Celebrate National Dog Day With a Little ‘Barkitecture’

National Dog Day is celebrated every year on Aug. 26 and is dedicated to the love of our furry best friends. The holiday was founded in 2004 by animal welfare advocate, author, and pet lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige, to bring awareness to the number of dogs who need to be rescued each year. We at CandysDirt.com are a bunch of dog lovers ourselves (hello, have you met the girls?), so this is a day we can get on board with for sure.

Since we’re thinking about all things dog today, we thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the latest trends in home design for pets, otherwise known as “barkitecture.” Yes, this is a thing! In fact, according to a 2022 study by Realtor.com, 80% of home buyers consider their pets’ needs when purchasing a home. And 78% of those surveyed by Redecor (a popular online home design game) said they make home decor decisions based on their pets.

Bedtime

Gone are the days of those ugly wire crates. Your sweet doggo (and your home) deserve better! This under-the-bed dog den would be a huge hit with my Australian Shepherd, Oliver. Nobody show him this video, OK?

I’ve seen several examples like this one where people have created spaces for their dogs under the stairs. It’s a great use of that space that often becomes a mess of storage that’s hard to get to. I love this design because it’s clearly the dog’s space, but it still matches the decor in a clever yet elevated way.

Bathtime

Utility room goals! If you’ve ever given your dog a bath in your own shower you know why the setup above is so genius, in addition to being uber-stylish. Having a dog washing station is definitely a luxury, and if you’re designing one, here’s your inspiration. You’re welcome.

Dinnertime

I don’t know about you, but this eliminates like five things that are currently sitting on my kitchen floor, and I need a custom kitchen island stat. Brilliant! Oliver could turn the water on himself! Aussies are smart like that. My other dog, Max, is a mutt, and he’s pretty short and not too bright, so he’d need some help, but still …

If you are a dog lover, we hope you enjoyed these examples of Barkitecture this National Dogs Day. Feel free to share pictures of your own special home design for your dogs, or just a sweet pic of your special furry friend! Find this post on our Facebook page and share your pics in the comments.