This summer, I invested in a brand-new patio setup. I really embraced the trend for using striped outdoors and covered every piece of seating in a broad red and cream stripe. It's giving European, luxury but laid-back resort, that was until I put down my dog's bed.
My dog is cold-blooded like me, so we both need our spot on the patio, and a dog bed is an almost permenant fixture in my backyard. But when I brought out her boring gray bed, it looked so out of place among the new summery sanctuary I was trying to create. So I started searching how I could bring this summer's biggest outdoor decorating trend to my dog's bed – and it didn't take long to find the perfect buy that's stylish, practical, and affordable.
I should say firstly, when it comes to pet beds I have never gone style over substance. These things see a lot of wear and tear, so they need to be practical. They also need to work for my pet, which is why I always choose large flat beds so she can get comfy when lounging outside. This bed is washable, with a waterproof base, and over 600 glowing reviews. There are also five sizes to choose from and seven equally stylish colors to pick from.
I would honestly be happy with any of the colorways this bed has to offer. I went with yellow because I just bought towels from H&M's recent collaboration with Palm Heights, which was part of the inspiration behind my patio refresh. I love the blue for more of a classic coastal feel and I think I will pick up the beige and white version for indoor use.
It would seem everyone in the recent reviews has had a similar idea that this would make for the perfect patio dog bed. One reviewer says 'Perfect for my pups! They lay on it every day, soaking up the sun on our patio.' Another says, 'These pet beds are the best, especially for outside. My dogs have been using them for many years and I won't buy any other brand for outside.'
Many also note how well the bed has held up over time, even with larger dogs and dogs that like to 'dig' their beds (if you have one of these you know how quickly beds can become balls of fluff and strings of fabric).
There are a few other dog beds I had in my cart that are equally chic and practical if stripes don't fit your patio decor ideas.
A lot of my new patio furniture and decor is from Lulu and Georgia, so if their pet beds are as stylish and good quality as their human furniture this one is a winner. I have my eye on this one for fall (yes I sometimes update my dog's bed with my seasonal decor). It comes in three sizes and the cover is removable.
This is a new launch from Ruggable in collaboration with Jonathan Adler. When we interviewed him about the collection he told us 'I was sick of going to friends’ houses and seeing their ugly pet beds' – having been the friend with an ugly pet bed I can see his point. There are a few designs in the collection, but this is the most neutral. Like their rugs, this is fully washable, so perfect if you want to use it on a patio.
A classic dog bed, with a slightly vintage feel. This one has great reviews too, and plenty of pictures of happy (large) dogs enjoying this bed. One reviewer says. 'Great for a large dog. Like that it is not overstuffed, but still comfortable. Looks great with our furniture.' And looks great with our furniture is what I want in a pet bed.
I write and read a lot about luxury interior design, so naturally, I am a dog owner who wants her stuff to look as nice as mine. Her pet bed is a design decision, as well as a practical one. The new Jonathan Adler collection got all my team talking about this, a pet bed can take up as much room as a throw pillow, a blanket, or a piece of artwork, so picking one that works with your interiors makes sense.
