We've successfully upcycled an old office chair from a thrift store into a comfortable, personalized pet bed. After a thorough cleaning, we removed the legs, added protective pads for floor stability, crafted a machine-washable fabric cover, and added the pet's name—all without power tools and for minimal cost.
Detach the metal legs from the chair base to lower it to the floor.
To ensure stability and protect your floors, attach furniture pads to the bottom. Use self-adhesive pads or secure with hot glue. Position the largest pads at the four corners and stack two smaller ones toward the front to prevent tipping.
Flip the chair upside down and drape a blanket or fabric over it. Cut pieces for the back and sides, leaving extra fabric for adjustments—it's easier to trim later. Save trim pieces for finishing touches.
Pin the panels together, then hand-stitch them using embroidery floss in a criss-cross pattern for a rustic, durable finish.
Sew two loops onto the back panel to gather the fabric and tie it into a decorative bow.
Draw and cut out letters spelling your pet's name from felt. Securely attach them to the cover with hot glue, ensuring all edges are firmly adhered.
Photo: Susan Teare
Tuck the cover's bottom edge under the chair. For added security, apply hook-and-loop tape (Velcro) to the chair base and cover hem.
