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Make It! DIY Modern Pet Bed

by on Jul 19, 2016

Everyone in your family deserves a stylish little place of their own.  We love our cat, Pumpkin, but he isn’t allowed on the sofa.  I’m just not a fan of pet hair on everything.  I wanted to give him his own special spot, without sacrificing style in our home.  This easy-to-make pet bed cost only $10 in materials.  Instead of buying expensive designer fabric, I created my own look with modern black and white splatter effect.  I’ll happily let it live in our living room and with its removable cover, I can easily wash it often to keep the air issues at bay.  

                           

Here’s what you’ll need:

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

Ok, enough of the cute kitty pics.  Let’s get to the easy how-to.

a beautiful white comfortable bed for the pets

Start with a inexpensive pillow.  I picked up this one at Target for $4.

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

Using a large needle and some heavy thread, stitch all the way around the outside of the pillow, about 3″ in.  I used pink thread here for clarity. 

The corner of a fluffy white pet bed.

Then stitch 2 X’s in the middle of the pillow.  This stitching makes the pillow flat and compact.  

Minmalstic organized tips

Cut the fabric into 3 pieces.  The top of the pillow will be 17×23″ and the two pieces for the bottom of the pillow will be 17×17″.  Take the top piece for the pillow outside and place on a drop cloth or newspaper.  Mix together about 2 tbsp. of white craft paint with 1 tbsp. of fabric medium. 

 

A person is holding a fork in his hand.

Using a plastic fork, drip and splatter the paint all over the fabric.

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

Allow the paint to dry completely.

The door to a drying machine is open.

Place the painted fabric in a dryer on hot for at least 15 mins.  This sets the paint permanently.

Colored dot ball headpins in the black cloth.

You will be making a simple envelope closure for the back of the pillow.  These instructions might help.  Turn over twice and stitch down the open ends of the envelope closure.  Placing good sides together, pin the pillow top to the two bottom pieces.

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

Using a drinking glass as a template, trace a curved corner with a piece of chalk. When the pillow is turned right side out, the corner with look clean and finished.

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

Trim away the corner with a pair of good, sharp fabric scissors.

Sewing fabric for a new pet bed.

Leaving a 1/4″ seam allowance, sew all the way around the outside edge of the pillow.  Then turn the pillow right side out and iron the seams flat.  Insert the pillow form that you stitched and add a little cat nip just inside the pillow to entice you kitty.

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

 

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1 Comments

  1. DesigningMom

    Cute bed, but your kitty stole the show for me. He looks just like my Max cat, God rest his precious kitty soul. 

    How in the world did you train him to not get on your sofa though? I’ve had many cats in my life and they all got on the furniture.Â