Make a DIY shimmering dowel artwork

13 Mar 2026

Create striking above-bed art using wooden dowelling arranged in a criss-cross design. It’s a simple, budget-friendly project that adds instant texture and glamour to any bedroom.

You will need:

• Wooden dowels of varying widths (we got ours from Mitre 10)
• Handsaw
• Hammer and nails
• Resene Quickdry Undercoat
• Resene testpots. We used Resene FX Metallic Magma with matching undercoat in Toffee
• Resene testpot paintbrush
• Resene dropsheet 

Step 1: Cut wooden dowels to varying shapes using a handsaw and loosely lay out the shape and style you’d like to create.

Step 2: Using a nail and hammer, nail the dowels together at each cross point. (Note: you may have to flip the piece over to allow best access for nails to secure dowels together).

Step 3: Apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry Undercoat followed by the Resene-specified undercoat colour to go with your selected FX metallic topcoat. We used Resene Toffee. Allow to dry.

Step 4:  Apply two coats of your selected Resene FX Metallic colour – we used Resene Magma. Allow to dry between coats.

Step 5: Apply brackets to wooden art piece to allow to screw the piece to a wall. Admire your handiwork!

Top tip: When using Resene Metallic FX paints, check out the Resene Metallics special effects chart. Next to each metallic paint (in brackets) is the best undercoat colour to achieve a glistening, shimmery finish. 

Above: Wall art and vase in Resene Magma, wall and bedhead in Sugar Loaf and bedside tables in Friar Greystone. 

project Pamela McIntosh
main image Bryce Carleton

Published: 13 Mar 2026