• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Thrift Store Makeovers » Easy Thrift Store Tray Makeover

    Easy Thrift Store Tray Makeover

    Published by Gail | Published November 9, 2022 | Updated December 5, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Thrift stores have tons of cheap trays. How about a tray makeover with spray paint and wallpaper? Lots of tips and tricks to make this an easy project. #MyRepurposedLife #upcycle #thrift #tray via @repurposedlifeThrift stores have tons of cheap trays. How about a tray makeover with spray paint and wallpaper? Lots of tips and tricks to make this an easy project. #MyRepurposedLife #upcycle #thrift #tray via @repurposedlife

    For this month's Thrift Store project, I'm sharing a fun tutorial of the easiest tray makeover ever. My friend picked up some random trays at the local vendor's market. She got three, each for $1.50. I know one of them was a metal tray, and this wooden tray I'm sharing today. Be sure to visit my friends projects, the links will be after my tutorial.

    Here is the thrift store yellow tray I got from my friend. She had offered it to me, and I had said no. However, I came across a small sheet of wallpaper that I realized would be perfect for the center on this tray makeover, so I asked her if I could have it.

    thrift store decor team

    This is our Thrift Store Day, be sure to check out all the projects below.

    I'm not sure if this was a DIY makeover, or if the tray was purchased with this pattern on it. The pattern is textured, and sort of feels like a starched doily. I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't be able to paint over the rough portion of the tray.

    How to Prep Your Tray for Painting

    A good tray makeover needs to be smooth for painting. I used the orbital sander for the majority of the surface. I used sanding sponges to get into the corners, and on the rest of the project.

    Shop My Amazon Storefront to See my Favorite Tools and Products

    The sanding sponge I used was 120 grit. The last batch of sponges I bought weren't marked, so I used a Sharpie to identify the grit.

    Gail's Tip:

    A leaf blower works great to remove every bit of sanding dust from your thrift store projects.

    Related: Clever Uses for a Leaf Blower

    Remember earlier, I said this was going to be the easiest tray makeover ever? This is why, Spray Chalk Paint. Have you ever used it? I highly recommend it. It's easy to use, covers well, and dries to a perfect finish!

    Spray the Bottom First

    I always begin painting the underside or the bottom of my project first. Why? Because if something gets scarred or nicked, I prefer it to be on the bottom of my project.

    Several LIGHT coats of paint will give you the best result.

    Handy tip from Gail:

    READ the directions on the can for recoating. Many spray paints recommend within 25 minutes or AFTER 24 HOURS!

    After painting the textured part of the tray, it was starting to grow on me. But, the whole point of this tray makeover was to use that sheet of wallpaper.

    Shiplap Wallpaper Sheet from the Dollar Store

    Yep, that's right. I got this piece of shiplap wallpaper from the Dollar Tree for $1.25.

    So easy! Peel and stick wallpaper for about a dollar! So, if you're keeping track, the tray was $1.50, $1.25 for the wallpaper. (I already had the spray paint on hand)

    Pretty Gray Tray Makeover with Wallpaper

    In this image, I haven't actually "peeled" the wallpaper. But, isn't it soooo pretty?

    Funny that I chose a small yellow urn. Can you imagine how awful that would have looked on the original tray?

    Now, let's take a look at the awesome projects from my friends . . . .

    clever thrift store projects
    • DIY White Christmas Village
    • Snow Scene Displays in Glass Containers
    • Personalized Wood Sled
    • Indian Corn Decoration for Thanksgiving
    • Easy Thrift Store Tray Makeover (you are here)
    • Vintage Wooden Bowl Christmas Candle Centerpiece
    • Fun Fall Resin Projects
    • Updated Key Holder
    • Frog Tape Wooden Mini Tree Pot
    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • DIY Tray Ideas | Easy Projects
      DIY Tray Ideas | Easy Projects
    • Diy Tray using Metal Tile
      Diy Tray using Metal Tile
    • DIY Rustic Fall Projects Including Thrift Store Ideas
      DIY Rustic Fall Projects Including Thrift Store Ideas
    • Upcycled Cabinet Door Chalkboard With Magnetic Memo Board
      Upcycled Cabinet Door Chalkboard With Magnetic Memo Board
    • Octagon Tray Navy Blue with Copper Accents
      Octagon Tray Navy Blue with Copper Accents
    • Small Wooden Trinket Keepsake Box
      Small Wooden Trinket Keepsake Box

