We've compromised. We use a Giant-breed size crate - 4' x 2' 6" - as a playpen for him
- he has his bed in there, his water, food (to begin with, now he wants that on the floor in the kitchen) and chew toys. He is in there when we cannot supervise him, when he needs to calm down a bit and at night.
We started with it lined with newspaper, but now he is more reliable (at 5 months) we have changed this to vetbed fleece.
He loves it in there, and often choses to trot in there for a nap, even when he has the whole of the downstairs to chose from. He also hides all his 'stolen goodies' in there - socks from the laundry and pebbles from the garden are his favourite!
To be honest, if I were buying now, I would probably buy a playpen of the same size rather than the crate - especially as we also have a 'cocker sized' crate for the car and when we go away. The advantage with the big crate compared with some of the playpens I saw is that the door can be left opened or closed behind him - I couldn't find many playpens with 'gates'
Hope this gives you more ideas...
BFN