Article Photo

How to create a pet-friendly home that still looks good

15 Jan 2026

Designing your home to work for your pets doesn’t mean you have to give up on style. With a bit of planning and some clever paint and colour choices, you can create an interior that looks great, feels calm and stands up to those muddy paws, claws… and perhaps the odd accident!

The trick is to design with your pets in mind from the start, rather than forever trying to protect your home from them.

Start by giving pets a place of their own. Dogs in particular love having a clear ‘home base’ where they can sleep, play and relax. In other words, they thrive in routine. A cosy bed, a basket for toys and a spot that’s close to outdoor access but away from busy walkways could help keep the zoomies out of the rest of the house.


This dog house outline and bed, with Mac the dog, are painted in Resene Half Athens Grey against a wall in Coast. Kennel door in Armadillo, floor in Half Chicago, paws in Alamo and Half Athens Grey. Project by Greer Clayton. Image by Bryce Carleton.  

Cats are more independent, but you can gently guide them by creating warm, sunny nooks or shelves that let them climb, perch and observe. Painted shelves can double as a design feature while keeping curious paws off benchtops.


Walls painted in Resene Tea, arches in Napa, floor in Double Tea, floating shelves in Casper and coffee table in Double Napa. Sofa from Nood. Featuring Lavendar the cat. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Bryce Carleton.

Storage is another unsung hero of pet-friendly design. Leads, towels, food and grooming gear can quickly add visual clutter. A dedicated cupboard, laundry shelf or small mudroom near the door you use for walks makes life easier and keeps mess contained.


Left: Consider drawers and storage in the kitchen or entry for storing or hiding food bowls and other pet gear. Stella enjoys her dog bowl drawer here. Click here to make your own pet dish drawer. Right: Keep your dog's walking accessories in one tidy place by making your own leash holder.

Walls and floors do a lot of heavy lifting in pet homes, so paint choice is key:

  • Slightly higher sheen finishes are easier to wipe down and repel dirt and fur.
  • Use Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for durable, easy-clean walls.
  • Choose Resene Lustacryl or Resene Enamacryl for doors and lower wall areassuch as dados but also skirting boards that take more knocks.
  • Paint floors with Resene Walk-on flooring paint for a tough, washable surface, or for a tougher finish consider using Resene Aquapoxy, a waterborne 2-part epoxy, used in garages and for high wear flooring.
  • If starting anew and you have bare timber floors consider staining with Resene Colorwood before clear finishing with Resene Qristal ClearFloor 1K or better still, Clearfloor 2K for extra durability.

When it comes to furniture and finishes, durability matters:

Colour also plays a role:

  • Very stark whites show every mark and scuff
  • Warmer neutrals such as soft beiges and gentle greys are more forgiving
  • If you’re up for it, opt for a textured wall using Resene FX Paint Effects and two colours of your choice, this will conceal scuffs, dirt and fur more easily than a single tone
  • Pet beds and bowls in colours that suit your palette feel intentional rather than distracting

Finally, if you’re painting or renovating, plan around your pets:

  • Set up safe zones away from work areas
  • Keep paint pots, trays and tools covered
  • Consider a short pet holiday during bigger jobs
  • Do a thorough clean at the end so surfaces are safe and fresh for everyone

There are plenty of easy DIY pet projects you can try for yourself at home too – check out this cute and comfy cat nap bed, this stylish dog bed, this DIY litter house and this DIY feeding station for both cats and dogs.

With the right Resene products, you can create a home that’s stylish, durable and genuinely welcoming for every member of the household – fur included!

Published: 15 Jan 2026