Many pet parents allow their beloved pets to roam freely around the house, giving them the choice of where they want to go. Even when they go out for a while, many owners prefer to let their pets roam free. However, this is where accidents and dangers can occur that your pet doesn’t understand. Not only that, but some pets need time alone as constantly being surrounded by people can wear them out and their behavior can change. This is why it’s extremely important that your pet gets a balance of roaming freely in the house to socialize and having their own dedicated space for some ‘me’ time.
Giving your pet a balance of freedom and time to themselves can make your pet much happier while reducing worry when you go out of the home. Creating an enclosed and comfy area in your home can make your pet feel secure and relaxed while preventing them from getting up to mischief while you’re out! Explore how to create a cozy pet corner in your home to give them the space they need and protect them from harm.
Find the right space
Before you start setting up the ultimate relaxing space for your pet, you need to select the right area in your home. This is an important decision as the right space will impact how cozy their corner is. Try to choose a space that is away from distractions and high-traffic areas, such as hallways and the kitchen. Find quiet corners in the home and think outside of the box. For example, you can have a cozy bedroom retreat in a spare room or convert a large cupboard/wardrobe space into a pet haven. Choosing areas like this helps to reduce stress for your pet as they escape loud noises and activity from people.
When you’ve found a few possible areas, you should take into consideration the level of natural light the space has. This needs to be the perfect balance of having some natural light but not too much to avoid the risk of your pet overheating on hot days. Once you’ve found the spot, see if some sort of barrier can be added to prevent your pet from roaming free while you’re out. This can be as simple as a baby gate that can be left open while you’re home and locked shut when you go out!
Choose a comfortable bed
Now you have the perfect place in your home for a pet cozy corner, you need to focus on the most important thing, a comfortable bed. A pet bed is the heart of a cozy corner as it’s what your pet will use the most to be comfortable. Due to this, you need to get the best and most comfortable bed for your pet. Firstly, think about the bed sizing. The bed should be big enough for your pet to comfortably stretch out. If your furry friend is still growing, choose a bed that will suit their adult size.
Next, you need to find one with plenty of plump cushioning. An orthopedic bed can be an excellent choice for senior pets or pets with joint issues. Then, you need to make sure that the cover of the bed is durable and washable to make it easier to clean and longer lasting.
Think about lighting and ambiance
Your cozy pet corner needs to have a relaxing ambiance to give your pet that calming feel to encourage relaxation. Ambiance typically comes from the lighting, so this needs to be a huge consideration for the space you’ve chosen. You need to let a little bit of natural light in for the daytime and then soft, warm lighting in the evenings. Choose lamps that can be put on high shelves, out of reach from your pet, or hang fairy lights around the space. This can help your pet to calm down and have valuable ‘me’ time. You can also add soothing scents, like lavender, in a diffuser or spray to help your pet relax even more.
Maintain temperature
Another vital aspect of your pet’s cozy corner is to keep the temperature maintained. This is critical in the summer months as you don’t want your pet to overheat, especially if you live in an area that gets very hot. You need to make sure that your pet remains comfortable throughout the year. During the hot months, you need to provide them access to cool areas and fresh water to keep them hydrated. When you experience colder weather, add blankets to the cozy corner or use heating pads to keep your pet warm and comfortable.
Include favorite toys and personalize the space
To entice your pet to visit the cozy corner often when they need to get away from it all, it’s ideal to personalize the space. A great way to do this is to add in their favorite toys. This gives them something to do to keep them entertained and engaged with the space you’ve created for them. Add soft plush toys to increase comfort and provide your pet with security and a sense of safety. For dogs, you should also have chew toys to improve their oral health. These are great to keep your pooch’s natural urge to chew at bay as they can easily chew this instead of items and furniture in your house. Puzzle toys for your pet are also a great addition. These challenge your pet’s problem-solving skills by making them work to access tasty treats. It helps them to keep their mind sharp, reduces boredom, and prevents behavioral issues.
You can also personalize your pet’s space with accessories such as treats, name tags, grooming tools, favorite blankets, and anything they love. Doing this not only encourages your pet to use the space, but it makes them feel loved, comfortable, and cozy.
Choose pet-friendly furniture
Choose furniture for your cozy pet corner that is pet-friendly to keep your furry friend safe and sound and make it easier to clean. You can get stylish pet-friendly furniture that suits your home’s décor and your pet’s comfort. Choose easy-to-clean fabrics and find pieces that are resistant to pet hair and scratches to prevent fur circling around the house and furniture from getting ruined. If you’re unsure if the furniture you love has these qualities, you can put some protective covers over it to extend the life of your furniture.
Have a food area
Keeping your pet well-fed and healthy is vital for their energy levels, mood, and general health. Due to this, it’s best to include a food area in your furry friend’s cozy corner so they can have easy access to food when needed. You can have a tall cabinet with treats in jars, plenty of pet food stored correctly such as lamb dog food for your pooch, and any medicines your pet may need to take with food.
If your pet is a grazer, you can have a food and water bowl down on a washable mat for them to eat and drink whenever they feel like it. However, if your pet is more food-orientated and will eat everything they can see, then feeding them yourself will be best. In this case, have the food bowl stored away in an accessible place and only keep water out. If you’re out for a long time, use an automatic feeder to portion what they have.
Regularly clean the corner
Maintain a clean and odor-free atmosphere by regularly cleaning the cozy corner. This helps to keep your home clean from mucky pawprints and fur, as well as keeping your furry friend safe. Vacuum pet hair, wash bedding, and clean any litter trays or pet cages to keep the space tidy and clean for your pet to enjoy. Make sure to use pet-safe cleaning products to keep your furry friend healthy and well while keeping the space hygienic.
Use these ways to create a cozy pet corner for your home to give your furry friend a safe, welcoming, and relaxing space to enjoy. Let them have some valuable ‘me’ time when they need it and have a balance for them of roaming the house freely and going in their dedicated space.
