Upcycled Dog Beds: 3 Ways to DIY

by Judy Szablak 08/27/2023

A comfortable pet is a happy pet. But sometimes, pet furniture is not comfortable for your budget. Instead of overspending on a dog bed, consider the DIY approach. If you're interested in some clever ways to upcycle items into budget-friendly dog beds, here are some ideas to inspire you.

Wine Barrel Bed

Wine barrels are a favorite among the DIY community for their sturdiness, versatility and rustic charm. If you take half of a wine barrel and add a shallow cutout for your dog to climb in and out, it can make an excellent pet bed. Make sure you sand and treat the wood with non-toxic treatment and then add a comfy cushion or blanket of choice. If you have a smaller dog, opt for cutting the barrel lower down to make a shallower container.

Suitcase Bed

Do you have an old broken suitcase you haven't gotten rid of? Now's the perfect time to give it new use as a dog bed. If you have either a hard or soft shell suitcase, you can simply add a cushion and lay it open for your dog to sleep in. One of the advantages of this DIY idea is that due to the myriad choices of suitcase sizes, you can make a perfect bed for any breed and size of dog. Decorate and customize as you wish for a funky, upcycled bed your pet will love.

Dresser Drawer Bed

An unused dresser drawer can become a cute and funky dog bed with only a few DIY steps. Remove a drawer from an old dresser and add a soft piece of foam or cushion inside. Decorate or paint the outside and you have an instant dog bed ready for the bedroom or anywhere else in your home. If the drawer is made of wood, give the edges some extra sanding for safety and to protect your pet from splinters.

About the Author
Author

Judy Szablak

With over 30 years in the industry, Realtor Judy Szablak has been on national television for her real estate expertise on the HGTV Network, featured on Martha Stewart Living Radio "Morning Living” , NPR radio as an expert real estate panelist, It’s Relevant News channel, and quoted in the Wall Street Journal for her in depth knowledge of Fairfield County Connecticut real estate.

She was also on the local NPR radio station (WSHU) as a Fairfield County CT real estate expert. Judy has provided multiple online respected news sources with her real estate expertise including The Daily Easton, The Daily Weston, The Daily Fairfield, The Daily Stamford and The Daily Greenwich, as well as in print in the New York Post. She is a weekly Real Estate Columnist for WestportNow.com, another real estate column "Real Estate With Judy” is syndicated through Hearst CT Media Online and seen in The Connecticut Post, The Danbury News-Times, The Stamford Advocate, The Greenwich Time, The Hour, Fairfield Citizen, Westport News, Darien News, New Canaan News and the Wilton Villager.

 Judy is also the author of the book, The Art of Buying or Selling a Home, available at all major book retailers. Additionally, Judy has been nationally recognized in a number of national real estate trade magazines, some with distribution to over 1 million members. She was featured in Real Estate Today as early as 1994 for her commitment to, and implementation of technology in real estate. Judy appeared in the Certified Residential Specialist Magazine, as she provided advice on marketing strategies and ethics in the article titled "Marketing Makeovers.”

 Judy was also featured in REALTOR® Magazine, regarding image enhancement for Realtors. She was again featured in REALTOR® Magazine, in an article on "Achieving Flow” and operating at optimal peak performance. In another article in the same publication, Judy offered guidance to fellow real estate professionals as she explored the topic of implementing and maintaining personal websites. She has appeared in The Council of Residential Specialists Magazine, which featured her ideas regarding technology. Additionally, Judy authored an article on marketing and technology for the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Online Magazine. On two occasions, in 2015 and 2017, she appeared as a featured agent in Top Agent Magazine. I have a few other websites- www.TheCtrealtyBlog.com www.CtHomesAndRealEstate.com www.BestWestportHomes.com www.ThePetitePowerhouse.com www,SzablakConsulting.com