12 DIY Dog Bed Ideas That Let Your Pup Relax in Style

Dog owners know: It can be tricky to decorate your home in a way that’s both dog-friendly and stylish. That’s especially true when it comes to dog beds, which can sometimes feel like eyesores amidst an impeccably decorated living area. But, they’re a necessary evil if you don’t want pet hair on your furniture from your pup climbing on it, even if it is pet-friendly furniture. 

 There are many ways to make or enhance a dog bed to fit your style. Whether you’re placing a dog bed in a corner of your office, at the foot of your bed, or in the bustling kitchen area, you can create a DIY dog bed that fits both your home’s style and your dog’s needs. Of course, a large dog will need something bigger than a small apartment dog would.  

Be sure to consider your dog’s size, temperament and individual quirks when planning a DIY dog bed. You’ll want to ensure your furry friend has plenty of space to get comfortable, especially if you’ll need them to utilize the space for long periods of time, like at night or while you’re away at work. And if your dog is a huge chewer, you’ll be a bit more limited than someone who owns a slightly less mouthy pup. 

Get inspired by these DIY dog bed creations, then create your own masterpiece to suit your space and your pup.

Looking to DIY a dog bed? Don’t forget to include the food and water bowls! We’re sure your pup will thank you for it. We love this setup by @dextertheratterrier that comes complete with a bed and a feeding station. 

What furry friend doesn’t need its own Scandi-style DIY dog bed? That’s just what @anetterosand figured when she created this boosted bed for her pup. We think it totally looks comfortable enough for a person to sleep on! 

Sarah Gibson of Room for Tuesday has a smart solution for small spaces: A Murphy dog bed that folds away when not in use. (You can find a similar pre-made one here.) To make the cabinet match her office decor, she gave it a fresh paint job, new hardware, and a reupholstered cushion—all of which ensure that it looks just as good when it’s in use as it does when it’s folded up and out of the way.

After falling in love with a wood and steel dog bed that was beyond her budget, Gabrielle of @gabs_projects set out to recreate it. She sanded and stained plywood left over from another project before building into a box shape. Finishing touch: hairpin legs she found on Amazon. 

Using leftover wood from a previous DIY, Rachel created a frame for her existing dog bed to help raise it off the ground. But she didn’t stop there—she revamped a corner of her home to create a tiny dog-sized space with custom decor that includes a gallery wall of dog portraits and a floating water bowl. This project is easy for beginners just getting started with power tools. 

Inspired to build a dog bed that would match her son’s, Susan used wood to create a frame in the shape of a home. After adding a dog mattress for cushion, the final touches were a simple light fixture hanging from the center and a wood sign to greet visitors. 

This dog cubby—from Tanika and Bryan’s NYC apartment tour—is a cozy hideaway perfect for small dogs. HomeMade Modern has step-by-step instructions for a similar bed, which DIYer Ben says will run you about $30 to make.

This DIY uses wood and metal pipes to create a chic industrial-style dog bed. Leave the pipes black for a rugged, minimalist feel, or spray paint them a different color to match your decor.

You’d never know this bed for Teddy had a previous life as a medicine cabinet. What’s the secret to this transformation? A fresh coat of paint, furniture legs and a blanket tucked around a piece of memory foam. Go the extra mile with spray paint and a stencil for personalization. 

When her dog needed new bed, Katie and her husband built a wooden one from scratch, added legs and painted it a sweet pink. Since Pepita the dog loves sleeping on their (human) bed, Katie and her husband outfitted the new dog bed with two of their old pillows and an old sheet.

Dahlia made it a quick afternoon project to upcycle leftover cabinet drawers into twin beds for her dogs, Bruno and Sailor. She added simple legs from the hardware store, painted them white, used a paint pen to add their names and ironed on their photos to a pillow case.

If you’re thinking of donating an old dresser, you could hang onto one of the drawers for this simple DIY. Once you paint it to match your decor, plop an old cushion covered with new fabric inside.