You know that moment when you walk into your living room, and you realize that your giant dog is just… staring at you… for no reason.
But you spent the past three weekends searching for the perfect linen throw pillows, and now you’ve got your wooden shelf gallery wall going, and there’s this hulking silver cage taking up half the room.
It clashes with everything. And worst of all, you feel guilty even caring about it because you love your dog more than that couch.
You dont have to choose between a happy puppy or a home that doesnt look like a kennel.
I’m not sure when it happened, but at some point I started thinking of my dog’s crate as a piece of furniture, not as an afterthought. And when I did, I realized there were so many awesome options!
Looking for some large dog crate ideas for your home? These are going to show you how to make your house look Pinterest-worthy, and work as a crate for a 70-pound fur baby!
#1: The Open-Plan Glass Panel Crate That Looks Like It Belongs in a Design Magazine
What’s that moment when your golden retriever decides that the living room floor is hers for the taking and she’s the only queen on the throne? Yep, muddy paws on your white rug, dog bed shoved awkwardly in the corner and it’s more like she gave up on aesthetics.
This setup? It’s everything that moment is not.
Furniture-like appeal with its black powder-coated steel frame and clear acrylic or glass panels on all four sides. Your dog sees everything you see, and vice versa, while remaining in an open-plan crate. It sits on a plush white shag rug and is shown in a high-ceiling open-plan space.
Inside, there is a grey cushioned dog bed and a number of stuffed toys. On the floor is a stainless steel double-bowl feeding station on a grey silicone mat. There is no chaos in the space.
As for the inside of the crate, you will need to grab a: -modular metal pet pen -one with panel locks! -neutral-tone memory foam dog bed -low profile food mat Make sure the color of the crate matches your metal furniture (chrome, matte black, brushed nickel).
Place the crate near the main area of seating so your dog feels more involved and included. Dogs with anxiety tend to settle down faster when they can see their people. The crate feature is visibility, the benefit is calm and the payoff is a well-rested dog!
If you are looking for a breed that will fit in the crate, please read this article by Linda Martin before you buy your pet: Best Big Dog Breeds – Your Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Large Canine Companion.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @clearly_loved_pets
#2: The Glass-Roof Indoor Dog House That Looks Like It Belongs in a Design Magazine
Perhaps your golden is currently smooshed up against the couch, half on the cushion, half on the floor and you know she would LOVE her own cozy spot that doesn’t look like a plastic eyesore in your living room.
This white wood-paneled indoor dog house has a natural pine open-frame roof. What’s a warm arched entryway without a touch of nature’s colors and blooms for color, too! We love the hand-painted floral on the side of the dog house. Any dog feels safe inside this enclosed-yet-open space and the transparent roof lets in just enough light to avoid feeling like a cave!
Begin by creating a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) base painted in a warm white with vertical shiplap-style grooves. Continue by creating an A-frame frame of untreated pine wood strips for the roof. Add a round-arch entryway trim in a matching pine. Lastly, create the appliqué in air-dry clay and hand-paint in blush pink and sage green.
Put it near a window so that natural light washes across the light oak hardwood floors. It makes it seem like the whole thing was intentional, not just pet furniture.
Line the inside with a plush ivory sherpa mat so your girl will sink into it and actually use it. The enclosed walls provide a little extra muffling and makes it so she can sleep deeper without hearing all the household noises. If you’re already spoiling her with her own space, 12 Best Dog Gift Ideas: Top Picks for Every Pooch has some great additions to make her little world a little cozier.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lumicedar
#3: The Floor-Level Play Yard Crate That Looks Like It Belongs in a Nursery
It’s Saturday morning, and your golden flops down in the middle of the living room. She takes up the entire rug, and you’re stepping over her again, just to get to the couch. You love her. But girl, we need a system.
When I first saw this, I was literally stopped in my tracks. I think it’s really beautiful! Two fluffy floor level mattresses are inside a silver PVC pipe frame with clear acrylic panel sides. It’s definitely a chic toddler play yard, and not so much of a dog enclosure. The soft blue-gray walls and white faux fur make it feel warm and cozy, like a little den your dog would actually want to be in.
I also used half-inch silver aluminum pipe connectors, a few flat-pack acrylic sheets (maybe ¼-inch thick), and two plush floor mattresses in white or cream. The wall art and crystal lamp in the background are just a bonus, of course.
Cut the acrylic panels to fit snugly between the pipe connectors. This way you have a window without bars which makes the dog less likely to feel trapped and you are still keeping the aesthetic.
