Dog-Themed Home Decor: How To Style Your Space With Pet Art

There's a wide gap between a home that celebrates a dog and a home that looks like a gift shop. The difference isn't taste or money; it's restraint and hanging height.

We make cards, pin badges and prints in house, printed in the UK. We don't paint pet portraits ourselves, so where we recommend a commissioned portrait it is a recommendation rather than our own product.

Here's how to bring the dog into a room properly, from one framed portrait to a full gallery wall.

Start with one good piece

• One well-sized portrait of your own dog beats ten paw-print cushions. Specific beats generic every time.
• Sizing: A5 for a shelf or a stack of books, A4 for a narrow wall or beside a door, A3 and up for above a sofa or bed.
• Above furniture, the artwork should be roughly two thirds the width of the piece below it.
• Hang the centre of the picture at eye level - about 145-150cm from the floor. Most people hang everything too high.
• Choose a style that matches the room: fine-line and watercolour for a calm space, bold pop art for a kitchen or hallway.
• Plain oak or thin black frames disappear and let the dog be the thing you see.

Building a gallery wall

• Mix media: one portrait, one photograph, one line drawing, one print that has nothing to do with dogs. The odd one out is what stops it looking like a theme.
• Keep the gaps consistent - 5 to 8cm between frames - and vary the sizes, not the spacing.
• Lay it out on the floor first, then cut paper templates and tape them to the wall for a day before you drill.
• Two or three frame finishes maximum. Five finishes is where a gallery wall starts looking like a car boot sale.
• Stairwells work brilliantly, because you see the pictures at different heights as you climb.
• Leave room to add one more. Dogs are rarely the last dog.

Beyond the wall, without tipping into tat

• A framed line drawing propped on a shelf, layered in front of books.
• One good cushion in a plain fabric, not a set of six with slogans.
• A print in the downstairs loo, which is the traditional home of the funny one.
• A photo book on the coffee table rather than fifteen frames on the sideboard.
• A small portrait in the kitchen, near where the lead hangs.
• Skip anything with a slogan in a script font. That's the line between decor and merchandise.

Making the dog's own kit look better

• A basket or lidded box for toys, in the same material as something else in the room.
• A bed in a colour already in your scheme - most beds are sold in beige or navy, and both can be avoided.
• Hooks by the door for leads, rather than the back of a chair.
• Wipe-clean rugs in a pattern that hides mud, which is a design decision as much as a practical one.
• Food bowls on a mat that matches the floor, not a bowl printed with the word DOG.

Browse pet cards and prints

How to write it so it lands

• Photograph your dog at eye level in daylight - it makes both the print and any future portrait far better.
• Buy the frame before the print so the sizes actually match.
• Leave a gap on the gallery wall. There will be another dog.

Where to shop next

• Father's Day gifts from the dog
• Dog mum gifts she'll treasure
• How to include your dog in your wedding
• Dog walker gift ideas
• Pet portraits UK: costs and how to choose
• How much does a pet portrait cost?
• Best photos to send for a pet portrait
• Gifts for dog lovers
• Gifts for cat lovers
• Christmas gifts for pet owners
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

How do you decorate with pet art without it looking tacky?

Use art of your own pet rather than generic dog merchandise, size it properly for the wall, frame it in plain oak or thin black, hang it at eye level, and mix it with non-dog pieces so it doesn't read as a theme.

What size should a pet portrait be?

A5 for a shelf, A4 for a narrow wall or beside a door, and A3 or larger above a sofa or bed - roughly two thirds the width of the furniture underneath.

How high should you hang a pet portrait?

Centre the picture about 145-150cm from the floor, or roughly 20-25cm above the back of a sofa. Most people hang art far too high.

How do you build a pet gallery wall?

Mix a portrait, a photo, a line drawing and one unrelated print, keep 5-8cm between frames, stick to two or three frame finishes, and tape paper templates to the wall for a day before drilling.

Do you paint pet portraits yourselves?

No. We design and print cards, pin badges and wall prints in the UK. A commissioned portrait mentioned here is an outside recommendation, not something we make.