How to organize dog stuff to keep your home tidy

Keeping your home tidy with dogs can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be! In this guide on how to organize dog stuff, you’ll find practical tips for storing toys, food, leashes, and all the essentials. I found plenty of budget-friendly ideas, so you won’t have to spend much at all!

Dog leashes and collars storage ideas

If your dog’s leashes and collars are scattered around, consider setting up a designated walking station near the exit.

Here are some ideas:

• Hooks for Collars and Leashes: Simple hooks work well. You can even label them if you have multiple dogs.

• Wall-Mounted Organizers: Use a shelf or locker to store additional outdoor items like poop bags, travel water bowls, bug spray, clickers, and training equipment.

We have 4 dogs…a dog-walking station was in order
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• Hanging Organizers: Try hanging baskets or storage bags for a quick and budget solution.

Last update on 2025-01-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

• DIY Stations: Repurpose old wooden boxes or a vintage mailbox to create a custom station.

• Bench Storage: If you have an entryway bench, store leashes and other supplies in a box underneath. Here you can also store various rags or towels for cleaning dirty paws.

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Organizing dog toys

Once you’ve organized storage for walking essentials, it’s time to consider how to store your dog’s toys.

It’s tempting to just leave your dog’s toys scattered around the house, but this can lead to a cluttered space and even a few broken toys. Keep your dog’s toys in a dedicated storage bin or basket. Not only does it help with keeping things tidy, but it also makes it easier to rotate toys to keep your dog interested and engaged.

• 📌 Daily Use Basket: Store frequently used toys in a basket that matches your home’s interior. It requires hardly any money. You might even have a box like this lying around your house.

• 📌 Closet or Shelves: Keep extra toys organized in a closet or on shelves. If you don’t have free shelves or limited space in your apartment, you can use various organizers, such as a hanging organizer for the door.

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• 📌Storage Ottoman: Use a storage ottoman to save space while keeping toys accessible.

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• 📌 DIY Solutions: Create a toy box from wooden crates, cardboards or other materials.

Having all the dog stuff in a separate doggie room is great. I recommend checking out the doggie room ideas on my website.

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Dog food and bowls organization ideas

Finally, we’ve reached the kitchen. Here, it’s important to set up a convenient and comfortable food station. I chose a ready-made station with retractable food bowls.

Last update on 2025-01-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Before this, my dog Frank used to push his regular food bowl all over the kitchen, creating a mess on the floor. These retractable bowls have completely solved that problem.

There’s also a spacious compartment for food storage right above the bowls, with an additional shelf for keeping training treats handy.

If you don’t have space for a large food station, consider alternative options for organizing dog bowls and keeping your feeding area tidy:

Use the space in the kitchen corner:

Here are some more ideas on how to organize dog food:

• ✅ Storage Containers: Transparent or labeled jars work well for treats. Opt for collapsible food containers to save space.

• ✅ Pull-Out Organizers: The good idea is to use pull-out kitchen organizers to store cans of dog food. It saves space in the kitchen.

Pro Tip: storing your dog’s food in the wrong way can lead to spoilage or loss of nutritional value. Avoid keeping food in its original bag, as it’s not airtight and can let moisture in. Instead, use an airtight container to protect the food from humidity and pests. Also, try to store the container in a cool, dry place — away from direct sunlight or heat sources.

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Dog grooming storage ideas

Finally, it’s important to find a dedicated place to store dog grooming supplies, such as combs, shampoos, nail clippers, ear cleaners, paw wipes, and more.

Where can you store dog grooming supplies?

• ✅ Many people keep these items in the bathroom, but you could also use a pantry for storage.

• ✅ Organize dog things in a storage basket. This is more convenient than stacking items on a shelf, as you can easily carry the basket around the house — perfect if you need to groom your dog in another room.

Last update on 2025-01-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

• ✅ Using a cart, like one from Ikea, is another convenient option, though it might take up a bit more space.

Last update on 2025-01-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

• ✅ For the crafty pet owner, you can sew your own DIY organizer bag—check out the following video for inspiration!

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All in one pet storage area

If you have enough space, consider setting up a dedicated all-in-one pet storage area. This could be a small corner in your entryway, hallway, kitchen, or even the living room. The goal is to keep everything your dog needs in one central and convenient location, so it’s easy to grab what you need when you need it.

Here are a few ideas for setting up your pet storage area:

• Under a bench in the entryway: Install baskets or bins under a bench to store leashes, poop bags, and walking gear.
• In a hallway closet: Dedicate one shelf or add organizers to keep food, treats, and grooming supplies neatly arranged.
• Next to your dog’s feeding station: Use a small cabinet or a cart with wheels to store food, bowls, and toys right where your dog eats.
• In the living room: If your dog spends a lot of time with you here, use decorative storage boxes or baskets to hide toys and supplies while keeping them accessible.
• Under the stairs: If you have an open area under the stairs, convert it into a mini pet zone with hooks, shelves, and bins.

To make the space extra functional, label the storage bins or containers and use hooks for items like leashes or grooming brushes. A small rug or mat for your dog near this area can also make it feel like their own little corner.

What an organized house looks like

Follow this checklist to organize your dog’s items around the house:

1. Create a station in the hallway to store all of your dog’s walking essentials (collars, leashes, poop bags, travel water bowls, bug spray, etc.). You can buy a ready-made shelf with hooks for this, or opt for a more budget-friendly solution with hanging storage baskets.
2. It’s a good idea to have two boxes for organizing dog toys: one for everyday use (easily accessible) and the other for spare toys.
3. Set up a feeding station in the kitchen for your dog. It’s convenient to have bowls on a stand or stored in a drawer. You can also keep the dog food in a pull-out drawer close to the bowls.
4. Store grooming supplies in a portable bag or basket so you can easily carry it from room to room.

Do you have more ideas? Write about them in the comments!