DIY Stylish Pet Bed: A Step-by-Step Guide

Every member of your family, including your beloved pets, deserves a comfortable and stylish space to call their own. If you’re like many pet owners, you might have rules about where your furry friends are allowed to roam in the house. Maybe, like me, you’re not a huge fan of pet hair on every single piece of furniture. But that doesn’t mean your pet can’t have a cozy and chic spot that blends seamlessly with your home decor.

That’s why I decided to create a DIY pet bed that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing. This project allows you to provide your pet with their own special haven without compromising the overall style of your living space. And the best part? It’s incredibly affordable! This easy-to-make pet bed cost me only around $10 in materials.

Instead of splurging on expensive designer fabric, I opted to create a unique look using a modern black and white splatter effect. This not only saves money but also adds a touch of personality to the pet bed. I’m happy to have it in our living room, and with its removable cover, I can easily wash it as often as needed to keep things fresh and clean.

A person is holding a plastic fork in their hand.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s a list of everything you’ll need to create your own stylish and affordable pet bed:

½ yard of black 100% cotton duck cloth or canvas: This provides a durable and washable base for the bed.
White craft paint: Choose a high-quality acrylic paint for the splatter effect. I personally like Martha Stewart’s craft paint for its vibrant color and lasting power.
Fabric medium: This is essential for ensuring the paint adheres properly to the fabric and doesn’t wash away.
Plastic cup and fork: These will be used to mix and apply the paint for the splatter effect.
Drop cloth or newspaper: Protect your work surface from paint splatters.
Sewing machine: A sewing machine will make the construction of the bed much faster and easier.
Inexpensive bed pillow: This will serve as the filling for the pet bed. Choose a size that’s appropriate for your pet.
Large needle and heavy thread or floss: These will be used to tack the pillow and create a more compact shape.

A brown cat resting in a comfy pillow — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Pet bed in black cloth with white dots. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Ginger and white striped cat lying on a black, dotted with white mat. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Step-by-Step Instructions: Creating Your DIY Pet Bed

Now that you have all your materials, let’s get started on creating your stylish DIY pet bed! Follow these simple steps to provide your furry friend with a cozy and chic place to relax.

a beautiful white comfortable bed for the pets

Step 1: Prepare the Pillow

Start with an inexpensive bed pillow. I picked up this one at Target for just $4. The size of the pillow will determine the overall size of the pet bed, so choose one that’s appropriate for your pet.

A person is using a needle and thread to sew a pet bed.

Step 2: Tack the Pillow

Using a large needle and some heavy thread or floss, stitch all the way around the outside of the pillow, about 3 inches in. This will help to create a more defined edge for the bed. I used pink thread here for clarity in the photo, but you can use a thread that matches the color of the pillow.

Step 3: Flatten the Pillow

Next, stitch two X’s in the middle of the pillow. This stitching helps to flatten and compact the pillow, making it more suitable for a pet bed. It also provides additional support and prevents the filling from shifting around too much.

Step 4: Cut the Fabric

Cut the black cotton duck cloth or canvas into three pieces. The top piece of the pillow cover will be 17×23 inches, and the two pieces for the bottom of the pillow cover will be 17×17 inches. These dimensions are designed to fit the pillow size I used, but you may need to adjust them depending on the size of your pillow.

Step 5: Create the Splatter Effect

Take the top piece of fabric outside and place it on a drop cloth or newspaper to protect your work surface. In a plastic cup, mix together about 2 tablespoons of white craft paint with 1 tablespoon of fabric medium. The fabric medium will help the paint adhere to the fabric and prevent it from cracking or peeling.

Step 6: Apply the Paint

Using a plastic fork, drip and splatter the paint mixture all over the fabric. Experiment with different techniques to create a unique and interesting splatter effect. You can flick the paint from the fork, tap the fork against your hand, or even blow on the paint to create different patterns.

Book pages being covered by a black piece of paper with white spots on it.

Step 7: Dry the Paint

Allow the paint to dry completely. This may take several hours, depending on the humidity and temperature.

Step 8: Set the Paint

Once the paint is completely dry, place the painted fabric in a dryer on high heat for at least 15 minutes. This will help to set the paint permanently and prevent it from washing away.

Colored dot ball headpins in the black cloth.

Step 9: Create the Envelope Closure

You will be making a simple envelope closure for the back of the pillow. This allows you to easily remove the pillow cover for washing. Turn over twice and stitch down the open ends of the two bottom pieces of fabric. This creates a clean and finished edge for the envelope closure. Placing good sides together, pin the pillow top to the two bottom pieces, overlapping them to form the envelope closure.

Black paper with white chalk markings and a piece of chalk laying next to it.

Step 10: Round the Corners

Using a drinking glass as a template, trace a curved corner with a piece of chalk on all four corners of the pinned fabric. This will create a rounded corner when the pillow is turned right side out, giving it a more polished and professional look.

A person is cutting cloth edges in curve shape with scissor.

Step 11: Trim the Corners

Trim away the corners along the chalk lines with a pair of good, sharp fabric scissors. Be careful not to cut into the seam allowance.

Step 12: Sew the Pillow Cover

Leaving a ¼-inch seam allowance, sew all the way around the outside edge of the pillow cover, securing the top and bottom pieces together. Be sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of each seam to prevent unraveling.

Step 13: Finish the Pillow Cover

Turn the pillow cover right side out and iron the seams flat. This will give the pillow cover a crisp and professional look.

Step 14: Insert the Pillow

Insert the pillow form that you stitched earlier into the pillow cover through the envelope closure.

Step 15: Add Catnip (Optional)

Add a little catnip just inside the pillow to entice your kitty. This is optional, but it can help to encourage your cat to use their new bed.

An orange and white cat is sitting on a black blanket. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Brown cat is sleeping on the white spotted black pet bed. — Photo: Jeran McConnel

Enjoy Your New Stylish Pet Bed!

Congratulations! You’ve successfully created a stylish and affordable pet bed for your furry friend. This DIY project is a great way to provide your pet with their own special space without breaking the bank. Plus, the removable and washable cover makes it easy to keep the bed clean and fresh.

This DIY pet bed is not only functional but also adds a touch of personality to your home decor. The modern black and white splatter effect is both eye-catching and versatile, blending seamlessly with a variety of interior styles. So, go ahead and spoil your pet with this cozy and chic DIY pet bed!