Pet design is the practice of creating objects for pets that combine aesthetics, function and respect for an animal's natural behavioural needs. It's growing because the home has changed: pets are part of the family, and furniture is evolving to welcome them with harmony and sustainability, not with hidden or improvised objects.
Over the past few years something has changed inside our homes. The rabbit no longer lives in a cage tucked away in a corner but has hay feeders that blend into the home, the cat has a resting spot that talks to the living room, the dog has a bed that doesn't get hidden when guests arrive. It's the sign of a deeper transformation: the home that welcomes a pet isn't the same anymore. And pet design is the answer to this change.
What exactly does pet design mean?
Pet design is the practice of creating objects dedicated to pets that hold together three things that too often travelled separately: beauty, function and respect for the animal's natural behavioural needs. It isn't a decorative accessory, and it isn't a purely practical object to be hidden away. It's a way of thinking about how people and animals live together within the domestic space.
The key word here is integration. A good pet design object doesn't ask the home to adapt to it, nor does it force the animal to give up its natural needs. It finds a point of harmony. A hay feeder for a rabbit, for example, has to guarantee clean, always accessible hay (a fundamental behavioural need, since hay is the basis of a rabbit's diet and digestive wellbeing), but it can do so with materials and shapes that blend into your interior instead of clashing with it.
Why is pet design growing right now?
The answer is simple: because the way we live with animals has changed. They're no longer "just a rabbit" or a dog to keep in the garden. They're life companions, daily presences, members of the family. And when the relationship changes, so does the space that hosts it.
There are at least three forces fuelling the phenomenon:
- A new sensitivity towards animal wellbeing. More and more people research the real needs of their life companion and look for objects that genuinely respect them, not ones that simply look cute.
- A focus on sustainability. Those who choose carefully for themselves do the same for their animal: natural materials, short supply chains and plastic-free solutions are no longer a detail but a decision-making criterion.
- The home as a curated space. We spend more time at home and we want every object, including the animal's, to contribute to the harmony of the space.
It's no coincidence that the theme is also reaching the big Italian design events. Pet design is being discussed at Milan Design Week 2026, formats like the "Pet Design District" have emerged to bring the sector's brands together, and interest keeps growing during Fuorisalone. Pet design is moving out of the niche and into the wider conversation about contemporary living.
Is pet design a luxury for the few?
It's the most common misunderstanding, and it's worth clearing up. Pet design isn't a luxury to show off: it's daily care made visible. Investing in a well-designed object means choosing something that lasts, that respects the animal every single day and that doesn't end up in the bin after a few months like so many mass-produced products.
The difference is clearer in a table:
| Aspect | Generic accessory | Pet design object |
|---|---|---|
| Respect for natural behavioural needs | Random or absent | At the heart of the project |
| Integration with interiors | To be hidden | Part of the room |
| Materials | Often plastic | Natural, recyclable, certified, ethical |
| Durability | Short, disposable | Designed to last over time |
| Supply chain | Mass production | Artisanal, locally sourced |
How do you recognise a well-made pet design object?
There are a few concrete signals to look for when you choose. The first is coherence with the animal's needs: a good object always starts from how your four-legged companion actually lives, not from how it looks on the shelf. The second is materials: certified, recyclable, organic and safe, telling the story of a conscious choice, not a compromise.
The third is the supply chain. An artisanal product with a short Italian supply chain has a very different environmental impact from an industrial item made on the other side of the world. And it's a choice you can feel in the quality and the attention to detail.
How the Susy® approach to pet design came about
Susy® was born with a precise idea: your pet is home. From there came the "living your pets" concept and a range of objects that respect the animal's wellbeing and blend into your interior, without asking you to choose between the two.
Think of Isola, the home hay feeder: it guarantees clean hay always available for your rabbit, yet it's an object that looks right in the living room. Or the Cubo Tana for rabbits, which offers your companion a safe refuge — a deep behavioural need for a prey animal — with a clean shape that talks to the home. The same philosophy now extends to cats and dogs, with Oasi, the relax pet beds.
All of this is sustainable by design. It's no coincidence that Susy® brought its first "living your pets" furniture line to the Fuorisalone in Milan. Because pet design deserves to stand alongside great Italian design: it's the same care, applied to those we consider family.
What does this mean for you and your pet?
It means that today you can choose for your animal the way you choose for yourself: with attention to aesthetics, quality and environmental impact. Pet design doesn't ask you to turn your home into a catalogue; it offers objects that make living together more harmonious, more beautiful and more respectful. It's daily care, made visible in every detail.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between pet design and ordinary pet accessories?
A generic accessory mainly aims at practicality or looks. Pet design starts from the animal's natural behavioural needs and combines them with aesthetics and sustainability, using natural materials and a carefully managed supply chain. The result is an object that genuinely respects your companion and blends into your interior, designed to last over time.
Is pet design only suited to modern or design-led homes?
No. Pet design adapts to any environment because its goal is harmony, not ostentation. Clean shapes and natural materials work with all kinds of interiors, from rustic to contemporary. The idea is that your animal's object shouldn't clash or be hidden, but should become a natural part of the home.
Why is everyone talking about pet design?
Because the theme has moved out of the niche. The home that welcomes an animal has changed, and design has started to respond to this new sensitivity. Events like Milan Design Week and formats such as the Pet Design District give the sector space, and Susy® chose that very occasion to debut its "living your pets" line of design objects for pets.
Is pet design environmentally friendly?
When it's done well, yes. Sustainability is one of the drivers of its growth. Susy®, for example, is plastic-free from product to packaging. A sustainable by design approach.
Where should you start to bring pet design into your home?
Start with the object your companion uses every day. For a rabbit the hay feeder is central: Susy®'s Isola keeps hay clean and blends into your interior. For cats and toy dogs, a relax bed like the Oasi combines comfort and design. Choose based on your animal's real needs.