One of my most popular DIY posts to date has to be a tutorial for a Burlap Dog Bed. Published almost eleven months ago to the day, this post continues to bring in dozens of visitors every week, from varying parts of the world. While I’m not sure if anyone has gone on to make a potato sack bed for their pet, I still consider the post a success based on stats alone.

I prefer not to talk incessantly about our animals, in fear that I will sound like a crazy lady who thinks that her fur babies are just the most special things to have ever walked the earth, but I do love them like mad. I also think that I love them the appropriate amount because I can definitely see their faults and know that they aren’t perfect. Far from it. However, if I have a few extra dollars or a few extra hours, my first thought is how can I spend it to make their lives better? See this Bicycle Trailer tutorial.

I have seen pallet dog beds on the internet before and I have always wanted one of my own. Well, for my dogs. I absolutely loved the look of them, and knew that they would fit in perfectly with our decor. About five months ago, I found someone online who claimed to make them for a ridiculously low price and who only lived about an hour away from us. After contacting her, we set up a future date and time to meet so that I could purchase one from her. Long story short, she completely fell off the face of the earth, deleting her photos, add, and even her email address. I think that it was a scam, since “her” photos were actually popular photos that can be found all over Pinterest. Thank goodness I didn’t pay her in advance!

Since that happened, I knew that our next pallet dog bed experience would be courtesy à la Kurysh. Do you what? The result was a success! I just know that yours will turn out perfectly as well. :-)))

Here is what you will need:

2 pallets
circular saw
drill
screws
tape measure
bar clamp
4 casters
stain
brushes
cushion

Steps:

The base.

1. Lay the first pallet down. Choose the one in the best shape. We’ll call it Pallet #1. Take its measurements, and decide what size you would like your bed to be. You may also do this before you start, either way will work!

2. Once you’ve decided on your measurements, you may need to cut Pallet #1. Try to salvage the excess wood if you decide to alter its size. 

The sides.

3. There are two ways that you can attach the sides to the bed. The first (a) is the easiest way. The second (b) is the way that we chose to make it.

(a) Measure the base length and width of Pallet #1. Using Pallet #2 and the saw, remove three of its boards. Now cut two of the boards to the width of the base, and one to the length of the base of Pallet #1. Once the sides are cut, using the drill and screws, attach them to Pallet #1 so that it looks as if the bed has a head board, side board, and foot board.  

(b) Measure the base length and width of Pallet #1. Using Pallet #2 and the saw, remove three of its boards. Now cut two of the boards to the width of the base, and one to the length of the base of Pallet #1. Remove also the four wood blocks that separate the top deckboard from the bottom deckboard on Pallet #2. You will need these to attach the sides to Pallet #1. Now screw the four blocks onto the four corners of Pallet #1. Once you have completed that, attach the sides by screwing them into the blocks.

The casters.

4. Turn the nearly completed Pallet #1 over. Mark a 2″ gap from the top and side of every corner. Screw one caster into each corner, just below the markings. Flip the pallet back over once they are secure.

Finishing touches.

5. Sanding the pallet is one of the most important steps in constructing a dog bed. There’s a good chance that these have been left outside to be at the mercy of all of the elements, bugs, dirt, and who knows what else? A light to moderate sanding will get rid of the pallet’s top layer of grime, while keeping the uniqueness of the stamps and other markings intact. 

6. Once the bed has been sanded, stain it to your colour of choice. Or if you want to keep it natural looking, choose a clear coat of Varathane.

7. Depending on the size of the pallet, you may either be able to buy a fiber-filled dog bed that will fit the pallet dog bed perfectly, or you will have to buy a foam mattress and cut it to size. May I suggest covering the foam with burlap?

8. The last step is to grab your furry loved one and let them try out the bed for size! I already know that you will love it, so they are the last (and hardest) critics to please. Fingers and paws crossed!

<3

Emory

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