How to Make a Dog Crate Look Better

On this page (9 sections)

1. Why does a wire dog crate look so out of place?
2. What is the quickest way to make a dog crate look better?
3. How do you soften the crate floor without ruining the look?
4. Does a furniture-style crate look better than a covered wire crate?
5. Where should you put a dog crate so it looks better in the room?
6. How do you dress the crate so it fits the room?
7. How do you keep a styled crate looking good week to week?
8. What mistakes make a dog crate look worse?
9. How to make a dog crate look better: the simple plan

The fastest way to make a dog crate look better is to cover the wire and soften the floor. A fitted crate cover hides the bars, a washable pad warms the base, and a furniture-style crate replaces the cage look entirely.

The crate still has to work as a crate. Keep the size right, keep airflow open, and clean it often, so the room looks better without your dog losing a calm place to rest.

Why does a wire dog crate look so out of place?

A wire crate looks out of place because it shows everything inside and reads as a cage. Open bars expose bedding, toys, and the tray, and the dark metal grid draws the eye in a room built from wood, fabric, and soft colors.

The see-through design is the point for training and airflow, but it fights the look of a living room or bedroom. A crate placed in the open also shows its footprint, and the empty space around it makes the cage look bigger than it is.

Most fixes don't change the crate's job. They change what you see: a fabric cover over the bars, a pad on the floor, a better spot in the room, or a crate built to look like furniture.

None of them asks the dog to give up privacy or airflow.

What is the quickest way to make a dog crate look better?

A fitted crate cover is the quickest change. It wraps the wire in one piece, hides the tray and clutter, and gives the crate a solid, den-like outline that sits quietly against a wall.

MidWest's large cover measures about 42 x 27.25 x 30 inches and is cut for its iCrate 1542 and 1642 models plus New World B42 and B42DD. It also fits most standard 42-inch wire crates.

The black 100% polyester fabric uses hook-and-loop tabs to hold each side in place, and every side flap lifts so you can open the door and raise panels for airflow. It's machine washable and dryer friendly.

MidWest says the privacy helps reduce barking and chewing by giving dogs the den-like security they seek. That's the maker's claim, not a guarantee.

It's a sensible first buy because it changes the look in minutes and needs no tools. Check your crate's outside dimensions before ordering, since covers are cut to the frame, not the interior.

How do you soften the crate floor without ruining the look?

Add a washable pad that fills the crate floor and matches the cover. A soft base hides the hard tray, makes the crate look furnished instead of bare, and gives your dog a comfortable place to lie.

The VERZEY pad measures about 42 x 28 inches, so it suits a 42-inch crate. It's topped with soft faux fur over a non-slip back and is machine washable on a moderate cycle.

Shake and pat it after unboxing to bring the fluff back, and wash it before first use. VERZEY says it suits dogs around 70 to 90 lb, such as Australian Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Boxers.

Skip it for a heavy chewer, since VERZEY says the stitching handles normal pulling and dragging but isn't built for chewing. A pad also shouldn't fill the crate so tightly that your dog can't turn around.

Measure the interior first with our guide on how to measure a dog for a crate so the pad and crate size line up.

Does a furniture-style crate look better than a covered wire crate?

Yes, for a main room. A wooden crate that doubles as a table hides the cage completely and looks like a piece of furniture, while a covered wire crate stays a crate under fabric.

The trade-off is weight, assembly, and a fixed spot.

IRONCK's furniture crate measures about 30 inches deep by 43.3 inches wide by 41.1 inches high. The top supports up to 180 lb and works as a coffee table or end table.

It adds a storage shelf and 4 hooks for food, snacks, and a leash, and its iron rods are 1.0 mm thick with cross bars on both sides. A metal door lock adds security.

It ships flat and assembles with the included tools.

This is the pick when the crate sits in the living room or a hallway and you want it to disappear into the decor. It's heavy at 85 lb and takes up a fixed footprint, so measure the space and your doorways first.

For sizing help across styles, our dog crates guide covers wire, plastic, and furniture crates side by side.

Who should pick each crate upgrade?

Pick the MidWest cover if you already own a 42-inch wire crate and want the fastest visual fix. Pick the VERZEY pad if the floor looks bare or your dog needs a softer base.

