A cat bed that only allows your cat a comfortable place to stay while it’s resting or winding down for the day, but it also keeps your furry feline out of your bed. This means no more waking up with hair on your pajamas or a cat’s tail in your face.
There are quite a few different ways that you can make your own cat bed, and many can be made from a simple weaved basket. And in this article, we’re going to cover the best cat beds that you can make from baskets as well as other bed ideas.
The 17 DIY Cat Beds Made From a Basket
1. Simple DIY Wicker Basket Bed from House by the Bay Design
| Level of Difficulty: | Simple |
| Tools Required: | Washers, screws, electric drill |
| Materials: | Wicker basket |
This basket will require a bit of patience and technique. If you’re new to basket weaving, you’ll want to start slowly to avoid making a bed that leans to the side or has uneven dimensions. But the good thing is that this basket is affordable to make, and you don’t need any tools–just your hands! Depending on your experience this basket can take anywhere from 2 to 8 hours to make.
2. DIY Wall Bed by Martha Stewart Living
| Level of Difficulty: | Simple |
| Tools Required: | Washers, screws, electric drill |
| Materials: | Wicker basket |
This wicker basket wall bed is an excellent choice if you ‘re looking for a cat bed that looks more expensive than it actually costs. You can add a bed to give your cat a new perch to enjoy the world around you and it only takes a few screws, washers, and a wicker basket that you can get from your local Hobby Lobby or pet store.
Be sure to align your basket where you want it displayed, with the flat bottom against the wall, and mount it by drilling the screws in their washers through the wicker–and boom, done!
3. DIY Hanging Wall Basket from Hymns and Verses
| Level of Difficulty: | Low |
| Tools Required: | Washers, screws, electric drill |
| Materials: | Wicker basket, rope |
You can also take a simple basket and use bolts and washers to hang it from the wall or the ceiling. You’ll want to ensure that you find the studs to prevent creating a potentially hazardous bed, but the job is still pretty simple.
You can make your own basket from heavy bamboo or reeds, or you can make your life easier by purchasing a wicker basket and cutting a few holes in the top edges for the rope. Be sure to use multi-twine rope for this project–it’ll need to be thick.
4. Recycled DIY Sweater Bed by Nifty
| Level of Difficulty: | Simple |
| Tools Required: | Needles, scissors |
| Materials: | Fabric, cotton or poly blend stuffing, and thread |
An old sweater cat bed is a great option for those who want something easy and simple for their cat’s bed. You can always find old clothing at your local thrift shop if you don’t want to part with any of your own sweaters.
This DIY project will require you to take an old sweater and make some cuts to the sleeves and bottom. You’ll then need to fill it with a bit of stuffing and sew the ends. It’s easy, simple, and looks great!
5. DIY Crocheted Hammock Bed Martha Stewart Living
| Level of Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Tools Required: | Scissors, Crochet hook |
| Materials: | Yarn, crochet needles, hanging material |
If you know how to crochet (or are willing to learn), this is a great project to take on for your cat bed. You can crochet the bed in anywhere from 6-12 hours depending on your experience. Choose the yarn you want and then follow the short stitching tutorial to make this bed. This can be hung from any spot in your home.
6. Vintage DIY TV Bed by iHeartCats
| Level of Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Tools Required: | Drills, pliers, wrench, crowbar |
| Materials: | TV, fabric, stuffing |
Who doesn’t love a bit of vintage? You can find old TVs at local pawn shops in your city. This tutorial will show you how to create a mini bed for your cat within an old tube television box. You can fill it with anything you like. It will make your home look stylish and cozy–not to mention your cat will love it!
7. DIY Crocheted (Thick Yarn) Bed from Urbaki Crotchet
| Level of Difficulty: | Low |
| Tools Required: | Scissors |
| Materials: | Thick yarn |
Your cat will have loads of fun with this bed. A super-thick yarn is ideal for creating a bowl shape for your cat bed. But make sure that the yarn is tightly bound and thick enough so that it won’t easily unravel or fall apart as the cat uses it.
You don’t need any fancy tools to make this bed. Once you have learned how to knit the stitches, you should be able to stitch it together in a matter of hours.
8. DIY Wooden Crate Bed from My Nourished Home
| Level of Difficulty: | Simple |
| Tools Required: | Wood glue, permanent markers |
| Materials: | Wooden crate, paint |
Here’s another affordable cat bed that you can make fairly quickly. To make a cat crate like the one shown in the tutorial you’ll need to purchase two wooden boards (which you can find at Home Depot or Lowes). To make a plush cushion, you can stuff the center with any fabric including cotton, polyblends, or wool. And don’t forget to personalize it with your cat’s name.
9. DIY Eiffel Tower Bed from Playhouse4Pets
| Level of Difficulty: | Intermediate |
| Tools Required: | Scissors and glue |
| Materials: | Cardboard |
Some cats are simply fancier than others. And why not give a fancy cat a bit of Paris when it retreats to its nightly slumber. This DIY bed can be a bit challenging to make, but it’s so worth it. Also, you’ll want to measure everything accurately to prevent the bed from leaning to the side. Remember it’s the Eiffel Tower, not the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
10. DIY Crocheted Bed by DIY Magazine
| Level of Difficulty: | Low |
| Tools Required: | Scissors |
| Materials: | Thick yarn |
Here’s another crochet bed option. You can crochet your cat’s bed and add special decorative effects to make it stand out. And you can add balls on strings, “fuzzy mice”, and other items to make it a bit of a funhouse as well.
