How To Make A Simple Dog Pallet Bed - Page 2 of 2

To create this awesome dog bed you will need to start out with some materials.

Materials Needed:

wooden shipping pallets

tape measure

nail puller

hammer

1 1/2″ finish screws

stainless steel finish nails

chop saw

carpenter's pencil

drill

large outdoor cushion

Now that you have those gathered it's time to start building. The structure itself is pretty basic and simple enough for any novice diy'er.

Dismantle Pallets & Choose Best Pieces

Gather a group of used wooden shipping pallets (Image 1). Using a hammer or nail puller, remove each plank of wood from the pallet base (Image 2), then dismantle the base.

Lay all pieces of wood out on a flat, level surface. Based on your specific shipping pallet and the intended size of your dog bed, choose which pieces are the best fit for the two sides, the rear, the front fascia and the base. Tip: A good-sized dog bed for small and medium dogs is 12 to 16 inches, and 14 to 18 inches for larger dogs.

Measure and Cut Boards

Measure and mark side boards using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil. Cut them to 24-inch lengths with a circular saw. Measure and mark the rear and bottom boards using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil, and cut to a 36-inch length with a circular saw. These boards will be the rear panel and bottom planks.

Measure and Cut Structural Pieces

To create structural pieces, measure and mark 1 1/2-inch strips using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil, and cut with a circular saw (Images 1 and 2). Next, use a circular saw to cut six pieces of wood the same length as the desired overall height.

Attach Structural Pieces

Lay out rear panel boards on a flat, level surface, and attach structural pieces on each end with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer (Image 1). Lay out side panel boards on a flat, level surface, and attach structural pieces on each end (Image 2).

Attach Side and Rear Panels

Attach side panels to each end of the rear panels with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer.

Cut and Attach Fascia Board

Measure and mark side boards using measuring tape and a carpenter's pencil, then cut front fascia board to length of the front edge from side to side. Install front fascia to side panels with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer.

Install Base Planks

Attach planks to the base's underside with finish nails or screws using a drill or hammer. Tip: Make sure the planks sit flush, or the dog bed may appear crooked.

Sand Edges & Decorate

Use an orbital sander or sanding block to smooth out the rough edges of each panel. Once you have done that you are now ready to paint and decorate. This is where you can have the most fun decorating the beds to match your pets personality. I encourage you all to get creative and let us know how it goes. Leave us pictures and comments in the section below showing us how it went!