Refresh Your Pup's Boucle Dog Bed with These Easy DIY Hacks

Give Your Pup's Boucle Couch a Makeover With These Easy Hacks

If you're like most dog owners, you want your furry friend to have the coziest place to curl up and take a snooze. For many pups, that means claiming their human's furniture as their own napping spot. While we love cuddling up on the couch with our pets, dog hair and dirt tracked in from outside can take a toll on even the most pet-friendly upholstery.

That's where stylish and functional dog beds like the popular boucle dog bed come in. Resembling a miniature couch, these cozy beds give your pup a designated spot to lounge that protects your real furniture. And with their woven boucle upholstery and objectively cute aesthetic, they seamlessly blend into most living room décors.

The Drawbacks of the Boucle Dog Bed

As much as we - and our four-legged friends - love the boucle dog bed, there are a few common complaints about this popular pup resting place:

• The boucle fabric, while stylish, shows dirt, hair and wear easily
• The filling becomes lumpy and uneven over time
• Limited size options to fit extra small or extra large dogs
• Neutral colors like gray and ivory get dirty fast
• Not machine washable for easy cleaning

Luckily there are some easy boucle couch dog bed hacks and DIY makeovers you can try to refresh your pup's favorite napping spot and address these common issues.

Give It a Good Deep Clean

If your dog bed is still in relatively good shape but just looking a little dusty and dirty, start by giving it a thorough cleaning. While you can't toss these beds in the washer, you can still sanitize the fabric fairly easily.

Fill a large tub or basin with warm water and a pet-safe detergent or carpet/upholstery cleaner. Carefully submerge the bed and let it soak for 15-20 minutes to allow the cleanser to penetrate the fabric. Then gently scrub the entire surface with a soft brush and rinse with clean water until suds are removed.

Let the bed air dry completely before placing the insert back inside. Your pup's boucle bed will look like new! Doing this monthly can help prevent grime buildup.

Sew a New Cover

If the boucle cover is hopelessly soiled or worn out, but the inner cushion still has some life, you can sew a fresh cover yourself for a custom update.

Choose a durable, machine washable fabric like canvas, denim or cotton in a fun new color or print. Measure the cushion insert and cut your fabric to size, leaving 1-2 inches extra on all sides for the seams. Sew the cover pieces together inside out, then flip right side out and insert the cushion through the opening you left in one seam.

Adding a fresh cover lets you update the look of your dog bed for much less than buying a replacement. And being able to throw it in the wash makes cleanups a breeze.

Add a Washable Cover

Along the same lines as sewing a whole new cover, you can also just place a washable cover over the existing boucle fabric to protect it. Look for quilted mattress pad protectors that fit the dimensions of the bed or buy a few yards of outdoor/patio furniture fabric and use iron-on adhesive to attach it to the underside and wrap around the edges.

Adding an extra barrier keeps dirt, accidents and odors from permeating the harder-to-wash boucle. Just unzip the cover and throw it in the wash as needed.

Refresh Stuffing with Polyfil

If your dog bed is matted and lumpy but the boucle cover is still in decent condition, you likely just need to replace the stuffing inside.

Carefully rip open a seam and remove all of the old filling. Replace it with new polyfil stuffing, available at any craft store. Re-stuff until it's slightly overfull and smooth out any lumps.

Then simply hand stitch the opening closed. Plumping up the worn-out filling makes your boucle dog bed fluffy and comfortable again.

Make a Cushion Cover

For a quick and easy makeover, slip your boucle dog bed cushion into a coordinating pillowcase or custom slipcover.

Measure the insert then sew a box-style cover a few inches larger out of cotton, canvas or even a fun shower curtain. Embellish your creation with buttons, woven trim or your pup's name.

You can easily change the look again by switching out the cushion cover. It also helps contain loose filling and damage.

Choose the Best Boucle Dog Bed Makeover for Your Pup

With a little DIY spirit, you can give your worn boucle dog bed a new look for a fraction of replacement cost. And selecting more durable, machine washable fabrics helps them last longer with less work on your end.

Just pick the boucle couch bed hack that fits your time and skill level. Your four-legged BFF will thank you for restoring his or her favorite napping retreat to its original cozy glory.

Now it's back to doing what it does best - catching ZZZs and looking paw-sitively adorable doing it!

FAQs

How can I clean my boucle dog bed?

Fill a tub with warm water and pet-safe detergent. Submerge the bed and let soak 15-20 minutes. Gently scrub with a soft brush, then rinse clean. Air dry completely before replacing the insert.

What's the best fabric for a homemade dog bed cover?

Opt for durable, machine washable fabrics like canvas, cotton or denim. Outdoor/patio fabric also works well. Avoid fabrics that pill or fray easily.

How do I fix a lumpy boucle dog bed?

Remove the old filling through an inconspicuous seam. Replace with new polyfil stuffing, overstuffing slightly. Hand stitch the opening closed.

Can I put a pillowcase on my dog bed?

Yes, a pillowcase or tailored slipcover fits nicely over most boucle couch dog bed cushions. Great for quickly changing the look.

What size dog bed cover should I sew?

Measure the dimensions of the inner cushion, then cut your cover fabric 1-2 inches larger on all sides to allow for seams. This gives a snug fit.