How to Make a Homemade Dog Bed Out of a Box

Store-bought dog beds can be quite expensive, so you can save a lot of money by making your own. Creating a dog bed from a box is quite simple, and you can use items from around your home -- potentially ending up with a dog bed that costs you nothing at all but is quite comfortable for your canine pet.

Things You'll Need

  • Sturdy cardboard box
  • Utility knife
  • Duct tape (optional)
  • Pillow
  • Blanket or quilt
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a sturdy cardboard box that is large enough for your dog to comfortably sleep in.

    • 2

      Evenly cut off the closure flaps at the top of the cardboard box with a utility knife (if the box has flaps). The box should now have an open top, four sides and a bottom.

    • 3

      Cut out a "U" shape on one of the wider sides of the box with the utility knife. Begin at the top and cut down, across and up again. This creates an opening for your dog to crawl in and out of its bed. Make sure the "U" opening is wide enough and tall enough so your dog can comfortably enter and exit the box.

    • 4

      Cover the raw top edges of the box with duct tape, if desired. Cardboard edges can be misleadingly sharp, and doing this creates a smooth edge. Tear off strips of duct tape. Lay each strip sticky side down over a section of the box's raw edge, attaching the tape lengthwise, running parallel with the box edge. Fold the tape down over either side of the box edge and smooth it over with your finger so that the tape sticks securely to the box. Repeat this until all of the raw edges are covered with duct tape.

    • 5

      Place a pillow of equal dimension to the box -- or as close as you can get -- inside the box. A pillow that is a little bigger than the box is better than a pillow that is smaller than the box. Push the pillow into the box and pack the edges down firmly. This creates a soft cushion for your dog to sleep on.

    • 6

      Lay a small blanket or quilt over the pillow, tucking it in around the sides of the pillow so the pillow is snugly covered. Fold the blanket in half first if it looks considerably too big for the box. It is easier to wash a blanket than it is to wash a pillow, so make sure the pillow is covered completely by the blanket and that the blanket is tucked in securely so the pillow won't easily come uncovered as your dog shifts around to get comfortable.