Dog owners on a budget know how quickly expenses can rack up when it comes to taking great care of their furry friend. From covering the initial vet expenses and adoption fees to purchasing food, toys, and a new bed, there’s one thing that both small dog owners and large dog owners alike can agree upon: any opportunity to work on a DIY project to prevent yourself from spending too much money is worth pursuing!
Lately, resourceful new dog owners have discovered a great way of saving cash while up-cycling old materials by making their dog bed—whether from repurposed old fabric scraps, old or unused furniture, or other materials.
Not only is this a financially responsible, creative, and intentional way to use up otherwise landfill-bound materials, but it is better for the environment—and for your pooch too! If you are looking for some creative ideas for how to make cute dog beds from common (and affordable) materials, keep reading!
Top 3 Adorable DIY Dog Bed Ideas
Looking for some inspiration for ways to fashion a new dog bed out of old materials? Pet lovers and frugal budgeters alike will love the following three different approaches to crafting your pet bed out of stuff you likely already have to lie around—or that you can get for a low price with lots of room for customization.
- Repurposed side table with a cushy dog mattress: Especially for owners of larger dogs and those looking to make something low to the ground and suitable as an old dog bed, if you have an ugly or outdated side table lying around, now is the perfect time to give it new life. After cutting down the legs to an appropriate height, some sanding, a fresh coat of paint, and perhaps a piece of memory foam for the top, this custom pet bed requires a few power tools like a sander and saw—but if the craftsperson is experienced, it can easily be assembled in a single day. Best of all, these striking dog beds can quickly become the best part of your living room or home décor, depending on your effort, skill level, and aesthetic vision!
- Upcycled crib mattress, wine or whiskey barrel, or milk crate: If you’re looking for a more rustic dog bed vibe, you may be interested in creating an enclosed, upcycled dog bed out of commonly produced and thrown away materials—such as a milk crate. Of course, the size of the bed should be large enough to comfortably accommodate your dog without taking up unnecessary space—so select your base accordingly! Once you’ve created a comfy atmosphere where your dog can easily enter and exit the bed, you’ll want to focus on creating a cushion for the base—whether by way of an old pillow or using a sewing machine to enclose and stuff an old fleece blanket or an old sweater. This adorable DIY dog bed idea can easily compete with any corporate designs sold at official pet stores—and sometimes can even turn out cleverer, more unique, and more perfectly tailored to your space and your dog’s personality! Keep in mind any dog bed raised too high off the ground will be less accessible for an older dog—so keep your dog’s unique needs in mind!
- Make a vintage suitcase dog bed: There are many different ways to go about making your own adorable DIY dog bed base, but perhaps one of the funkiest and simple ways to go about it—especially for small dog owners—is simply cutting an old suitcase in half and using the empty shell as your foundation. This easy DIY dog bed brings personality and charm to your home with very minimal effort, and the whole thing can come together in just a few hours. Be sure to pick a suitcase that offers a color combination complimentary with your existing décor—and don’t be afraid to paint over it with fabric paint for those heartfelt embellishments. Place a fluffy pillow inside the half shell and you’ve got a cozy place for your pup in very little time and minimal effort—making this a great choice for dog owners without needing too much DIY experience.
The sky is the limit when it comes to repurposing old materials and fashioning them into a comfortable resting place for your dog. Many imaginative pet owners have taken materials ranging from an old tire to a PVC pipe frame to create a special place to snuggle up.
And best of all, most of these ideas are usable for cat bed applications as well—so whether you’ve got a pup or a cat, your pet will love the time you spend on this simple project!
Easy DIY Dog Bed: A Step By Step Tutorial for Thrift Store Upcycling
One of the easiest and most popular ways folks are making their dog beds these days is by using a regular household item that you very likely already have lying around: an old sweater! Not only is this a dirt-cheap way of crafting another comfy spot for Fido, but it is a resourceful use of something that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
Think of the possibilities for creating a quick, dispensable, and additional dog bed to add anywhere your pup likes to hang out, coupled with the simplicity and ease of the project. What are you waiting for?
- Turn the sweatshirt seam side out: Once you have done this, line up the front and back edges of the collar and, using a sewing machine, sew the two together with about a half-inch seam allowance, stopping short of completely fusing both sides so there is about a two-inch wide opening in the seam. If there is a hood on your sweatshirt, simply cut it off using shears or fabric scissors and carry on with the above steps.
- Use a straight edge or measuring tape and draw a line across the armpits of the sweatshirt: Of course, you will need to make sure your sweatshirt is evenly lined up first before you draw the line—but once you do so, go ahead and sew straight across from end to end, horizontally.
- Sew the arms to the body: This step is just how it sounds—taking the inside edge of each sleeve, sew the sleeve down against the length of the torso until the sleeves are attached to the body of the sweatshirt. However, do not sew the cuffs of the sweatshirt but leave them open.
- Use cotton or other stuffing materials to add body to the bed: Using cotton, old fabric scraps, or some other type of fabric or stuffing, add material to the sleeves and up through the upper portion of the sweater/collar area until you have a crescent of stuffed bedding. Use the hole in the collar to better disperse stuffing. This is another great opportunity to use old t-shirts you no longer wish to wear, socks with holes, stretched-out hats, shrunken articles of clothing, or other pieces of fabric that are maybe not suitable to donate or re-gift.
- Stuff the bottom of the bed, or the “torso”: That’s right, keep stuffing! Add more and more material until the bottom portion of the bed looks fluffy and inviting enough to snuggle on! After you’ve finished adding material, sew the two ends at the bottom of the torso completely shut to enclose the stuffing—and finish sealing up the collar area as well!
- Tie up the cuffs: While this step is optional, the bed might look a little incomplete if you do not follow through with the final move. If you wish to use the discarded hood from step one, it is now time to sew the two cuffs together—and placing the hood over the end of each cuff is a clever way to disguise the seam left behind after sewing up a sleeve to another sleeve.
And voila! You’ve got yourself an easy DIY dog bed at very little expense, and in no time at all!
End Results to Admire, Savings to Love
Whether you make a raised bed with a large cushion for your big-boned Great Dane or find the perfect size tire to stuff with a small pillow for your Chihuahua, this amazing pet bed project can provide a beloved space for big dogs, small dogs, and even cats. Your pet will feel extra loved with the amount of time you spend creating a special spot for them—and the best part is, most of these options only require very basic tools to complete.
With the ability to completely customize your space, add to your pup’s sense of comfort and belonging, and repurpose materials that might otherwise be destined for the landfill, your furry best friends and dog owners alike will love the results of their creativity, their time, and their labor. Plus, what’s not to love about saving some money along the way? For more ideas on household items that your dog will love, click here!
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