DIY Gold Trimmed Painted Wooden Tray

Start with an unfinished 16" x 12" x 2" unpainted wooden tray from Target.

This tray is a great size and very sturdy. I couldn't believe its inexpensive price!

When painting a wood tray with raw wood, be sure to prime the wood before painting. This will prevent darker sections of the wood from showing through the paint.

I used KILZ 3 Premium.

After the tray was primed, I noticed gaps in the wood. To close these gaps, I used caulk. Don't skip this step for a professional end result!

Get my caulking tips and more detailed instructions on my blog post.

After the tray was primed and caulked, I painted it with BEHR ULTRA Scuff Defense in Smoky White.

Any paint can be used, I had this on-hand and it is top quality, so I used it for this project.

If you choose chalk paint, you'll want to wax or seal the paint with a top coat. I prefer General Finishes top coat.

I did two coats of paint on my tray

In preparation for adding gold trim to the tray edge and handles, tape the tray and cut out the handles using an Exacto knife.

Be sure to press down all surfaces of the Frog Tape to prevent the gold trim paint from leaking through.

See my blog post for more taping pictures and tips.

Using metallic gold craft paint and a small craft brush, paint the tray edge and the handles.

It took three coats to get the brilliant color that I desired.

Remove the Frog Tape when the paint is dry.

Decorate the tray for the season. Mine is currently decorated for fall. Don't miss seeing all of this tray's fall decor!

Other ways to enjoy this tray include:

• Corralling beauty items on a bathroom counter
• Organizing kitchen essentials on a kitchen counter
• On a desk to organize containers of pens & pencils

Kids or teens would love to paint a tray as a craft project. They could have fun painting it to reflect their personality!

A $7.49 wooden tray from Target gets a makeover with paint! After the makeover, this tray looks fabulous and is ready to be enjoyed for home decor in any season.

I would love for you to  stop by my blog for the full tutorial and to see more DIY, craft, and home decor ideas. Be sure to sign up for access to my free printable library!