Designer Dog Beds and Luxury Cat Beds: How to Choose the Right Size

Quick answer: The best designer dog bed or luxury cat bed is the one that fits how your pet sleeps and sits as well in your room as the rest of your furniture. Measure your pet lying down, compare that with the bed's inside sleeping area, and choose the shape to match their habits: an open sofa or daybed for dogs who stretch out, a curved bed for curlers, and a house or cave for pets who like to hide away.

Key takeaways

• Size by the inside sleeping area, not the outside measurements.
• Stretchers need length; curlers are happy in a rounder, smaller bed.
• Enclosed houses and caves suit cats and small dogs who like a den.
• Low, open platforms are easiest for puppies and older pets to step onto.
• A piece that doubles as furniture, such as a pet house that works as a side table, can stay in the living room instead of the corner.

What makes a dog bed or cat bed "designer"?

A designer pet bed is made like furniture: a real frame, considered proportions and materials chosen to sit alongside your sofa, rather than a foam cushion meant to be hidden.

In a calm, Japandi-style home that means warm wood, soft neutral cushions and clean lines. Japandi blends Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian warmth, and the same ideas work for pets: fewer, better pieces that you are happy to see every day. If you are new to the style, our guide to what Japandi style is explains the look.

Our pet furniture collection follows these ideas, from low wooden pet sofas and daybeds to pet houses and cat caves, each made to order.

How do you measure your pet for a bed?

Measure your pet lying down in their usual sleeping position, from nose to the base of the tail, then add about 15 to 20 cm for comfort.

Two things are worth knowing before you measure:

• How they sleep. Watch your pet for a few nights. A dog who sprawls on their side needs the full length; a cat or small dog who curls nose to tail needs much less.
• Their weight and height. For houses and caves, also check the doorway and the height inside. Weight is a useful guide too, which is why each of our product pages lists the dog weights and cat sizes that suit it.

Then compare your measurement with the bed's inside sleeping area. Bolsters, walls and frames take up room, so a bed that looks generous from outside can be snug inside.

Which designer pet beds suit which dogs and cats?

Match the bed to your pet's size first, then to how they like to sleep.

Here is how the Nisu Home pieces compare. The inside measurements and fit guidance are the same as on each product page.

Piece	Style	Inside sleeping area	Dogs	Cats
Shiro Pet Sofa	Low pet sofa with bolsters	About 72 × 38 cm between the bolsters	Up to about 12 kg	Any size
Nemuri Pet Daybed	Low daybed with back cushion	About 70 × 44 cm of open cushion	Up to about 15 kg	Any size, room for two
Maru Pet Bed	Curved wooden bed	About 54 × 33 cm	Up to about 6 kg	Most cats up to about 6 kg
Machiya Pet House	Open house bed with roof	About 67 × 43 cm of cushion	Up to about 12 kg	Any size, room for two
Yado Pet House	Indoor house with clear door	About 60 × 55 cm	Up to about 10 kg	Any size
Koya Pet House	Wooden cabin with pitched roof	About 53 × 53 cm	Up to about 8 kg	Any size, or two smaller cats
Tomo Pet Cube	Pet house and side table	About 46 × 41 cm	Toy dogs up to about 4 kg	Most cats up to about 6 kg
Kamakura Cat Cave	Domed cat cave	About 46 × 54 cm	Toy dogs up to about 4 kg	Most cats up to about 8 kg

What is the best bed for a dog who likes to stretch out?

An open, low bed with plenty of length, such as a pet sofa or daybed, suits dogs who sleep on their side.

The Shiro Pet Sofa is 98 cm long, with soft bolsters that make a natural pillow, and suits small to medium dogs up to about 12 kg, such as a French Bulldog or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. For a slightly larger dog, the Nemuri Pet Daybed offers a 90 × 60 cm platform with a back cushion and bolster, for dogs up to about 15 kg, such as a Beagle, Cocker Spaniel or Shiba Inu. Its low platform also makes it easy for puppies and older dogs to climb onto.

