DIY toy guide
Upcycled Wooden Drawer Cat Bed
An old dresser drawer turned into a snug raised bed
A single orphaned drawer from a broken chest of drawers already has four sides and a solid base — everything you need for a cosy, slightly raised cat bed once you sand it, pad it and add a cushion.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 1 hour
- Cost
- £0–£15
🧺 You will need
- One clean, sturdy wooden drawer (charity shops and skips are full of them)
- A cushion, folded blanket or offcut of foam cut to fit the base
- A washable fleece or towel cover
- Sandpaper and a damp cloth
- Optional: four small furniture feet or wooden blocks, and non-toxic wood oil or paint
🔧 How to make it
- Remove any metal runners, handles or exposed screws, then sand the drawer smooth to get rid of splinters and rough edges.
- Wipe it clean and, if you wish, finish it with a little pet-safe wood oil or paint and let it dry and air out fully.
- For a raised bed, glue or screw four small feet or blocks to the underside so it sits just off a draughty floor.
- Cut a cushion or folded blanket to fit snugly in the base.
- Slip a washable fleece or towel over the padding so the whole thing can be laundered.
- Set it in a quiet, warm corner your cat already likes and add a familiar-smelling blanket to invite them in.
💡 Tips
Cats love beds with walls they can tuck against, and a drawer gives that on three or four sides. Placing it in a slightly elevated or tucked-away spot makes it feel safe. A drawer that once held the family's clothes may already carry reassuring household scents.
Safety: Make sure no old screws, staples, sharp metal runners or splinters remain, and that any paint, varnish or wood oil is non-toxic and fully cured and aired before your cat uses the bed. Check the drawer is solid and will not collapse under a jumping cat.
📝 Notes
This is one of the most satisfying upcycles going: a drawer with no chest to live in is otherwise landfill, yet it makes a sturdier, better-shaped bed than many shop-bought ones — and costs next to nothing.