I change covers each season. In summer I use the one made of a lighter cotton, which also prevents the dog getting too hot. The zip covers are easy to take off and wash.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @clearly_loved_pets
#4: The Furniture-Style Dog Crate That Looks Like It Belongs in a West Elm Catalog
You know how it is. Your golden retriever does a full body shake on your console table and you just stare at all the fur that falls on every piece of furniture. That’s when you start looking for something that actually fits the space you have.
When your girl comes to visit, she will love to snuggle up on the built-in dog bed, which looks much less like “dog stuff” and more like an intentional design choice with the light oak wood finish and black steel vertical bars.
I’m all about this lovely little dog crate console table today. It features a top with two drawers for extra storage, a barn-style X-panel cabinet door on the right side, and a front-access metal door with latch hardware. Inside you can tuck away a bolster dog bed in grey fabric.
My friend did this last spring in her living room and her guests thought it was a vintage sideboard until her lab went to work on the bars!
The top works as a real console table. Style it with a teal ceramic vase, a pillar candle, and two framed abstract prints in navy and gold to finish the look.
The size of the crate is important as well. You’ll want to make sure that your golden retriever will fit comfortably in the crate. If the crate is too small it will not allow your golden to stretch out comfortably and you will be tossing and turning all night long.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @onepawdogco
#5: The Furniture-Grade Metal Crate That Looks Like It Belongs in a Design Magazine
Your dog’s golden curls are resting on the corner of your sofa and there is a small trail of drool on the spot you just spot-cleaned. You love her, but she needs to find her own space.
I’m obsessed with this crate! It adds such an end-table energy to the room. A cream powder-coated steel frame with a geometric lattice paneling sits under a solid wood butcher block top. Yes, the kind of top where you’d actually put a lamp on top. Someone actually did that at my cousin’s house and I walked into her room and didn’t even realize it was a crate.
A trendy look we love is pairing a heavy-duty metal dog crate in an off-white or ivory color. We love the design of the panel in this one. Next, add a buffal check crate mat in charcoal and white and then add a festive bandana on your pup’s head for that chef’s kiss moment.
The wood top also serves double duty as a side table. And since there’s room underneath, your dog has a cozy little den to call home while you get a side table that doesn’t look like a dog house.
The size of the crate is just right for most large breeds. I would say a 42-inch or 48-inch length is enough (not too big, not too small) but definitely make sure your dog can stand up, turn around and lay down without having to cram. If you have a shiplap or white paneled wall, you might want to tuck the crate against it so the cream frame will pop.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dexterslpf
#6: The Built-In Walnut Dog Den That Looks Like Real Furniture
You can tell, by the golden tracks she leaves across the floor, flops onto her crate mat, but she still manages to look exactly like a Pinterest board come to life. This outfit gives off the same energy.
This crate is made from a built in walnut wood with the vertical slatted panels which is perfect to be installed on top of the sofa. A tan linen cushion covers the base and there is a wicker basket on top of it like a piece of decor. Your dog will have a cozy little cave and you will have a new piece of furniture to show off.
For this look, you need a custom or semi-custom dog crate cabinet in dark walnut stain, a low profile cushion in neutral linen and a wicker decorative basket for the top surface. This kitchen island in the background has a matching curved wood finish to help tie the room together.
I am thinking a 42 inch wide or larger crate for our big boy. If I had my choice I would get a sliding door instead of a swing. That way I can have a bigger crate since a swinging door takes up more floor space.
Pair this with some personalized dog items to complete the corner!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @le_noof
#7: Built-In Under-Stair Dog Crate (The Coziest Nook Your Golden Will Ever Claim)
Let’s say your golden retriever is sprawled across the hallway for the 10th time this day, leaving a mess everywhere that he shedded, or maybe just now… well this under-stair build is just the kind of thing that will fix that chaos, without sacrificing the look of your home.
Framed in a natural unfinished maple wood, the door is fitted with black wrought-iron vertical bars that mimic the balusters of the staircase. The interior floor is covered in a blue and white patterned tile mat, and the door is mounted flush into the drywall with black iron hinges.
If your contractor is willing to frame out a space, you can build the dog door yourself. My dog and cat door is made from 1×3 maple boards and ⅝-inch iron rod stock. I lined the inside of the dog door with a washable flat mat to make cleanup easier. If your dog needs a little more space, check out these 11 creative dog nook ideas.
Finish your bars in the same color that you’ve finished the hardware throughout your house. It will pull your entire house together and not look like an afterthought.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @thrasherandsonscc
#8: The Furniture-Grade Dog Crate That Looks Like It Belongs in an Interior Design Magazine
Your dog deserves better than a cage. You know, the wire one you shoved in the corner and have been hiding behind a throw blanket since 2021.