This tutorial will show you how to sew together the couch’s sections if you’re a crochet newbie. It’ll also show you how to fill the cushion of the bed so that it doesn’t buckle when put under pressure–in case, your cat is a “fat cat”…. pun intended.
11. Minimalistic Basket DIY Cat Bed by The Old House
| Level of Difficulty: | Hard |
| Tools Required: | Jigsaw, drill, wood glue, clamps, scissors, fabric glue |
| Materials: | Large basket, plywood, padding |
Some cat bed DIYs are adorable, but they can interrupt the modern flow of your home. In that case, the Minimalistic Basket DIY Cat Bed by The Old House is all you need. Not only is it simple and modish but it’s also a two-tiered retreat for your cat. It is one of the hardest projects on the list, but the result is surely worth the effort.
12. Hanging Basket Cat Bed With Shelf by Our Catio Home
| Level of Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Tools Required: | Jigsaw, wood brace, wood cleats, drill |
| Materials: | Wire basket, plywood, zip ties, foam pad |
If you’ve left your old hanging basket in your garden, hoping a bird will sit on it, you’re not alone. The Hanging Basket Cat Bed With Shelf by Our Catio Home is the perfect project to make use of that old basket. It fits in any corner of your home and even has a shelf for decor. The best part about this DIY project is that it’s made from repurposed materials you can find in your house.
13. Beginner-Friendly Basket Cat Bed by By Bridget
| Level of Difficulty: | Easy |
| Tools Required: | Utility scissors, drill |
| Materials: | Wicker basket, mounting hardware, screws, cardboard, blankets, paint |
There are many DIY basket cat bed tutorials on the internet, but they all require expert woodworking or weaving skills. Luckily, this Beginner-Friendly Basket Cat Bed by By Bridget is perfect for someone new to the DIY world. All you need to do is mount a large wicker basket to the wall with some mounting hardware, screws, and a drill. Finish up by adding blankets and padding, and it’s ready!
14. Under $2 DIY Basket Cat Bed by Cat Toy Lady
| Level of Difficulty: | Easy |
| Tools Required: | Scissors |
| Materials: | Basket, poly rope, blanket |
DIY projects are worth the effort, but that doesn’t mean they have to be expensive. This Under $2 DIY Basket Cat Bed by Cat Toy Lady is the perfect project for when you’re on a budget. You can get all the materials at any dollar store and finish the project in under 10 minutes! The best part? There is no need for any power tools, fancy hardware, or woodworking skills.
15. Rectangular DIY Basket Cat Bed by Jennifer Priest
| Level of Difficulty: | Easy |
| Tools Required: | Scissors, sewing machine (or needle) |
| Materials: | Basket, fabric, thread, zipper, pillow stuffing |
If you’re short on time, here’s another project that only takes five minutes to finish. The Rectangular DIY Basket Cat Bed by Jennifer Priest is classic, durable, and easy to make. This project requires no woodwork or power tools, only basic sewing skills. You can follow the tutorial to make a rectangular pillow and turn an old basket into a cozy bed for your cat.
16. Laundry Basket DIY Cat Bed by Cuteness
| Level of Difficulty: | Moderate |
| Tools Required: | Corner tension rod (optional) |
| Materials: | Basket, rope, blanket |
We all have an old laundry basket lying around somewhere in our homes. If that sounds like you, the Laundry Basket DIY Cat Bed by Cuteness is the perfect project to take on. With some simple knots and a blanket, you can turn the laundry basket into a comfy hangout spot for your furry friend. The best part is that you probably already have all the materials and tools at home.
17. Crochet Basket DIY Cat Bed by The Merry Thought
| Level of Difficulty: | Hard |
| Tools Required: | Scissors, tapestry needle |
| Materials: | Thick yarn, cardboard |
If you like to crochet, this Crochet Basket DIY Cat Bed by The Merry Thought is your next project to conquer. It’s definitely time-taking, but the result is worth the effort. Once you’ve crocheted the basket bed, you can line it with cardboard for structure. The result is an adorable and cozy sleeping spot for your kitty.
Conclusion
Creating a bed for your cat doesn’t have to be a long or complicated project. And there are so many ways to create beds that don’t require a ton of money. You can use everyday materials such as wood, t-shirts, old furniture pieces, cardboard, and anything else that you can find around your house.
First, be sure to establish the base of the bed come out which will usually require a hard material (such as wood). Next, add interior cushioning and bedding to the bed so that your cat is comfortable. Lastly, you can hang the bed from the wall or the ceiling if your cat prefers to have a bird’s eye view.
Related Read: Awesome DIY Crochet Cat Bed Patterns
Featured Image Credit: Anna Krivitskaya, Shutterstock
