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When you're thinking about adopting a dog, purchasing a crate is certainly one of the top priorities. Dogs love crates, as they use them as a calm, safe place in which to nest! However, dog crates can often be large and untoward; selecting one to match your home's decor can be a challenge. In this guide, we'll walk you through the main decisions you'll have to make so you can find the best furniture style crate for you, your pet, and your home.
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The specific size of furniture style crate you should get will depend on the amount of room that you have, and the specific size pet that you're looking to shelter within the crate.
To figure out how much room you have, take this simple step: decide where you want to put the crate in your home (see Tip 3. below), and then take out a measuring tape. Get the precise dimensions for that spot, and then use menus and search criteria to make sure that you don't consider purchasing anything larger!
Depending on the size of the pet you have, there are recommended size guidelines for a crate. After all, the crate needs to be big enough for your pet to feel comfortable standing up, laying down, and turning around; but it's usually not recommended that they're big enough for your pet to be able to walk around too much.
Here are the general size recommendations:
It's a good idea to purchase a crate with a good return policy, too, just to make sure that you have options if you receive the crate and it turns out that your dog is larger than expected!
Regular crates, the ones that aren't specifically modeled after furniture for aesthetic purposes, are usually made of metal or plastic. With wire walls or vented plastic sides, these types of crates are very durable - as they need to be, as pets large and small can be rough on their environments.
When you're looking for a furniture style crate, you need the material that best expresses top-tier form and function in your home's unique aesthetic. In other words, you're looking for something that matches with your style and decor, but still does the job of housing your pet responsibly and securely. Otherwise, you're going to find yourself needing a new crate soon, anyway - and we want to help you protect your investment!
If you're looking for a furniture style crate, the most popular material by far is wood. Whether it's reinforced or lined by plastic or metal, or simply on its own, a wood crate can be shaped or stained to match any decor or style, and it can be treated so that your pet won't bite or scratch it from the inside.
Because wood furniture style crates will be easy to find and they do the job well, then, the best choice for your furniture style crate is a wood material that's stained or painted to match the aesthetics of the room you plan to use it in.
The nice thing about furniture style crates is very simply that you don't have to worry about where you place them: no matter where they are in your home, they should be able to complement, rather than detract from, your decor. This makes them especially good for small spaces, such as studio apartments.
When you're purchasing your furniture style crate, think about the types of furniture you need in your home! Are you looking for a functional end table for your living room or bedroom?
Think also about the type of space you have available. If you have a spare corner in your home that you could house your pet in, take note of that! There are corner-style end tables that double as crates you can use for any size of pet.
Consider the following areas of your home for good places to style your furniture crate:
Living Room: Between end tables on either side of a couch, accent tables, or even larger coffee tables, you likely have a need for many different types of tables in your main living area! Being able to use that table in a multifunctional way will help you save space - and money. Putting your furniture style crate on either side of a couch, next to an easy chair, or simply against an available wall or corner, is likely a good place to start.
Bedroom: Does your pet like to be near you when sleeping? If so, then you can cater to that need and buy yourself an attractive bedside table in one fell swoop! Consider the height of your bed and the width available on the wall in your bedroom. Purchasing a furniture-style crate that can function this way can save you space and money.
Kitchen: Do you have a kitchen island? If not: do you want one? If your kitchen has a large amount of floor space and you'd like to have more counters in your kitchen, consider purchasing a furniture-style crate that's topped with a butcher-block style surface. This will allow your pet to live in the heart of your home and keep you company while you're cooking.