This is what we should all be aiming for.
Oh wow, I couldn’t have asked for anything better! This crate in my living room (the one in the picture) is made out of matte slate-blue painted wood panels with horizontal steel bar rails that serves as a side table / console as well as a dog den.
If you’re wanting to recreate this look, start by buying a designer dog crate furniture piece, painted charcoal or navy in MDF or solid wood (try brands such as Fable or Omlet, both of which have a similar look to this). Next, add a round, washable, gray upholstered cushion inside for extra comfort.
The crate does have a solid panel door with a silver latch which means your pup will feel enclosed and calm without seeing every distraction in the room. The enclosed sides help to reduce anxiety.
Real talk: measure your dog’s height sitting before buying. Your retriever needs at least 28–30 inches of interior clearance to sit comfortably without bumping their head.
The acrylic top panel allows light to flow in and the structure is sturdy enough that you can put plants or decorations on top of it.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @playfetchpup
#9: The Furniture-Style Triple Dog Crate That Looks Like a Sideboard
It’s that moment. You know the one when the mailman or someone decides to drop by, and your golden’s giant metal crate is just sitting there in the middle of your living room like a prison cell.
If you’re wondering what your Pinterest “board” is missing, we’ve got it…this super cool natural pine wood triple-bay crate on casters! It’s a sideboard that would be found at a farmhouse market. With three drawers on top, metal mesh-panel doors and ornate butterfly hinges. It’s got enough interior space for your big dog to stretch out comfortably!
I used 1/2 inch thick pine plywood for the cabinet frame and cut black welded wire mesh panels to fit each door opening. The mesh panels are used to cover the shallow drawers in the top of the cabinet and to store leashes, treats, or poop bags in plain sight.
I mounted the whole unit on locking swivel casters so it is easy to clean underneath. I also like that you can still feel cozy in it like in a den. It helps the more anxious dogs settle down.
Sand everything to a natural unfinished look or seal with a matte water-based sealer. If your space runs light, skip dark stains.
The side panels of the crate have mesh cutouts as well. Again, it’s not a big deal, but helps ventilation if you have a bigger dog.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @woodenpetbed
#10: The Clear Mesh Playpen That Blends Into Your Living Room Like It Was Always There
Finally, your golden is calm and quiet, but how does your living room look? Well, it’s got a plush bunny under the coffee table and a rope toy on the curtains. You can always add some drool to your Pinterest-worthy rug.
This setup is the answer you didn’t know existed.
This playpen features a white aluminum frame and is fully transparent with one side comprised of a hinged door that opens for easy access. The panels are made of a taut mesh fabric stretched across gray corner connectors and almost seem to disappear into a room lined with sheer linen curtains. Light passes straight through. You see your dog, and your dog sees you. There is no visual clutter.
If you want to recreate a version of this look at home, all you need is a modular mesh playpen (this one is about 47–55 inches tall), a herringbone hardwood-look floor mat, a few soft plush toys in muted pink and orange tones, and a dusty mauve crescent-shaped body pillow in the corner that your pup will actually want to lounge in.
Keep the playpen near a window for natural light during the day. Lock the door latch every time you close the door even if you are at home. Put no hard plastic toys in the playpen because they can scratch the wire and weaken it.
The mesh walls allow for air to circulate which means less overheating, and a happier, sleepier dog by noon!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @bingopaw_dogcatsupplies
#11: The Furniture-Style Dog Crate That Doubles as a Side Table
Your golden retriever has a crate that looks like it was tossed in the corner and forgotten. The wire showing, the plastic tray rattling around every time she shifts. Meanwhile, your living room is finally coming together and that crate is ruining the whole vibe.
The white wood-frame dog crate with black metal wire panels seems to blend right into the room because it does belong there. The flat top serves as a surface and is styled with two patterned ceramic planters and greenery. Your dog gets a cozy den with a chunky knit dark mat inside. No embarrassment!
To get this exact look, you will want to have a double door wooden crate. This crate is roughly 42-48 inches wide. I love the look of these planters, so I decided to go with some white botanical-print ones. I added a mud mat or washable rug inside the crate to catch paw prints before they hit the floors.
i have a crate in a corner under a slope of my stairs. my dog likes it there because it’s a dead space that she has made her own purposeful space. also, when i’m home with the dog, i leave the side door open so she doesn’t feel like she’s in a cage.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @myhomebykrystal
#12: The Sage Green Sideboard Crate That Looks Like It Belongs in a Magazine
My golden has claimed the corner of the living room again… those muddy paw prints on the baseboard and giant wire crate is clashing with everything I worked so hard to style. Girl, I feel you.
