For more homeowners, being in the doghouse is a good thing, especially when it comes to design centered on their four-legged family members.

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners' Survey from 2018, an estimated 84.9-million United States households own a pet. The research found that Americans spent more than $72 billion on their pets, and that spending has steadily increased every year over the past two decades, says Tierra Bonaldi, Pet Lifestyle Expert with APPA, based in Stamford, Connecticut.

"Owners no longer consider their pet just an animal, but rather, equate them to another family member," Bonaldi says. "Because we view our pets in more human terms, our demand for higher quality and design has grown to be more in line with our preferences for products for the rest of the family."

Homes can have that (bow) wow factor with doggie decor and feline furnishings, which mirror our human preferences. "Home decor manufacturers are making products for pets that are not only functional and convenient for owners, but also something pet owners actually want to display in their homes," Bonaldi says. "With millennials now taking over as the primary pet-owning demographic, there is a demand for pet furniture that takes up minimal space, stores easily or seamlessly fits into their living space."

According to APPA, many builders are investing in special architectural accommodations for the four-legged inhabitants of homes. "Builders recognize that more than two-thirds of the population owns pets, and accommodating their needs as pet owners only makes for a more desirable home," Bonaldi says.

Evidence that home construction has gone to the dogs -- in a good way -- includes:

-- Washing and grooming stations in a mudroom, custom cabinetry with built-in food and water bowls, doggie doors and specialized low windows so pets can see outdoors.

-- Simple pet-friendly built-in options such as wall hooks for leashes and collars by the door; bins for pet food and toy storage; or a fold-down pet bed that is hinged at one end to store vertically against the wall when not in use.

-- Flooring and home furniture manufacturers offer pet-friendly options that essentially protect from everyday wear and tear of pets, including stylish stain-proof fabrics, while using materials that are durable, easy-to-clean and made to withstand claws and paws.

But to understand what pets truly need, form and function must also work from the four-legged perspective, says Abbey Stark, senior interior design leader at Ikea-US. A Swedish-founded company, Ikea designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture and home accessories, and is one of the most accessible contemporary home-goods retailers in the world.

"We brought in pet-loving designers and trained veterinarians to help develop Ikea's cat and dog home collection," Stark says. "The LURVIG line was created with our pets' natural needs and behavior as starting points."

With products that include a cozy cat hidey-hole, which fits into a bookcase, and snug dog beds with easy-to-clean cushions, a pet's essentials can be integrated into a minimalistic home design. "Having dedicated spaces for food storage, toys, and a place for your pet to enjoy a good night's sleep are all important for the happiness of your pet and the organization of your home," Stark says.

APPA says pet products that serve a dual function are most popular, including a dog bed and nightstand in one, or a litter box and end table combination. "We also noticed many manufacturers offering white and gray furniture, with more modern designs, again, mirroring the decor trends we're seeing on the human side," Bonaldi says.

Pet owners and homeowners can stylishly coexist by creating Zenlike zones for animals inside a house. "Nooks can create a cozy sleeping area for your pet, store a litter box or a food station," Stark says. "Selecting blankets and cushions that match the decor of your home is one easy way to provide a cozy place for your pet, while protecting furniture and not compromising the design of your home."

Homeowners don't have to undergo a house remodel to enjoy the perks of having a pet. Items in Ikea's LURVIG line range from $5 to $50, but you can also borrow inspiration from existing items in your home to attain pet purr-fection.

Living with pets as companions can fill a need for connection in this busy tech-filled world, Stark says. "Pets have become part of our daily lives," she says. "Pets give us unconditional love, and for that, we want to provide them with a home that is cozy, filled with happiness and a lot of treats."

Creature Comforts

For more information:

-- American Pet Products Association, www.americanpetproducts.org

-- Ikea-US, https://www.ikea.com/us/en/, Search LURVIG

Packages tied up with strings may be one of your favorite things this holiday season. So, to wrap in a snap at home, creating and stocking a gift-wrapping station may be a present's piece de resistance.

A beautifully wrapped gift is almost like giving two gifts in one, says Hallmark Cards Inc. Master Designer Bet David. Founded in 1910, Hallmark is a family-owned company based in Kansas City, Missouri, and is the oldest and largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. The company also manufactures party and seasonal goods, such as gift-wrap collections of papers, bows, tags and bags.

