How to make great DIY dog beds from recycled furniture

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This darling DIY dog beds project could not be more ‘en vogue’ in 2022. And it’s great way to show off your recycled furniture pieces.

Hit your favorite Sally Ann or other charity shop, browse Gumtree, Craigslist and Freecycle. Go find yourself a fabulous cabinet that has good bones to be morphed into a pet paradise.

Ultra-boring 70’s octagon cabinets ‘n’ tables can be found for cheap in recycled furniture stores and be revamped into the cutest dog beds, shows the DIY Network.

How right they are!! This dog bed is absolutely cool. (* They are showing 4 more beds but this one is best ~ trust me. Plus, I like the red handbag in the picture too,but that’s besides the point.)

My Quick 1,2,3 How to DIY Dog Beds like this

1. Prep your cabinet

Sand your recycled table / cabinet and paint the outside with a healthy, environmentally-friendly glossy paint (like these paints: ‘no VOC’ – Paint #ad).

2. Line the cabinet

Line the inside of the cabinet with suitable fabric. While I prefer all natural fabric for myself, I think we must be practical: we’re dealing with a dog. Think hair, think … Here is an assortment of plaid and tartan fabric akin to the one in the picture: https://amzn.to/3rIoT6B #ad

Be sure that the one you choose is easily washable (a ‘must’ for the pillow, see #3!).. Check the properties of each fabric you like, and look for indications that will assure you that it will keep its color and shape.

3. Make the cushion

Cover a Dog Bed Pillow with the same or a coordinating fabric, and fit pillow into the cabinet.

If needed, use any of the free sewing patterns for pillows for instructions on how to make your own dog bed pillow. Measure the inside of your cabinet to determine the size of your dog bed.

Learn more about healthy kapok for the filling here: kapok pillow filling. Tip: while they also sell buckwheat hulls, but I think that only kapok is washable, and buckwheat is not. Check this out!.

Buy kapok: Zafu.net. #ad.

Next: place your dog on his/her new dog bed, and make him / her extra happy with a nice treat.

photo credit : Credit: Brian Patrick Flynn for diynetwork.com — this site may not be available in your country if you live outside of the US. (https://www.diynetwork.com/decorating/how-to-turn-old-furniture-into-new-pet-beds/pictures/index.html)

Optional extras:

Detail the front of the cabinet with pretty studs, as is shown here in the picture.
You may want to add a protective sheet into the pillow envelop in case your doggy still has the occasional pee in the house.

And there you have it. Here’s how you DIY dog beds out of old furniture.

This article was first published on September 13, 2012. Updated October 10, 2022.