The Dog Blog

How I Made a DIY Dog Bed with a Pillow (and Didn’t Completely Lose My Mind)

How I Made a DIY Dog Bed with a Pillow

Okay, so here’s the thing: I never thought I’d be the type of person to make a dog bed. I mean, who does that, right? You see them at the pet store, all perfectly fluffed and overpriced, and you think, “Why bother?” But then I looked at my dog, Charlie—who, let’s be real, runs this household—and saw him curled up in this sad little corner of the couch, using my pillow as his personal throne. Something had to give.

So, like any overly ambitious dog parent, I decided to make him his own bed. I had a vision: something cozy, chic, and entirely worthy of his majesty. What I ended up with? Well, let me tell you the story.

Step 1: The Grand Plan (AKA Overthinking Everything)

First, I did what any normal person would do when faced with a new project: I fell into a Pinterest rabbit hole. “DIY Dog Bed” searches led to articles about how to upcycle old sweaters, transform wooden crates, and even sew miniature mattresses. Who are these people with this much free time and skill?

I decided to keep it simple: pillow + fabric = dog bed. Easy, right? Spoiler: it wasn’t that simple.

Step 2: Supplies and Surprises

Armed with optimism (and no real sewing skills), I scavenged through my house for materials. An old pillow I never use? Check. A soft blanket my ex left behind? Double check (I mean, why not turn bad vibes into good ones?).

But then, mid-scavenge, Charlie decided he needed to help. By “help,” I mean he followed me around, tried to eat the scissors, and sat squarely on the blanket every time I spread it out. Thanks, bud.

Step 3: The Measuring Struggle

Here’s where things got interesting—or, you know, chaotic. I laid the fabric on the floor, placed the pillow on top, and started measuring with a ruler I found in a junk drawer. (Pro tip: Do not trust junk drawer rulers. They are liars.)

Of course, Charlie decided this was his new play mat. Every time I’d smooth the fabric out, he’d jump on it like it was some kind of runway. At one point, I literally told him, “This is why you don’t have nice things!” He looked at me like, That’s your problem, not mine.

Step 4: Sewing (or My Attempt at It)

I’ll be honest: sewing is not my superpower. I can barely sew a button, so stitching a cover felt like climbing Everest. I considered hot glue for about five seconds before realizing I might end up gluing Charlie to the bed.

So, I borrowed a needle and thread from a neighbor and got to work. And by “work,” I mean I poked myself in the finger 17 times while trying to sew straight lines. My stitches looked less “professional craftsmanship” and more “Frankenstein’s monster chic.” But hey, progress is progress.

Step 5: The Big Reveal

After what felt like hours (but was probably 45 minutes), I had something resembling a dog bed. Was it perfect? No. Was it functional? Also no. (Kidding—kind of.) I shoved the pillow into the cover, did a quick patch job on a gap where the stitching fell apart, and voila!

When I finally set it on the floor, Charlie sniffed it like it was a science experiment. For a moment, I thought he might reject it entirely. But then he plopped down, sighed dramatically, and fell asleep within five minutes. Victory!

Lessons Learned

  1. Don’t overthink it. Dogs don’t care about aesthetics. If it’s soft and smells vaguely like you, they’ll love it.

  2. Use washable fabric. Trust me, there will be drool.

  3. Have patience. Both with your dog and yourself.

Final Thoughts

Would I make another DIY dog bed? Maybe. Did Charlie love it? Absolutely. And honestly, seeing him snoring away on something I made with my own two hands (and a lot of questionable stitching) was kind of awesome.

So, if you’re thinking about making a dog bed, go for it. Worst case, it’ll be an adventure. Best case, your dog might finally stop stealing your pillow. Maybe. 😜

 

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