Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7
81% of UK Pet Owners Design Dedicated Spaces as Social Media Fuels Elaborate Animal Nooks
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7

81% of UK Pet Owners Design Dedicated Spaces as Social Media Fuels Elaborate Animal Nooks

1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 7

Summary

  • 81% of UK pet owners are now designing dedicated spaces for their animals, according to research commissioned by Dulux, highlighting a broader shift toward pet-focused interiors.
  • Social media is helping drive the trend, with owners and designers saying Instagram-friendly pet rooms and built-in nooks attract attention and spur demand for custom features.
  • Costs range from modest DIY projects to influencer-level splurges: one New York couple spent $200 on a cat living room, a UK owner built a dog nook for under £100, and one rabbit setup topped £8,000.
  • Designs often mix function with display, from hidden litter areas and feeding stations to themed rooms, while owners say the spaces make pets more comfortable and give them creative satisfaction.
  • Architects and kitchen designers say pet-led design is now a regular client request, reflecting how many owners increasingly treat pets as family members with needs built into the home.

Insights

Is the billion-dollar pet interior design trend really about our pets' happiness, or is it about our own?
With pet tech and custom furniture booming, what will the 'smart pet home' of the future look like?
As owners build luxury pet rooms, are they ignoring a hidden crisis in animal health and well-being?