Every pet needs a bed, a comfy and cute bed that they can call their own.  My dogs, Sofy and Oreo, at times prefer to lay on the couch, although they each have a bed to call their own.  When Oreo and Sofy were puppies, I went searching for beds for them and could not believe the cost.   Sweet Friends, today is all about “Building It Cheaper Than Buying It!”

Homemade Pet Beds!

Today is all about pet beds for your dog or cat! Building a pet bed is cheaper than buying a pet bed.

Are you the type that prefers to try and build versus buy?  I’ve you’ve been following me for more than a minute, you know I’m all in on the building it myself challenge.  I love refurbishing old junk and this is the perfect diy. There’s no need to open up your wallet and spend a ton on a pet bed. Just make your own.

Do-It-Yourself Pet Beds!

A while back I saw a man on Facebook Marketplace selling wine boxes. Of course, I went and bought a handful because they seemed like the perfect thing for so many uses. Wine boxes, wood crates and old drawers make the most perfect pet beds. You can even add feet to the box to create some character.

If you’ve visited my website and seen my page called “Furniture Restorations”, you’ll know I’ve been making and selling pet beds for quite some time. I was a little obsessed with Pet Beds about a year ago when the idea came to me.

Now, there is still that challenge of getting the pups off the couch, but aren’t the pet beds so cute! Proper training really is the key to getting the pups off the couch and I’ve got a video coming out next week with some tips.

The pet beds were looking a little used and needed a refresh so the tutorial of the refresh on the pet beds is below.

If you’d prefer to watch my new video on Do-It-Yourself Pet Beds you can watch it here.

Materials needed to make a Pet Bed:

• Old drawers, wood crate, wood wine boxes. I’d suggest visiting your local second hand store or checking out Facebook MarketPlace.
• Paint and Sealer
• Legs
• Hardware to place on the pet bed so that you can leash the dog to the bed. This is part of how you train your pet to stay in the dog bed.)

Instructions for Creating a Pet Bed:

Step one: Find a drawer that fits your pet.  I read an article once that dogs like to be curled up in a ball because it keeps them warm and they feel safe. You don’t need a big drawer, in fact the drawers I used are probably bigger than needed for my little pups.

Step two: Paint and seal the drawers and legs. I use the paint and products that can be found on my website, www.CreateWithCynthiaShop.com.

Once the paint and sealer has dried, personalize your pet bed. I used painter’s tape to create a rectangle in a darker color. The beds are painted in White Swan and Vintage Linen and the rectangle is painted in Letterpress Grey.

Step three: I found some legs at Lowe’s and Home Depot. Have you ever noticed pets love to be raised off the ground. No wonder my pups are always on the couch or bed. 

Step four: Personalize with pet’s name. On all my pet beds I provide a spot for personalization. I use frog tape to create a nice rectangle shape and then stencil the pet’s name. Any stamp or stencil will work just fine. For these pet beds I used the Iron Orchid Designs Typesetting Stamp.

Step five: Add blanket. Pets love to smell their owner so for cushion don’t waste your money on foam add your extra T-shirt or two. You can do foam but it’s likely the pet will just scratch and tear it up. (I’m speaking from experience here).

Step six: Use hardware. I chose an eye hole screw with a key chain and short leash so that you can attach the pet to the dog bed while you train your fur ball to stay in the bed.

Enjoy and your pet will thank you! And your sofa pillows will stay nice and firm. And there will be less dog hair on the couch.

Now go out there and Create Something.

Cynthia

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