Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home building, remodeling and design, empowering industry professionals and their clients with all-in-one project management and design software, today released the 2024 U.S. Houzz Pets & the Home Study. The survey of more than 1,000 respondents found that nearly half prioritize pets in their decision-making process when upgrading their home (48%). Considerations include pet-friendly products and materials (34%) and choosing design or functionality specific to their pet, like incorporating space for an animal’s bed or feeding station (22%).
“As pet ownership rates continue to increase, we’re seeing an impact on home renovation decisions,” said Marine Sargsyan, Houzz staff economist. “Whether selecting 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 highlights the important role pets play in shaping how people invest in and customize their homes, often with the help of professionals.”
More than four in five renovating pet owners hired a professional to help with their project (86%). General contractors and specialty trades, such as electricians and plumbers, were hired most frequently (48% and 29%, respectively). A quarter of renovating pet owners hired flooring specialists for their projects (25%), which may be unsurprising given that flooring was the most common project among this group (51%). Landscaping, wall or baseboard upgrades and door frame replacements were also popular projects (34%, 34% and 31%, respectively).
More than half of renovating pet owners made special arrangements for their pets during renovation projects (57%). The majority limited access for their furry friends within the home (43%), and 6% 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.
Additional insights from the 2024 U.S. Houzz Pets & the Home Study include:
- Animal House: More than 2 in 5 pet owners have a single pet (44%), however over a quarter have 3 or more animals in their home (26%). Dogs were the most common among pet parents (83%), followed by cats (33%), birds (3%) and fish (3%).
- Who Rules the Roost? More than 3 in 5 pet owners allow their pets in all areas of their home (63%) and a similar share also give their pets free reign over the furniture (60%). While more than 1 in 10 pet owners do not allow animals 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% versus 38%).
- Custom Feeding Stations, Catios and More: Nearly 1 in 10 renovating pet owners added built-in areas as part of their home upgrades, with feeding stations (39%) and outdoor enclosures (34%), such as a catio, topping the list. Other built-ins included sleeping or relaxation areas (21%) and grooming stations, play structures and litter boxes (18%, each).
- Pet Peeves: The biggest pet-related challenges that owners face include an overabundance of fur and hair (65%), followed by tracked-in dirt, mud or other outdoor elements (42%), and keeping pet-related items organized and out of the way (28%).
- Call in the Replacements: Nearly three quarters of pet owners report they had to replace a household item because of their pets (73%). Carpets or rugs are the most frequently replaced items (35%) due to damage by the pet, followed by furniture (17%) and bedding (15%).
Houzz has a directory of over 3 million home remodeling and design professionals to assist with home projects and more than 25 million photos of professionally designed interiors and exteriors for inspiration. The Houzz Shop offers millions of products, including pet furniture and supplies. 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 visualize their space and feel more comfortable moving forward with their project.
The 2024 U.S. Houzz Pets & The Home Study surveyed pet owners, more than three quarters of whom are in the midst of, are planning or recently completed a home renovation. The online survey was fielded to U.S. Houzz users in August 2024. n=1,165.
About Houzz
Houzz, the leading platform for home building, remodeling and design, empowers industry professionals and homeowners with the tools they need to make every project a success. The company’s cloud-based, AI-powered project management and design software, Houzz Pro (houzz.com/pro), helps pros win projects, collaborate with clients and teams, and run their businesses efficiently and profitably. For their clients, Houzz Pro provides 24/7 access to project information, 3D visualizations and financial tools. Using Houzz, people can find ideas and inspiration, hire professionals and buy products. The Houzz platform is used by more than 3 million construction and design industry professionals and over 70 million homeowners and home design enthusiasts around the world. Houzz and Houzz Pro are available on the web and as top-rated mobile apps. For more information, visit houzz.com.