This is a very cool looking sage green double dog crate sideboard with a solid pine butcher-block top, matte black bar style crate doors, and 4 slim drawers on the left side of the piece. It looks like a very high-end sideboard from one of the boutique furniture stores. This crate would have the same enclosed space, and would give your golden a real den like space.
To get a similar look, start with a double-compartment crate cabinet painted in a soft sage (like Farrow & Ball’s Mizzle or any similar shades of sage). Add black cup-pull hardware throughout for some contrast, then let the natural wood top help tie in with warmer decor elements, like the wooden centerpiece tray shown above.
Mount it on locking caster wheels so you can roll it away for cleaning days without breaking your back.
The two crates are separated, so you can put a divider in if your dog needs one or keep them both open for maximum lounging space. We also put some candles, plant tray and a pretty vase on the top so it looks like a sideboard!
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @house2homefurniture01
#13: The Furniture-Grade Dog Crate That Looks Like a $2,000 Sideboard
There’s been one too many times that my golden has dumped herself down in the middle of my living room and I realize that my giant wire crate is the ugliest thing that I own. When my cousin’s dog comes over, the giant wire crate is an eyesore every time someone walks through the front door.
no one would even guess that it was a crate!
It’s made from a stained pine wood in a warm gray-brown tone with rebar style steel bars running vertically through the front and side panels. The top of the desk has a barn door sliding mechanism with a matte black hardware for opening the front panel. There is no swinging doors taking up floor space and the top functions as a console with a single storage drawer tucked under the desk.
I used 2×6 pine boards, #4 rebar cut to length and barn door roller hardware I found at any hardware store. The cushion inside is made from a navy chevron and paisley fabric combo – two patterns that strangely go together.
Stain the wood in Minwax Classic Gray before you assemble it. Gives it a weathered furniture look without looking rough.
The “Happy Hour” ceramic bowls on the tray by the front door keep meal time contained and cute… earning it’s floor space.
If you’re a bit handy, you can also check out 12 creative DIY dog gate ideas for your home to go well with the theme above.
Sand every edge of the rebar before installing it. Trust me, your dog will thank you.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @lillyandabbie
#14: Built-In Dog Crate Laundry Room Idea That Looks Like Custom Cabinetry
Your dog’s crate is that hideous eyesore wedged between the couch and the wall. Every time someone comes over you just want to die. Luckily, the crate can look totally different.
This built in dog station creates 2 pet nooks, with steel vertical bar fronts on one side and an open-faced cubby on the other. Blue subway tile runs the backsplash while white shaker cabinets frame the space above. Blue linen cushions finish off the look. This will be your dog’s new den! Plus, your laundry room will be Pinterest worthy!
To recreate this, you will need [nbsp] floor level cabinet cubbies, [nbsp] stainless steel rod inserts for the crate door, [nbsp] blue channel-stitch dog bed cushions. A woven basket on the counter holds leashes. A blue and white rope toy can be seen inside the open nook. (Wouldn’t you like to crawl into this nook with your dog?
I screwed them onto the wood face frame with pre-drilled holes and set screws. I’m all about the rustic look, but sometimes you just want something to look like it cost more than it did. Of course, the open cubby works well for a second dog or if your dog is nervous and doesn’t like enclosed spaces. I put metal water bowls on the inside of the crated side so it’s a built-in feeding station as well. One less bowl on the floor, I like it!
For more, check out 7 Cozy DIY Indoor Dog Kennel Ideas, there’s some really clever builds on there.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @stallingsstudio
#15: The A-Frame Indoor Dog House That Looks Like It Belongs in an Interior Design Magazine
At last! Your golden deserves the den she really deserves. This modern A-frame dog house will look good beside the furniture in your living room, not like you simply shoved a plastic box into a corner and called it a day.
Picture this: The framed piece has a white-painted wood frame with dark charcoal trim, a clear acrylic door with a sliding panel design, and a fluffy white pillow inside. Guests are sure to ask where you bought it, but they may not notice the dog at first.
Those black metal latches on the front door give a farmhouse-meets-modern look. Combine it with a Calathea plant in a matte black ceramic pot sitting right beside it and your living room is going to have a moment.
As long as it’s small to medium sized dogs, this is an easy DIY project. This is a great project for a golden…just make sure to scale up the dimensions for the frame if you have a large dog. This type of crate is best made out of MDF boards for the walls, acrylic sheet panels for the door, and piano hinges so you can swing it out of the way. Stain the trim a dark color and use a lighter color paint on the body of the crate. Fill it with 7 Cozy DIY Dog Beds for Large Dogs.