"To be thoughtful in the way you wrap a gift sends a message to the recipient and is also a special way to extend the gift's surprise," David says. "It's all about the desire to present your gift with a visual experience."

If you find yourself getting wrapped up while searching your home for paper and supplies to cover your gifts in a clever way, setting up a gift-wrapping station may be the solution, says Erin Hardy, California Closets' national manager of design, based in Boston. Wrapping gifts at the kitchen table isn't always the best option, so having a clean and organized space for a gift-wrapping station will help you tie up any loose ends easily.

"A gift-wrapping station is a practical use of space -- it displays paper, ribbons and bows so you can see what you have, and creates a clean, designated surface that stays clear for when you need it," Hardy says. "From a small nook off of the kitchen to an entire guest room ... we frequently design gift-wrapping stations as multifunctional spaces in home offices, laundry or craft rooms."

Just as good things can come in small packages, gift-wrapping stations don't need to be overwhelming in size. A small, custom-made wrapping station designed by California Closets can start around $1,200, Hardy says.

Countertops and Cabinetry

While most tables are 30 inches tall, the optimal height for a gift-wrapping countertop is 36 inches, which is the standard height in kitchens. Near the counter/desktop can be drawers and shelving units that house ribbon and other spooled items, which keeps loose ends from tangling and prevents disarray.

"Disorganization can kill creativity," David says. "When you're wrapping gifts, you want all your papers, scissors, tape and bows at your fingertips. Otherwise, what is meant to be a joy becomes a chore."

The Vertical Challenge

A magnetic wall system or peg/fabric board hung on the wall above the counter can be a decorative and functional addition to a gift-wrapping station.

David says two pairs of scissors -- one for fabric and one for paper -- are essential for any gift-wrapping station. "I also have a weighted tape dispenser outfitted with double-stick tape," she says. "That way you can secure the wrapping without any obvious tape seams."

Cubbies and containers can be affixed to a wall mounting system, which can house everything from writing utensils to tags. Specialized wrapping-paper rails use dowels, onto which rolls can be mounted above the countertop, to prevent the wrappings from becoming wrinkled, crimped and damaged due to improper storage.

Re-wrap

While gifts may get a wrapping workout during the holidays, that doesn't mean the treasure trimmings aren't used year-round, says Hannah Milman, contributing editor for Martha Stewart Living in New York City.

"Listen to your grandmother, who said, 'Save the paper!' when you're unwrapping something truly beautiful," Milman says. "Instead of just throwing wrappings and ribbons away, you can iron them out and give them a new life on a package you decorate."

Milman says the best packaging places live at home, where you keep your tools and tape. "A gift-wrapping station doesn't need to be fancy," she says. "It just needs to work." An old television armoire or hutch can be converted into a gift-wrapping station, but if space is at a premium, plastic totes for roll wrappings and ribbons can be stored in a craft closet.

Having gift-giving goodies on hand doesn't mean just investing in seasonal baubles and bows, either. "Kraft paper rolls and twine or raffia can be some of the best investments when it comes to wrappings," Milman says. "A child's drawing on a simply wrapped package, with an addition of a sprig of ivy or evergreen, can transform an ordinary gift into an extraordinary one."

Packaging Prospects

-- Giftology videos: ideas.hallmark.com/gift-wrapping-ideas/ 

-- Go to CaliforniaClosets.com, or call 1-888-336-9707, and request a free closet consultation.

The kitchen's cool zones are hot this holiday season. Whether your refrigeration appliances are built-in or freestanding, undercounter drawers or wine columns, now is the time to chill out and figure out a colder kitchen flow, says architect Michele Alfano, a National Kitchen and Bath Association-certified designer whose eponymous firm is based in Montebello, New York.

"If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the refrigerator is its heartbeat," she says. "Especially during the holidays, refrigerator space may be at a premium with parties and overnight guests."

As the refrigerator continues to evolve, both in form and function, what was once seen as a luxury appliance in the early 20th century is now a necessity in today's home. Even the placement of cold storage has shifted the kitchen's design, as the days of refrigerator/freezer appliances only being tethered to walls are over. "The refrigerated zones in the kitchen anchor its workflow," Alfano says. "Everything flows from the refrigerator and freezer to the sink or the stove."