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Maryann

      November 10, 2022 at 4:43 pm

      How smart to use peel & stick!!! I love the transformation.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:07 pm

        Thanks Maryann! I just couldn't resist taking the easy road on the tray makeover. It's like the tray and the peel and stick $$ store wallpaper were made for each other.

        gail

    2. Christy @ Our Southern Home

      November 09, 2022 at 3:36 pm

      It's amazing what a little can of spray paint can do to liven up an old piece. The wallpaper took it to the next level. Great upcycle!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:07 pm

        Christy,

        thank you! gotta love an easy spray paint project.
        gail

    3. Sue at Blu

      November 09, 2022 at 1:34 pm

      Such a practical makeover Gail! You can use a tray anywhere and the colors really are neutral. Love that wallpaper! pinned

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:08 pm

        Thanks for pinning Suzanne! I guess I need to give the tray back to my friend, eh?

        gail

    4. Kristin salazar

      November 09, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      This turned out super cute! I love the color (need to try the spray paint) and the wallpaper, it's perfect!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:09 pm

        I appreciate your comment Kristin. Spray paint projects with peel and stick? It's definitely a win/win.

        gail

    5. Terri S.

      November 09, 2022 at 9:33 am

      Thank you, Gail, because no one can ever have too many trays! They are incredibly useful in ANY room, for all types of functions. Thank you for letting me/us know about spray chalk paint, too. And the creative uses for one's leaf blower! Who knew? Bet the spider would've been blown out by that. Oh, how funky the must've been! lol. AND, I love, love using wallpaper for projects! It is under rated and I have some beautiful one's left from other houses we lived in and have saved through the years! I also buy, when a store closes or a dollar store place, I pick up small rolls-it might even be borders! I went to a K-Mart closing once -well, twice. The 2nd time, I went on the very last day and got some rally nice-looking and decent quality still in it's clear wrapping film, for a dime-one thin dime! In fact, I just now found a basket that had a roll I had bought years ago, that bubbled up from the bottom of a basket. Surprise! Make me into something else, please?? And, then, here comes Gail! 🙂 You did a big favor for me by giving me a great link t find some upright, milk glass top of two older lamps-one for me and one for my friend! She lost her husband this last year and I lost my daughter a couple of years before that. Her hubby had always looked for one for her and my daughter loved the old, heavy bottomed flor lamp that had belonged to my parents-and wow, do we have a lot of pictures with that in it! I cannot look very long at a time-grief is strange. But I want to thank you again for that help! And I have looked at one other friends site and wrote her and will look forward to seeing the others! Warm thanks, Terri

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:10 pm

        Terri,
        I was just in NH on vacation, and I saw some milk glass globes at an old country store and I thought of you right away!

        gail

    6. girlfromwva

      November 09, 2022 at 9:09 am

      really nice. i love the color choice and that dollar store shiplap!!! 🥰

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:10 pm

        win/win, right?

        I love easy thrift store makeovers!
        gail

    7. Brenda

      November 09, 2022 at 9:05 am

      I love this!!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:11 pm

        Thank you Brenda!

        gail

    8. Kathy Owen

      November 09, 2022 at 9:00 am

      The tray looks so much better now!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:12 pm

        I agree Kathy. I never could decide if it was original, or if someone had already done a DIY on it.

        gail

    9. Carlene @ Organized Clutter

      November 09, 2022 at 8:38 am

      I have to pick up some of the Dollar Store wallpaper! Very cute! Pinned.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 15, 2022 at 5:12 pm

        Awww thanks Carlene! That wallpaper was soooo easy! I need to get some more to keep on hand.

        gail

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure