Palo Alto, Calif., August 27, 2024 – Houzz has released its 2024 U.S. Houzz Pets & the Home study. The survey of more than 1,000 respondents found that nearly half of respondents prioritize pets when making decisions about home renovations (48%). Considerations include pet-friendly products and materials (34%) and choosing a design or functionality that is specifically tailored to the pet, such as including space for a pet bed or feeding station (22%).

“As the number of pet owners continues to rise, we’re seeing an impact on home renovation decisions,” says Marine Sargsyan, economist at Houzz. “Whether they’re choosing pet-friendly materials or incorporating built-in feeding stations and cozy nooks, homeowners are designing spaces that prioritize the needs of all family members, including pets. This underscores the important role pets play in how people invest in and personalize their homes, often with the help of professionals.”

More than four in five renovating pet owners hired a professional for their project (86%). General contractors and specialty tradesmen such as electricians and plumbers were the most common (48% and 29%, respectively). A quarter of renovating pet owners hired flooring contractors for their projects (25%), which may not be surprising since flooring was the most common project among this group (51%). Landscaping, wall or baseboard repairs, and door frame replacement were also popular projects (34%, 34%, and 31%, respectively).

More than half of renovating pet owners have taken special precautions for their pets during renovations (57%). The majority have restricted their furry friends’ access to the home (43%) and 6% have temporarily removed their pet from the home. Contractors on Houzz recommend that homeowners and professionals create a pet policy to follow during a project to ensure the safety of both humans and furry friends.

Further findings from the US study “Houzz Pets & the Home” 2024 are:

• An animal house: More than two in five pet owners have a single pet (44%), but over a quarter have three or more animals in their household (26%). Dogs were the most common pet owner (83%), followed by cats (33%), birds (3%) and fish (3%).
• Who is in charge? More than three in five pet owners allow their pets to roam all areas of their home (63%), and a similar proportion allow their pets to roam freely on the furniture (60%). While more than one in ten pet owners do not allow pets on the furniture, some suspect that pets take advantage of the furniture when the owner is not home. Pets are more likely to sleep with their owners than in their own bed or crate (47% vs. 38%).
• Individual feeding stations, catios and more: Nearly one in ten renovating pet owners added built-in spaces as part of their home upgrades. Topping the list are feeding stations (39%) and outdoor enclosures (34%), such as a cat run. Other built-in spaces include sleeping or relaxing areas (21%) and grooming stations, play structures and litter boxes (18% each).
• What personally puts me off: The biggest challenges for pet owners include excess fur and hair (65%), followed by bringing in dirt, mud or other outdoor elements (42%) and keeping pet items neatly stored out of reach (28%).
• Call the replacement: Nearly three-quarters of pet owners say they have had to replace a household item because of their pets (73%). Carpets or rugs are most commonly replaced due to pet damage (35%), followed by furniture (17%) and bedding (15%).