Pick the IRONCK furniture crate if the crate lives in a shared room and you want it to look like furniture year-round.

Where should you put a dog crate so it looks better in the room?

Put the crate against a solid wall or in a corner, not in the middle of the floor. A back and one side against walls hides two faces of the cage, keeps the crate out of the walkway, and makes it look built in.

Choose a spot with a view of the room's main doorway so your dog can see the household without being in the traffic. Avoid blocking heat vents, radiators, or direct sun through a window.

Keep the crate away from a loud TV speaker or a door that bangs.

For a furniture crate, match the finish to nearby wood or paint. For a wire crate, tuck it beside a sofa or console so it reads as part of the layout.

Leave a little clearance for door swing and airflow on the open side. If the crate sits in a bedroom, angle it so the door faces the wall or a quiet corner rather than the bed.

How do you dress the crate so it fits the room?

Treat the crate top like a shelf: a tray, a plant, or a lamp. A short tray on top breaks up the flat rectangle and ties the crate to the room's colors.

Keep it light and secure so nothing falls into the crate.

Match the cover and pad to the room's palette rather than to the dog's accessories. A black cover suits dark furniture and blends into a shadowed corner; lighter bedding reads cleaner in a bright room.

A folded throw over one corner softens the boxy look without blocking airflow.

Keep the space around the crate clear. A basket of dog supplies beside it looks tidy; a pile of toys and bags looks like storage.

Store food in a sealed container on the furniture crate's shelf instead of on the floor.

How do you keep a styled crate looking good week to week?

Wash the soft parts often and wipe the tray before it shows. A cover and pad stay fresh with regular machine washing, and the tray and bars need a wipe so dust and hair don't build up in the room.

Our guide on how to clean a dog crate walks through the tray, bars, and bedding step by step. Plan a fuller clean every week or two, and spot-clean accidents right away so odor doesn't settle into the fabric.

Check the cover's tabs and the pad's non-slip back now and then. A cover that slips or a pad that bunches makes the crate look messy, even when both are clean.

A few accessories also do real work: a mat under the crate protects the floor and hides scuffs. See our list of dog crate accessories worth buying for the ones that earn their place.

What mistakes make a dog crate look worse?

The biggest mistake is hiding the crate's function along with its look. A cover draped over every side blocks airflow and can overheat a dog, so leave at least one flap open.

A pad stuffed into a too-small crate looks neat but crowds the dog.

Placing the crate in a high-traffic path, stacking clutter on top, or pushing it against a heater all make the room feel more crowded. So does skipping washes: a dirty tray and matted pad undo a tidy cover in a day.

Don't buy a cover before you check the size. A loose cover sags and slips; one cut for the wrong crate won't fit the door openings.

Measure the outside frame first, then order.

How to make a dog crate look better: the simple plan

Start with a cover and a pad, then move the crate to a wall. If the crate sits in a shared room and you want it to look like furniture, choose the IRONCK piece instead.

Pick the MidWest cover for the quickest fix on an existing 42-inch wire crate, the VERZEY pad for a softer floor, and the furniture crate for a permanent spot in the living room.

Keep one flap open for airflow, keep the top light and tidy, and wash the soft parts regularly. Styled that way, how to make a dog crate look better stops being a design problem and becomes a calm corner your dog actually uses.

Frequently asked questions

Will covering the crate make my dog anxious?

Most dogs settle in a covered crate because the privacy feels den-like. Leave at least one side open at first and watch your dog; if it pants or paces, raise more flaps until it relaxes.

Can I put a dog crate in the living room and still have it look good?

Yes. Place it against a wall or in a corner, match the cover or furniture finish to the room, and keep the top clear except for one or two decor items.

A furniture-style crate doubles as an end table so it reads as part of the room.

Do I need a cover and a pad?

They solve different problems. The cover changes how the crate looks from the outside and adds privacy; the pad makes the floor comfortable and protects joints.

Together they do more than either one alone.

How often should I wash crate bedding and covers?

Wash the pad and cover when they smell or show dirt, and do a fuller clean of the crate tray every week or two. Machine washing both keeps the look tidy and cuts down on odor in the room.