyal hound by working out how much space you’ll need to store your items, packing them up safely, then arranging a self-storage unit in your local area.