FEATURE: PET CARE & WILDLIFE
PET PROJECTS: STUDY FINDS PETS ARE A PRIORITY DURING HOME RENOVATIONS
A new report from Houzz, the leading platform for home building, remodelling and design, reveals how important a role our animal friends play in shaping our domestic improvements.
T
he 2024 UK Houzz Pets & the Home Study was answered by pet owners who are in the middle of, are planning,
or have recently completed a home renovation and found that more than half prioritised pets in the decision- making process when upgrading. Considerations included pet-friendly products and materials and choosing design or functionality specific to their pet, such as incorporating space for an animal’s bed. There were also bespoke additions, including built-in sleeping or relaxation areas, feeding stations, and pet furniture topping the list. The survey of more than 1,600
respondents found that more than half prioritise pets in their decision- making process when upgrading their home (53%). Considerations include pet-friendly products and materials (29%) and choosing design or functionality specific to their pet, like incorporating space for an animal’s bed or feeding station (28%). “As pet ownership rates continue
to increase, we’re seeing an impact on home renovation decisions,” says Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “Whether selecting pet- friendly materials or incorporating built-in feeding stations and cosy nooks, homeowners are designing spaces that prioritise the needs of all family members, including pets. This highlights the important role pets play in shaping how people invest
for their pets during renovation projects (63%). The majority limited access for their furry friends within the home (49%), and 7% temporarily moved their animal out of the home. Contractors on Houzz suggest creating a pet policy for homeowners and pros to follow during a project to ensure the safety of humans and their four-legged friends.
in and customise their homes, often with the help of professionals.” Nearly nine in ten renovating pet owners hired a professional to help with their project (87%). Specialty trades, such as electricians and plumbers, and builders were hired most frequently (44% and 43%, respectively). Three in 10 renovating pet owners hired flooring specialists for their projects (30%), which may be unsurprising given that flooring was the most common project among this group (58%), followed by wall or skirting board upgrades (47%). Nearly two-thirds of renovating pet owners made special arrangements
Additional insights from the study Animal house: Nearly three in five pet owners have a single pet (58%), however over two in five have more than one animal in their home (42%). Dogs were the most common among pet parents (68%), followed by cats (41%), fish (4%) and birds (2%). Who rules the roost? Three in five pet owners allow their pets in all areas of their home (60%) and a similar share also give their pets free reign over the furniture (56%). While nearly one in eight pet owners do not allow animals on the furniture (12%), some suspect that pets take advantage of the furniture when the owner is not home (3%). Pets are more likely to sleep in their own bed or crate than with their owners (52% versus 27%).
Custom feeding stations and
more: Nearly one in 10 renovating pet owners added built-in areas as part of their home upgrades (7%), with sleeping or relaxation areas (61%), feeding stations (37%) and pet furniture (16%) topping the list. Other built-ins included grooming stations (14%) and play structures, litter boxes
HENRY BELL SHOP-IN-SHOPS AT HASKINS GARDEN CENTRES
Henry Bell merchandising experts have revamped and refreshed the wild bird care category at Haskins Garden Centres with their innovative shop-in-shop displays, premium bird feeds and high- quality hardware. The new store layouts, designed to simplify the shopping journey for consumers, maximise sales opportunities and introduce wild bird care to a wider audience, have been rolled out across four Haskins centres – Ferndown (Dorset), Snowhill (West Sussex), Forest Lodge (Farnham, Surrey)
www.diyweek.net
and Roundstone (West Sussex) – with work at the fifth and final one, West End (Southampton), set for October.
Henry Bell has been the primary
wild bird supplier for this leading independent since October 2024. Its most recent re-lay was completed at the Roundstone site in August. “We were thrilled to join forces with the Haskins teams to create attractive shop-in-shop arrangements with our vertical merchandising solutions where hardware and corresponding feeds
are co-located,” says Henry Bell Wild Bird Care Group Account Manager, Jason Perrins. “They have proved a great way to drive up sales, increase basket-spend and encourage impulse buys.” Haskins Garden Goods/Bird
Care Buyer, Alan Sheppard adds: “Excellent merchandising is a key player in growing our wild bird category and we couldn’t be happier with the brilliant service we have received from Henry Bell.”
• Visit
www.henrybell.co.uk to find out more.
OCTOBER 2025 DIY WEEK 29
and outdoor enclosures, such as catios (9%, each). Pet peeves: The biggest pet-related challenges that owners face includes an overabundance of fur and hair (61%), followed by tracked-in dirt, mud or other outdoor elements (56%), smells (28%) and keeping pet- related items organised and out of the way (26%).
Call in the replacements: A third of pet owners report they had to replace a household item because of their pets (33%). Carpets or rugs are the most frequently replaced items (16%) due to damage by the pet, followed by furniture (9%) and clothing or shoes (8%).
More information Houzz has a directory of over three million home remodelling and design professionals to assist with home projects and more than 25 million photos of professionally designed interiors and exteriors for inspiration. Houzz Pro provides industry professionals with a cloud-based, AI-powered project management and design software that helps them to run their businesses efficiently and profitably, including visual tools like 3D Floor Plans and Mood Boards that enable pros to help homeowners visualise their space and feel more comfortable moving forward with their project.
• Visit
www.houzz.co.uk to learn more and download the report.
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