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Making storage fun: How to make and paint your own DIY dog toybox

22 May 2025

Home storage solutions don’t have to be boring, you can really make them into anything you want – like this fun DIY dog toybox painted in Resene testpots! This is a great one for the kids’ rooms, and it might even encourage them to clean up their toys. Bring them along with you to your local Resene ColorShop and they can help choose their favourite testpot colours. 

You will need: 

  • Untreated pine, 1.2m long x 23cm wide x 18mm thick 

  • Untreated pine, 1.2m long x 18cm wide x 18mm thick 

  • Untreated pine, 25cm long x 20cm wide x 10mm thick 

  • Saw 

  • Pencil 

  • Jig saw or band saw 

  • Sandpaper 

  • Lint-free cloth 

  • Wood glue 

  • Electric drill  

  • Hole filler 

  • Paintbrush 

  • Resene Quick Dry 

  • Painters tape 

  • Resene Aquaclear

Step 1: Start by cutting the 1.2m long x 23cm wide pine board in half so that you have two lengths that are 60cm long. Use a pencil to draw on a dog shape and cut this shape out using a jig saw or band saw. Do the same for the other half of the board so that you have two identical dog shapes.   

Step 2: With the 18cm wide board, cut it to length to make a bottom for the box, two vertical ends, two horizontal tops to go over the head and over the tail and a vertical partition in the middle. Use wood glue and screws to assemble the dog box together. Fill the screw holes over with hole filler and sand these smooth once dry. Sand all rough edges smooth, wipe off the sanding dust and paint the whole thing with one coat of Resene Quick Dry.  

Step 3: Begin painting your dog toybox in your chosen Resene paint colours. Fleur used Resene Volcano for the two inside compartments and Resene Laser for the head, back and legs. 

Step 4: Use painters tape to mark off the stripes on both sides of the dog and add more of your chosen paint colours. Fleur used Resene Japonica, Resene Juniper, Resene Maestro, Resene Vista Blue and Resene Stinger for her colourful stripes.  

Step 5: Cut two long ear shapes out of some 10mm thick wood. Sand the edges and wipe off the sanding dust.Prime these with Resene Quick Dry and then paint with two coats of another of your chosen shades. Fleur used Resene Rebel for her ears. Glue these in place using wood glue. Paint on the eyes and nose in colours that you like. Fleur used Resene Rice Cake and Resene Black for this.  

Top tip: For a higher sheen finish that is easier to wipe clear, paint over the whole thing with two coats of Resene Aquaclear clear waterborne urethanein a semi-gloss or gloss finish.  

Wall painted in Resene Carrara and trims in Resene Rice Cake. 

project and images Fleur Thorpe 

Published: 22 May 2025