With April being National Pet Month, the Ideal Home Show is teaming up with The Back Yard, The Dogs Trust, and Style Makers to create the ideal back garden environment for your your four legged buddies which will be showcased at the Ideal Home Show.
Pets Paradise image courtesy of The Style Makers
Surrounding a life‑sized ‘Ideal Home’, it forms one of this year’s showcase garden features, highlighting practical ways to make outdoor spaces work for every member of the family – including those with four legs and wagging tails.
Developed in collaboration with Dogs Trust’s canine wellbeing experts and acclaimed designers the Style Makers, the feature demonstrates how simple, thoughtful design choices can help dogs live happier, healthier lives at home. Designed with a bright and bold Miami summer colour palette, it aims to boost furry friends’ mood with a ‘yappy hour’ self-serve drinking bowl station, a ‘ball of fame’ toy display and a ‘pawformance area’ with a splash pool.
Drawing directly on Dogs Trust’s expert advice, The Bark Yard brings the top tips to life - from choosing safe, nontoxic plants and creating sensory zones, to adding playful climbing features, providing safe water play, and ensuring shaded rest areas. The space gives visitors clear, practical inspiration for creating gardens that look beautiful while meeting the needs of four-legged family members.
While furry friends won’t be padding through the show themselves, visitors to The Bark Yard will discover plenty of practical, design-led ideas to take home, from smart layout and planting considerations to simple features that encourage play, rest and enrichment.
Giles Perry, Director of the Ideal Home Show, said: “The Bark Yard is a brilliant example of what the Ideal Home Show does best, bringing together expert advice and inspiring design to reflect how people really live today. Pets are a beloved part of the family, and this new feature shows how gardens can be designed to support dogs’ wellbeing without losing out on style”.
Hannah Harris, Behaviour Expert at Dogs Trust said: “A well‑designed garden can make a huge difference to a dog’s quality of life. By working with the Ideal Home Show on The Bark Yard, we’re helping to highlight simple, thoughtful design choices that support dogs’ natural behaviours while keeping them safe at home”.
Meanwhile Hannah Harris in collaboration with Ideal Home Show gives you 5 top tips on making your garden home-friendly for your favorite pet:
1. Choose safe, non‑toxic plants: Opt for dog‑friendly herbs and flowers such as rosemary, sage, calendula, cornflower and sunflower, which provide scent, colour and interest without posing a health risk. While safe, any plant can cause issues if eaten in large quantities.
2. Create sensory enrichment zones: Give dogs space to explore naturally by planting herbs at different heights, offering varied textures (like grass, sand or woodchip), and encouraging sniffing and foraging behaviours through hidden treats or toys.
3. Add features for fun and stimulation: Incorporate small climbing elements such as railway sleepers to let dogs explore different levels, helping to keep them mentally and physically engaged.
4. Provide safe water play: A shallow paddling pool can be a great way for dogs to cool down in summer, just ensure constant supervision, easy exits and that the pool is drained when not in use.
5. Include a shaded rest area: Designate a quiet spot with shade, shelter and fresh drinking water where your dog can relax, especially during warmer months.
The Style Makers said: “Our aim with The Bark Yard is to show that dog‑friendly design can still be beautiful. By combining considered materials, smart layouts, and Dogs Trust’s expertise, we’ve created a space that feels aspirational, practical and achievable for homeowners”.
The Bark Yard will debut at the Ideal Home Show, returning to Olympia London from 10-19 April 2026, alongside a host of new and re‑imagined gardens, interiors and lifestyle features. Visitors can also expect headline experiences spanning cutting-edge smart home innovation, design inspiration for keen home chefs, a thriving edible garden for those keen to live more sustainably, live DIY demonstrations, a BBQ Academy, and al fresco cooking.
The Ideal Home Show, at Olympia London from 10-19 April 2026 Prices:
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Standard tickets: £14 weekday / £16 weekend adult tickets
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Concessions and group discounts available
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VIP Tickets: £50 (includes access to the exclusive lounge, a welcome glass of prosecco, unlimited refreshments, free cloakroom service, and a luxury goody bag)
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Workshops: from £40 (includes show admission)
Children aged 15 and under are admitted free but do require a ticket which should be requested at the time of booking, or at the box office on the day of your visit. Must be accompanied by a paying adult (maximum of 2 children per paying adult). *The transaction fee is £1.70. Please note that this fee is per transaction and not per ticket.