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Indoor Dog House Table

Transform a side table into a boxed enclosure for your dog, making it a multi-functional piece of furniture. On the frontside, a "doggy door" is cut open to allow your pup to come and go as he pleases.

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DIY dog house with fur rug inside

Photography: Kara Whitten

Source: Martha Stewart

Introduction

This idea comes from our friend Kara Whitten of ;A Kailo Chic Life. In this project, we recommend three different hand tools: a jig saw, a miter saw, and a circular saw (or Dremel saw max). The saws all have different uses. "The saw max, which is basically a small circular saw, is good for cutting long boards down into geometric shapes like the rectangles for this project," Whitten explains. "The jig saw is good for cutting out shapes like circles or shapes that need to be more precise like the dog house door. And the miter saw is good for making angled cuts on trim wood."

 

For more ideas, scroll through our entire collection of pet care projects and dog crafts.

  • custom dog house with fun print

materials

  • Side table (Pictured: IKEA Lack Side Table, $9, ikea.com.)

  • Birch plywood, 4 by 8 feet and 1/4 inch thick

  • White trim wood piece, 1/2 by 1 inch (Pictured: Woodgrain Millwork Primed Finger-Jointed Lattice Moulding, 1/4" by 1 1/2", $4.54, homedepot.com.)

  • Circular saw (Pictured: Dremel Saw Max 6 Amp Variable Speed Corded Tool Kit, $89, homedepot.com.)

  • Clamps (Pictured: Anvil Spring Clamp Set, $9 for 22, homedepot.com.)

  • Measuring tape

  • Wood glue

  • Quilter's ruler

  • Pencil

  • Jig saw

  • Miter saw

  • Hammer

  • Finishing nails

  • Adhesive wallpaper (optional) (Pictured: Mary Zabaikina "Paradise" Wallpaper, $5 per ft., spoonflower.com.)

steps

  1. Measure your side table by height and width. Cut 5 square panels of plywood using the circular saw: one for each of the table's four sides and the top.

    four-leg wooden table on concrete

  2. Add dabs of wood glue to attach two side panels and top panel of the plywood to the table. For extra hold, hammer in a few finishing nails. Use clamps to hold the wood in place; let dry overnight.

    wooden slab next to table with wood glue

  3. While the panels dry, trace a door opening onto the front panel. (Tip: Using a quilter's ruler will help ensure a 45-degree angle on the dog house's roof.)

    clamp tool on wood table

  4. Cut out the traced door opening with the jig saw; then decorate with adhesive wallpaper, paint, or add-ons as desired.

    wood piece with pencil stenciled markings

  5. Cut trim wood to frame the house opening. By drawing the opening at 45-degree angles, you should be able to measure and cut the trim at 45-degree angles to match using the miter saw. (Tip: For accuracy, measure twice and cut once.) Use dabs of wood glue to attach and frame the door opening on the front panel; let dry overnight.

  6. Use wood glue and finishing nails to attach the front panel to the front of the table and the back panel to the back of the table.

  7. Optional: Paint the exposed wood or add more wall paper to all the sides of the house. I preferred the unfinished wood look paired with the floral wall paper and white trim.

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