North East housing development creates designated pet space within their homes

Our pets are important members of our family, and we want their lives in our homes to be comfortable and loving.

While usually a dog would have a cosy bed and perhaps a box of squeaky toys to play with, pet owners are now deciding to give their pets their own special space within their homes.

This trend has become a viral sensation, especially on the likes of TikTok, the video sharing social platform. Many videos popped up on the app, (especially during the lockdown period) of pet owners renovating their homes in order to provide their pet with their own rooms.

Most of those used the space under the stairs of their home, to convert into a pet “bedroom”, which is usually used as a cloakroom or storage area.

Now, a North East housing development, Miller Homes have followed suit and have created a special pet friendly feature in one of their newest show homes on the Miller Homes Longshore Village site in Blyth, Northumberland.

Miller Homes hope to appeal to animal lovers with their new feature, who will find the designated doggy space a good reason to buy a home from the development.

Miller Homes worked with Q Interiors (who are based in Newcastle), to create the perfect place for the family pet to have its own space. They decided, like many others, that the open space underneath the stairs of the home is ideal for a pet “bedroom”.

This decision was led by research, finding that the space under the stairs is tucked away and yet in close proximity to the main family areas. The research found that dogs find being in the vicinity of their owner rewarding and the close proximity to the main family areas of the house results in a happy pet.

Karen Randles, senior interior designer at Q Interiors said it was an important factor to design a place which the pet could call their own.

“Gone are the days when dogs were relegated to the utility room or a kennel outside, so we wanted to give them a dedicated space where they felt included and part of the family, but also safe and secure,” she said.

“It was important that the space was near the front door of the home, where a dog can relax but still feel like they are protecting the property.”

Karen also explained that the shape of the area under the stairs can make a dog feel comfortable and secure, due to the sloping ceilings and enclosed sides.

Research shows that dogs and other pets having their own peaceful space can help with anxious behaviours such as barking.