7. The Boho-Chic Shaded Lounge Retreat
A few summers ago, I spent a fortune on beautiful, delicate shade plants for dogs to safely enjoy under the only large tree in our yard. But during one particularly scorching afternoon while the kids were running through the sprinklers, I looked over and saw my dog had completely excavated the entire bed.
He wasn’t trying to be destructive; he was just desperately digging down to find the cool, damp earth to lie in. That is when I realized that trying to garden in the deepest, coolest shade of a small backyard is a complete waste of time if you have a hot, tired pup.
Yielding the Coolest Spot
Dogs naturally seek out the coolest micro-climates in your yard to regulate their body temperature. If you try to fill those specific, highly coveted shady spots with fragile plants, your dog is going to crush them every single time they need a rest.
Instead of fighting for that real estate, completely surrender the best shady corner and turn it into a dedicated outdoor dog retreat. By giving them a designated place to escape the heat, you instantly protect the rest of your garden from being trampled by an exhausted pet looking for a nap.
Designing an Elevated Boho Oasis
You can make this resting zone look incredibly chic by treating it exactly like a miniature human lounge area. Start by laying down a stylish, washable outdoor rug and pairing it with a beautiful canvas canopy or a gorgeous fringe patio umbrella.
Then, swap out that ugly, chewed-up floor pillow for a sleek, elevated cooling bed that actually blends in perfectly with your dog friendly patio ideas and modern furniture. The elevated mesh allows a cool breeze to circulate underneath them, which completely eliminates their instinct to dig a hole in the dirt for relief.
It creates this stunning, boho-chic corner that looks incredibly expensive while secretly solving one of the biggest yard destruction problems.
And since we are talking about keeping things looking expensive and clean, you have to see how I handle the absolute highest traffic walking paths, so hit the next button below because we are about to lay down a seriously gorgeous modern stone labyrinth!
