Setting up a Pet Hub in Your Home

Setting up a pet hub in your home is an easy way to keep all those pet supplies from ending up everywhere. Food in the pantry, treats in the kitchen, leashes by the door, and enough toys to rival any toddler.

At least, that was us.

When working on how to organize your home, having one spot for the things you use to care for your pet can make everyday life so much easier.

A pet hub gives your pet supplies one convenient home so they’re easy to find, use, and put away. Let me show you how to set one up.

What is a Pet Hub?

A pet hub is one designated area where you keep the supplies you use to care for your pet. This might include food, treats, leashes, medications, grooming supplies, toys, and other everyday essentials.

The goal is simple: keep what you use most in a convenient spot so caring for your pet is easier and their stuff isn’t scattered all over your home.

In our home, our dog is one of the family. He is the perfect lap dog, gives the best kisses, and we really enjoy having him around.

He makes us laugh at his silliness and roll our eyes at some of his unique antics. At times, he frustrates us, especially when he insists on barking at bees or birds outside the window.

Overall, though, he is an important part of our lives, and because of him, we are more active.

Another place where he is similar to a family member is the amount of stuff that comes with him.

I kid you not, our dog’s toys would rival any toddler.

And sure, we keep the toys in a basket, but then there are the extra leashes and harnesses, his many bandanas and festive holiday hats, medications, brushes, shampoos, and grooming supplies.

I could seriously go on and on.

We used to keep all of these things in different areas of our home. Once we started keeping as much as possible together in our Pet Hub, it became so much easier to find what we needed and keep those supplies from taking over our counters.

Where Should You Keep Your Pet’s Supplies?

The best place for a pet hub is somewhere convenient to where you care for your pet each day.

We have ours in a cabinet above where we keep the dog food. This location is also right next to the door where we let our pup in and out, making it easy to grab what we need.

A few shelves in the cabinet, along with room below for his food and bowls, is all the space we need.

Your pet hub might be in a kitchen cabinet, mudroom, laundry room, pantry, or even a small basket near the door. 

Let the way you care for your pet help you decide where your hub should go.

Setting Up a Pet Hub in Your Home

If you are looking for a way to keep things organized for your pet, whether it’s a dog, cat, hamster, bird, or even a potbelly pig, this list will get you started.

Step #1. Set Up a Sorting Area

Before you start gathering up your pet supplies, set up a quick sorting area. This will give you a place to make decisions as you go without creating a bigger mess in the process.

You only need a few things:

• A bag for trash
• A container for old or expired products and medications that need to be disposed of properly
• A box for donations
• A box for anything you want to give to a family member or friend

Use whatever you already have on hand. A few boxes, reusable bags, or laundry baskets will work just fine.

D/M Pro Tip: If you have pet toys, blankets, or supplies you no longer need, check with your local animal shelter or rescue to see if they can use them.

Step #2. Gather Up What you Have Now

Before you can decide what belongs in your pet hub, you need to see what you already have.

Grab a laundry basket and walk through your home gathering up your pet supplies. Look for toys, medications, treats, leashes, collars, grooming supplies, and anything else you use to care for your pet.

Bring everything to your sorting area so you can see what you have all in one place. A kitchen table works great, but you can also use a bed or the floor if that is easier for you.

Step #3. Sort Out What You are Keeping

Now that you can see everything you have, go through your pet supplies and decide what you actually use and want to keep.

Remove anything that is broken, expired, or no longer needed. If you have duplicates or things your pet never uses, this is a good time to decide if you really need to keep them.

Once you know what is staying, sort those items into categories such as:

• Toys
• Leashes and collars
• Waste bags
• Kitty litter and litter box supplies
• Animal or birdcage bedding
• Medications
• Bandanas and clothing
• Food and treats
• Supplements
• Grooming supplies
• Miscellaneous

Your categories will look different depending on your pet and how many pets you have. The goal isn’t to make room for every pet supply you’ve collected. Instead, Right-Size your pet supplies by keeping what you actually use today and letting that amount determine how much space you need.

The goal isn’t to make room for every pet supply you’ve collected. It’s to create a hub that fits what you actually use today.

Step #4. Choose a Location for Your Pet Hub

Now that you know what you are keeping, you can choose the best location for your pet hub.

We originally kept ours in our front mudroom, but quickly realized we were constantly walking there to get something we needed. Moving the hub closer to the door where we let our dog outside made much more sense.

Look around your home for a spot that is close to where you actually care for your pet. Depending on your routine, that might be near the back door, in the kitchen, a mudroom, laundry room, or even a section of your pantry.

Before choosing your spot, ask yourself:

• Is this location convenient?
• Is there enough room for the supplies I am keeping?
• Can I easily reach the things I use most often?
• Do I need to move anything around to make the space work better?

If you have more than one pet, you may even find that having more than one small pet hub works better for your home.

Once you’ve chosen your location, clear out the area and get it ready for your supplies.