I keep the crate on a non-slip rug so that it doesn’t slide around when the dog climbs in and out of it (that dark hardwood floor is gorgeous but unforgiving).
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @shadow_and_weezer
#16: The “Property of Peppa” Pink Crate Setup That Makes Dog Moms Everywhere Cry Happy Tears
You know when you open the crate for your golden and it just looks like it was designed by someone who just doesn’t care about the aesthetics of their creation? Well, this is the exact opposite.
I was giving it the full dog-mom energy. Wire dog crate dressed in soft pink pom-pom trimmed fabric panels, a pink cushioned crate mat, and a personalized canvas toy bag reading “Property of Peppa (But Will Share For Treats)”, with two framed portraits of Peppa sitting on the windowsill. Chef’s kiss.
Our versions of these festive photos is using a large black wire crate (think 42-48 inches wide). We’ve found blush pink fitted crate covers with pom-pom trim on Etsy for under $40. Add a thick pink cotton mat and our custom embroidered canvas bag, and a bone-shaped ID tag on her collar to the photo.
Place the crate close to a natural light window. The light bouncing off the pink fabric will make the whole corner of the room warm and homey, as opposed to institutional looking. I actually had my dog’s photo printed on the bag, if you personalize it, you can put your dog’s actual photo on it. Makes it a bit of a statement.
I also keep them small (no bigger than 4×6 or 5×7) so they don’t take up too much of the windowsill.
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @stylish.hound
#17: The Double-Bay Industrial Dog Crate That Doubles as a Sideboard
You know that moment when your golden comes running into the house from the backyard shaking mud everywhere and then immediately tries to squeeze behind the couch? This crate fixes that.
This crate boasts a double-bay steel crate with expanded metal diamond mesh panels and a solid walnut wood top and accents. The crate has a matte black powder-coated steel frame. It features a matte black powder-coated steel frame. The front doors open in a split-door fashion, meaning the top and bottom half of the doors open separately so that your golden can poke her head out without the door swinging open very wide.
On the left, three walnut-faced drawers with slim bar pulls contain the leashes, treats, or other chaos that inhabits our entryway.
There is a walnut center divider in the crate, which splits the crate in two separate bays. If you ever add a second dog, you’re ready.
For the top I chose a [http://www.customfurniture.com/furniture/august2007/wood/222/ source] a live-edge walnut slab. Not only does the natural edge keep it from looking too industrial but it adds warmth. I styled it with a ceramic bowl and a trailing pothos.
I welded the base frame slightly elevated on the adjustable leveling feet for easy cleaning underneath. You’ll notice the design of the mesh panels on the sides, which not only make the crate not so confining to your puppy because she can see the room, but also make for a piece of furniture that can be put in any Pinterest board (not just the garage).
📸 Photo credit: Instagram @dexterslpf
The Crate Size Mistake That Makes Big Dogs Anxious (And How to Fix It)
Well, it turns out that this is a fact that many people mess up (as I did) and it cost me a weekend of my puppy’s stress level being sky high before I figured it out.
Bigger is NOT always better with crates.
If the crate is too large, it can actually make your dog feel less safe. And your golden retriever girl is a den animal by nature, so she needs just enough room to stand up and turn around and maybe stretch out, but not so much open space that she gets anxious.
I’d get a large crate with a divider panel so you can buy one large crate and then shrink it slowly (as she gets comfortable with it) over time.
I also wanted to add that if you are pinterest heart attached to them – don’t use wire crates. I bought the heavy duty furniture style ones and they act as a real end table. I put a lamp and plant on top of mine and guests have no idea it’s a crate.
Just add a DIY dog feeding station near-by and suddenly that corner of your living room is looking intentional rather than chaotic.
Your Dog-Proof Home Starts This Weekend
Pick one room. Just one. Grab the slipcover, the enzyme spray, or whatever’s been in your cart for a year and use it!
It may seem like a lot, but just doing one good swap makes it worth it! Ever since I protected my couch with a washable cover, I don’t dread watching a movie with my dog piled on top of me.
And if you’re a crazy person like me, you may want to build your dog their own dedicated dog couch spot to keep them from stealing yours.
So tell me what room in your house your dog is destroying right now?
Amr Mohsen is a software engineer who traded his keyboard for a leash — at least on weekends. His love for dogs inspired him to share what he learns as a dog owner and enthusiast, bringing a detail-oriented, research-driven perspective to every article he writes. If it’s about dogs, he’s probably already looked it up twice.
