The Concept of the Mini Living Room
The Mini Living Room isn't just a physical room in my house. It is an entirely new concept—a cultural movement, if you will—which centers around the idea that in today's world, pets are more than just animals that we care for—they're actual members of our family!
The philosophy behind the Mini Living Room is that our pets, just like our children, benefit from being given their own designated space and furnishings, whether in a corner of our own living room or an entirely separate room. The Mini Living Room is about empowering small pet owners by giving them the opportunity to show love and appreciation for their pets through creative expression. The process of picking out mini furniture, art, and décor and bringing all of those various things together to form a unique “mini aesthetic” connects us with our pet(s) on a deeply personal level. But it also provides practical benefits in giving them their own dedicated space that takes into account both their individual and breed-specific needs.
At this point, some of you might be asking, “Why would my dog/cat want a Mini Living Room? Wouldn’t they prefer something closer to their natural habitat?” The answer, which may surprise many of you, is that their “natural habitat” isn’t what you think it is! You see, long gone are the days when cats and dogs are owned primarily to perform a particular job, whether it be herding, hunting, or providing protection. Rather, we own small pets today mainly for their companionship, recognizing that simply having a pet has positive effects on our physical and mental well being. As a result, house cats and toy/miniature dog breeds have been selectively bred to be adapted to life inside of our homes. As such, small dogs and cats do not consider large open prairies or the snowy outdoors to be their "natural habitat." Their “natural habitat” is inside of our homes! It’s in their genes!
What better environment could we possibly provide for our pets than one which mimics our own, but which has been adapted in size and function to meet their individual and breed-specific needs? Dog and cat breeds come in all different shapes and sizes, each with their own set of personality/behavioral traits and/or health needs. And just like people, each individual pet is different! For example, certain pets enjoy relaxing in a dark, warm, cozy spot, while others prefer to be right out in the open where they can check out everything that goes on inside the house. Certain breeds have specific needs as well. Jack Russell Terriers, for example, are known for being frenetic, spending lots of time running around and playing. Therefore the Mini Living Room of a Jack Russell Terrier should ideally feature lots of open space and mini furniture/décor that won’t be easily knocked over. Chihuahuas, on the other hand, have small tracheas which make them prone to choking on small objects. The Mini Living Room for a chihuahua should therefore avoid mini furnishings with small pieces that could be easily chewed/choked on.
As a small pet owner, the Mini Living Room allows you to create a dedicated space for your pet(s) which takes into account both their individual and breed-specific needs. Whether it’s just a small portion of your existing living room/bedroom or a separate room entirely, providing your pet(s) with their own mini furniture and décor/accessories makes them feel loved and appreciated as important members of your family! It’s also a cute and fun way to develop and show off your own unique aesthetic, which you'll share with your pet.
Stay tuned for more videos, articles, and blogs about how to create a Mini Living Room for your small pets!