Full-Size Fridge

There are many cool configurations available for the full-size refrigerator/freezer, says Brian Jones, Sub-Zero Group Inc. spokesperson, based in Madison, Wisconsin. Founded in 1945, Sub-Zero is an American-based manufacturer of refrigeration, freezer and wine storage products.

"Family and friends can treat the main refrigerator as public domain, placing food inside, looking for ingredients or simply getting a glass of water from the door dispensary," Jones says. "The main refrigerator requires a lot of real estate in the kitchen, and the type you have can be based on your style and space available."

The main refrigerator can span from a slim apartment-size 18-inch-wide unit or be quadrupled to 72 inches wide. Configurations can include a refrigerator/freezer combination in a side-by-side fashion or French door-style with refrigerator on top and freezer on the bottom.

"When designing a kitchen, we always determine where the main refrigerator is going to live first," Alfano says. "That's because a kitchen that really cooks uses the refrigerator as a starting and ending point. Ingredients come out of the refrigerator to prepare a meal and any leftovers are returned to the refrigerator."

A refrigerator's face can either be a standout in a kitchen design, with a factory finish in a color or stainless steel, or blend in with custom panels that coordinate with the surrounding cabinetry. Alfano's design of a Hudson Valley, New York, home's kitchen lounge has a large refrigerator unit clad in blonde wood panels, disguised as a cabinet.

"There can be a blurring of lines between the kitchen and the living area," Alfano says. "With a space designed for entertaining, a large refrigerator clad in clean wood paneling doesn't detract from the overall design, and actually, figuratively, can help warm the space."

Undercounter Configurations

While homeowners may be opting for the largest full-size refrigerator the kitchen space allows, supplemental refrigeration can be tucked under the counter with refrigerator and freezer drawers on an island. Instead of having a second stand-alone refrigerator stowed in the garage or basement, undercounter configurations can be stocked for meal prep or a drink station.

In what can be called flexible refrigeration, the beauty of undercounter drawers and units is that the contents can be changed out quickly. "A refrigerator drawer used to stash fresh produce can be transformed into a beverage station for a party," Jones says. "We are even seeing the use of undercounter refrigerators placed in master bathrooms or anywhere in the home where convenient cold items are needed."

Wine Coolers

While undercounter refrigerators are an organized way to store bottled beverages and allow people to serve themselves, more homeowners are raising a glass to toast their personal wine refrigerators.

Space dedicated to wine storage in the home used to be considered a status symbol for the few. But today, with better climate-control technology, wine doesn't even have to be housed in a cellar to be stored properly. Ensuring non-fluctuating temperature control, keeping the humidity level between 60 and 70 percent, and shielding bottles from light are all components of a well-made wine refrigerator.

With wine refrigerators that can house up to nearly 150 bottles, Jones says entertaining with spirits has never been easier. "For the person who entertains, a 30-inch-wide, 86-bottle wine refrigerator -- with refrigerated and freezer drawers on the bottom -- becomes an adult beverage center," he says. "With a freezer drawer that makes ice, the refrigerator drawer can cool bottled beverages and drink garnishes."

Function Over Form

While it may be tempting to focus on the cool looks of the refrigerator, there's a lot that also happens behind its closed door. Shelving units should be easily adjustable to accommodate everything from cake to kale without compromising taste and food preservation, says Jones.

"A refrigerator should prolong food freshness and prevent waste by having the proper humidity, temperature control and air quality," he says. "Having an air purification system in a refrigerator keeps ethylene gas -- naturally secreted from fresh fruits and vegetables -- in check to prevent spoilage and potential mold."

Some refrigerators come Wi-Fi ready, with internal cameras and alarms that can be linked to a mobile device. "With Sub-Zero products, you can receive alerts to your phone if a refrigerator or freezer door is ajar," Jones says. "For that upcoming party, you can also remotely program the freezer to produce more ice."

Regards to Refrigeration

-- To find a certified kitchen professional, go to the National Kitchen and Bath Association's website, www.nkba.org, and click the "Find a Professional" box at the bottom of the page.

-- MicheleAlfanoDesign.com, service area includes Manhattan, Hudson Valley and Westchester County in New York and Northern New Jersey.

-- For more information on Sub-Zero Refrigeration, visit Subzero-Wolf.com and click "Explore Showrooms" or request a free brochure.