I'm guessing doing away with the bed and designating a beautiful throw just for Rover, spread out in the corner of the couch, isn't an option?

(Probably shows how little I know about doggies.)

It is taking everything I have not to right some snarky comment. There are plenty of nice alternatives out there - find a better that pleases your asthetic.
It is the least you can do for a dog that gives you unquestioned devotion.

The problem with most of the beautiful dog beds listed here (and elsewhere) is that they're for small, cat-sized dogs. That and the fact that most of them cost more than I've ever considered spending on human furniture. Either way, not helpful for my Rott/Shep/Lab shedding machine. The exception would be the eco-fleece which looks great, I kinda wish I'd bought one of those.

I bit the bullet and bought a "Cesar Milan" (yeah I know, it's so cheesy) dog bed at Mud Bay Granary. It was around $120 which is insanely expensive by my standards. I still can't believe I did that and I'm not convinced it was necessary to spend so much. But I was desperate, and it was the most attractive one I could find, brown with skinny green/rust stripes - the stripes are kind of mod and sort of blend in with the floor. It is huge and lumpy though, there's just no getting around that. I did pick out a donut shape, which is really ugly, but worth it because she looks so cozy.

Will AT have another pet design contest? I loved the last one.

Dear Apartment Therapy,

I really hate you for showing me that $1500 dog bed that I really want to buy, but cannot/will not. Jerk.

Sincerely,

Sucker for zebrawood

Love the bed I bought from FYDO. Made locally, family run business, lots of choices in design and fabric. I bought from a store in my neighborhood but just noticed on the site they will even make a custom bed in any fabric you want to use.

http://foryourdogsonly.com/

yep! i know exactly what you are talking about! dog bed is the dog bed! takes awkward space out of your living room floor, low to the ground and makes no sense for your esthetic needs. There is no other way around it. This summer i stumbled on funky black and white vintage settee on garage sale for $150, dragged it home, stained the frame dark espresso, add my dog's pillows to it and viola! My dog thinks he is a king (he actually is, but i keep it hash-hash), the settee looks great in the middle of the living room, it's easy to clean as it upholstered in some sort of vinyl or oil-cloth textured material and everybody happy. So, my advise to you, keep your eyes open for the chair, love seat or some sort of people furniture, which would please your eyes and shelter your dog. It worked great for us.

I have a larger dog too and I agree there are not many doggie bed options for the bigger fellas. I had used a sofa cushion for a dog bed that I got from a friend who was getting rid of her sofa and that worked great.

I've been eyeing the big shrimpy beds. They look very nice, not cheap, but not terribly outrageous. www.bigshrimpy.com

And then I found these options at bed, bath and beyond:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=112344&RN=0

or these

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=112344&RN=0

I'm thinking you could just get a really pretty flat sheet to cover them with to match your room and it would look nice.

Is this your dog? I'll take him/her off your hands. Your decor problems are solved.

hrhprincessfiona,

I think it's Jonathan Adler's very cute dog.

I have exactly the same problem (except I have two big-ish dogs, so two larger beds in a condo). The only solutions I've reached are to buy a bed that coordinates better (at least in Chicago, TJ Maxx and Marshalls have some really pretty ones for under $30) or make a cover for my exisiting beds.

Of course, my dogs prefer the couch over their beds anyway, so I could probably just ditch the beds entirely.