Pet Essentials for Small Spaces

Since we’ve been back in the city, I’ve been thinking a lot about how we manage Bruce while living in 500 square feet. Non-city dwellers often ask things like isn’t it hard having a dog in the city or don’t you feel bad that he doesn’t have a yard? To which we typically respond: no and sometimes. The thing is, the city is all that Bruce has ever known! He’s a city pup through and through, and when we got him we specifically picked his breed (Miniature Australian Labradoodle) because of his temperament, hypo-allergenic coat and size. He’s perfect for our place, but how did we make our place perfect for him?

Small space living is an art, and it can be hard to curate a space that is functional, practical and pretty, while accommodating a furry friend! When we got Bruce, I never wanted to sacrifice design or aesthetics but admittedly had to in the first year – that crate was a doozy! For the most part, though, I’ve managed to create an aesthetically pleasing but dog friendly space that C, B and I can all enjoy!

Here are my top tips, resources and brands that will help you do the same.

Neutral Necessities

• Bed – Bruce loves his dog bed. But where does one put a dog bed in a small space? In the middle of the living room / dining room / office, of course! Since his bed is out in the open, it had to be cute! We love Waggo, especially because all of the parts are washable. Sadly, B’s bed is sold out but this one is similar and in stock!
• Treat Jar – Y’all know I’m a big fan of blue and white, and Bruce’s accessories are no exception! Years ago we were kindly gifted this dipped treat jar and it sits on our sideboard with our decanters and vases. This one is cute, too! A ginger jar would work as well, but I like to get proper treat containers so the treats don’t dry out!
• Food and Water Bowls – B’s food and water are always out in the open so we were willing to spend a little more for them to be aesthetically pleasing! Bruce eats too fast, but most slow feeeder bowls are super cheesy. We found this version that is chic and easy to clean. I also like this bowl, these bowls and this non-slide option!
• Busy Toys – Most toys are super colorful and not always cute, especially brain games! We stick to neutral options like this one and this one, and simply set them against the wall behind his doggy bowls. They blend right in!
• Crate Cover – Crates are literally the worst! They are huge and cumbersome and not attractive (unless you get one of these, but we had no place to put it!). So we got the typical black crate and added a cute cover (I like this one too). This would be super easy to make yourself, too, in whatever print or pattern that works with your decor. We ended up ditching the crate after a year and a half to get some space back and B doesn’t seem to mind!

Cute Practical Storage

• Toy Bins – We keep Bruce’s toys out and about and we’re able to do so because we have cute storage! These baskets (also here) have been a game changer because they’re off white and washable. We also don’t buy a lot of toys – just enough for him to be entertained!
• Food Storage – We don’t have a lot of closet space, and what we do have we use for our clothes, coats and appliances. This food storage bin is in our entryway – it’s pricey but we snagged it at Bed Bath so we could use a coupon! I also like this one and this one.

Utilizing Decor Elements

• Hooks – Bruce’s leash always ended up on our sideboard or table – yuck. This hook is cute and keeps us organized. We’ve been using this leash lately because it’s easy to clean (essential for COVID). We also love the Pawsitivity brand (fall and spring) – especially because it’s women owned and sustainable! We also keep his seasonal bandanas on command hooks next to his bowls – the pop of color is a fun seasonal touch!
• The Sideboard – We do use one sideboard section to store his leftover treats, meds and water bottles. Sideboards aren’t just for humans!
• Woven Baskets – Everything else (leashes, raincoats, poop bags, bandanas, coats, etc) is stored in a lidded basket near our front door for easy access. This is a strategy we use for human things too – much cuter than a regular bin!

Other tips for small space living with pets:

• Shop small – Support local and small businesses when you can! We’ve created great relationships with our local pet stores so if we’re in a pinch or need something, they’ll call us (and give B treats when we visit!). Their prices are usually higher, but we feel good supporting our local community, especially right now.
• Utilize autoship for essentials – We try not to keep a ton of extra stuff around because we don’t have the space! We have what we need and keep our essentials (food, treats, bully stucks) on auto-ship via Chewy. It’s a great way to save money, too!

That’s all folks! Hopefully this helps you create a fur baby friendly space too!

SHOP THE POST