Your pet hub should fit the way you care for your pet, not the other way around.

Step #5. Use Containers to Hold Your Pet Supplies

Now that you have a location, use containers to keep similar supplies together. This will make it easier to find what you need and put it back when you are done.

Before buying anything, look at how much you are keeping and the space you have available. Your containers need to fit both your supplies and your pet hub, not the other way around.

And remember to shop your home first.

You may already have a basket, bin, container, or hook tucked away that will work perfectly. I have bought my share of organizing containers that didn’t work out, so I like to think of that stash as my own little organizing store.

You can even use a box or basket as a temporary solution while you test-drive your new pet hub. Give yourself a little time to see what works before spending money on permanent organizers.

A Few Pet Hub Organizers That Can Help

You do not need to buy a bunch of new organizers to make your pet hub work. But if you find there are a few things missing after your test run, here are some options that can help.

• Dog Food Container
• Treat Canister
• All in one container
• Wall hooks for leashes
• Pet medication organizer
• Pet Tag Rings

IRIS USA Dog Food Storage Container, 30 lbs & 11 lbs Combo, Cat Food Storage Container, Dog Treat Container, Airtight, Stackable, 2-Cup Scoop, Wheels, Easy Mobility, BlackDog Treat Container – 5 Cup – Dog Treat Jar w/Airtight Lid – Ceramic Air Tight Dog Cookie Storage – Canister for Pet Food – Farmhouse Style Pet Container for Kitchen Counter & CountertopsLOVSTORAGE Large Cat Toy Box Cat Toy Storage Basket 2X Thicker Foldable Sturdy Pet Toy Storage Bin Bed for Organizing Pet Toys Treats Clothes and Accessories

 

Call this your test run of your new pet hub. Until you know how things are going to work I suggest using boxes as a DIY solution.

Step #6. Use Clear and Bold Labels

Once your pet hub is set up, use big, in-your-face labels to show what goes where.

These do not need to be your permanent labels. Think of them as temporary reminders while you and your family get used to the new setup.

You may think you’ll remember exactly where everything belongs, but trust me on this one, you probably won’t. A simple label makes it easy to find what you need and, even more importantly, know exactly where to put it back.

For a temporary option, write the category on an index card and tape it to the container. Once you know your new pet hub works, you can replace those temporary labels with something more permanent.

Step #7. Add Pet Care Instructions

One last thing you may want to keep in your pet hub is a simple list of instructions for caring for your pet.

This can be especially helpful if a family member, friend, or pet sitter ever needs to step in. Include the things they would need to know to keep your pet’s normal routine going.

A few ideas are: 

• Steps needed to bathe your pet
• Steps needed to groom your pet
• Steps to brush your pet’s teeth
• Steps for medicating your pet
• Steps for supplements and your pet

You can keep these instructions in a folder, binder, or even a single page tucked inside your pet hub so they are easy to find when needed.

I like this better because it takes the original idea and makes it much more practical. The old version tells her to write instructions for bathing and brushing teeth, but leaves out things a pet sitter would probably need first, like when does this little dude eat and how much?

Setting up a pet hub in your home is not only beneficial for keeping things neat and orderly but also for keeping your pets happy and healthy. Use these tips to set up an area just for your pet’s care today.

Final Thoughts

Setting up a pet hub in your home doesn’t need to be complicated or take up a lot of space. It just needs to make caring for your pet easier.

Start with what you already have, keep the supplies you actually use, and choose a spot that fits naturally into your daily routine.

Once everything has a home, you’ll spend less time hunting for the leash or wondering where you put the treats and more time enjoying that furry little family member who somehow manages to have more stuff than you do.

Pet Hub FAQs

More Pet Care Resources:

• How to Organize your Pet Supplies
• Pet Hair Remove Hacks

Set Up a Pet Hub in Just a Few Steps

Organizing your pet’s supplies can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be! This guide breaks it down step by step.

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Materials

• Storage baskets or bins (for organizing toys, leashes, and food)
• Small pouches (for small items like treats or medications)

Tools

• Label maker or printable labels
• Hammer and nails (for installing hooks or wall-mounted organizers)
• Tape or adhesive (for securing temporary labels)

Instructions

1. Gather all the items you need to set up and organize your pet hub.
2. Create a sorting area. Use separate containers for trash, expired items, donations, and giveaways.
3. Gather all pet-related items from around your home using a laundry basket or similar container.
4. Organize the items you’re keeping into categories, like as toys, leashes, food, and medications. Feel free to include new categories based on your specific pet and their needs.
5. Choose a convenient location for your pet hub. Entryways and mudrooms are popular options.
6. Use containers to keep your supplies organized.
7. Label everything clearly.

Notes

• If organizing feels like too much, start with one category, like toys or food. Finishing one area will motivate you to keep going.
• If you have more than one pet, give each their own dedicated space within the hub.
• When it comes to labels, use big, bold lettering that everyone in the house can read easily.