What is the best bed for a dog or cat who curls up?

A rounder, more compact bed with a raised edge feels cosy and secure to a pet who sleeps curled up.

The Maru Pet Bed wraps a soft grey cushion in a smooth, curved wooden shell, with a low front for stepping in and out. It suits toy and small dogs up to about 6 kg, such as a Chihuahua or Yorkshire Terrier, and most cats. For cats in particular, the crescent-shaped Tsuki Cat Lounger is made for curling into, and suits most cats up to about 6 kg.

Is a pet house or cat cave better than an open bed?

For pets who like to hide, rest somewhere warm or keep an eye on the room from cover, an enclosed house or cave is often the better choice.

Cats especially tend to love a den. The Kamakura Cat Cave has a warm, wood-lined interior and a round side window, and fits most cats up to about 8 kg, including larger breeds such as a British Shorthair or Ragdoll. For small dogs, the Koya Pet House and Yado Pet House are calm, architectural indoor dog houses: the Koya suits dogs up to about 8 kg, and the Yado, with its wide 45 cm doorway, dogs up to about 10 kg.

Check the doorway as well as the inside. A pet who has to squeeze through the door is less likely to use the house.

Can a pet bed double as furniture?

Yes, and it is one of the best ways to keep a pet bed in the living room without it looking out of place.

The Tomo Pet Cube is a pet house with a flat top that works as a side table, so it can hold a lamp or a cup of tea beside the sofa while your cat or toy dog sleeps inside. It comes in white, natural wood or walnut to match the furniture around it.

How do you style a luxury pet bed in a Japandi room?

Treat the pet bed like any other piece of furniture: give it a calm spot, match its tones to the room, and leave space around it.

• Choose the spot your pet already likes. A sunny corner, a place near the sofa or a quiet bedroom wall works better than a spot you choose for them.
• Repeat the wood tones. Natural wood or walnut that echoes your floor, coffee table or side tables makes the bed look planned.
• Keep the palette soft. Cream, sand and soft grey cushions sit quietly in a neutral room.
• Leave space. A clear area around the bed keeps the room feeling calm and gives your pet an easy way in and out.

For more on balancing natural textures and imperfect, handmade pieces, see our guide to Japandi and wabi-sabi.

What if my pet is between sizes?

Choose the larger bed, or ask us to make one to fit.

A bed that is slightly roomy is comfortable; one that is too small rarely gets used. Because every Nisu Home pet piece is made to order, we can also make a piece to suit your pet's size. Email us with their measurements and the piece you like, and we will tell you what is possible.

Frequently asked questions

What size dog bed do I need?

Measure your dog lying down, from nose to the base of the tail, and add about 15 to 20 cm. Dogs who stretch out need that full length; dogs who curl up into a ball can use a smaller, rounder bed. Then check the inside sleeping area of the bed, not just its outside size.

Do cats prefer enclosed beds?

Many cats do. A cave or house with a doorway gives them a warm, hidden place to watch from, which is why cat caves and pet houses are so popular. Others prefer an open lounger in a sunny spot, so it is worth watching where your cat already chooses to sleep.

Are designer pet beds worth it?

If the bed lives in your living room or bedroom, a well-made piece that matches your furniture means you never have to hide it away. Look for a solid frame, the right inside size for your pet and a shape that suits how they sleep, rather than a name alone.

Can you make a pet bed to fit my dog or cat?

Yes. Nisu Home pet furniture is made to order, and we can make a piece to suit your pet's size or your own requirements. Email hello@nisuhome.com with your pet's measurements and the piece you like.

Which beds have room for two cats?

The Nemuri Pet Daybed and the Machiya Pet House both have room for two cats to share, and the Koya Pet House fits two smaller cats together.

How long does a made-to-order pet bed take?

Each piece is made to order for you, and its product page shows the delivery time. Before it ships, we send you photos and videos of the finished piece, and we only ship once you are happy with it.