DIY Plate Chargers

I love setting a beautiful table and adding plate chargers is a great way to make your table scape look pretty.

Pretty plate chargers with a non-Christmas look are very hard to find, and when you do find some pretty ones, they can be quite expensive. I set up this pretty, Spring-like plate setting using metallic serving trays that I upcycled into plate chargers.


Whenever I am thrifting, I always pick up a few metal serving trays and look for different patterns. They are usually priced anywhere from $1.00 to $4.00 each and are very easily found.


Here are the materials I used:


6 thrifted metal serving trays


"Elegance" Country Chic Paint


"Silver Bullett" Metallic Cream


Clear Wax


So here are the original 6 trays that I started with.

I applied the soft blue paint colour. After the paint dried, I sanded and distressed them lightly and sealed them with wax.

To emphasize the raised details on the platters, I applied the silver metallic cream concentrating mainly around the raised edges.

The silver metallic cream over the blue paint has a pearl-like look to it and it is very subtle. You can apply the metallic cream with a brush, but I actually used my fingers for this project as it was just easier to spot apply it on the raised details.

This is a very simple DIY project that can be completed in about 1-1/2 hours with drying time.

I love the look of the different patterns mixed together and emphasized with the Metallic Cream.

More Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas

Explore additional DIY table decoration inspiration in our Thanksgiving table decor guide.

Mary Vitullo - Orphans With Makeup
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 5 questions
  • Ksenija Ksenija on Jul 21, 2016
    Have you applied wax after you applied the silver matalic cream or before.
  • Rhonda Noreen Rhonda Noreen on Sep 08, 2017

    Where are these paints available?

  • Patricia Holt Patricia Holt on Feb 13, 2020

    I’m curious how you apply the wax to the plates and how much of it do you apply. Can you cover the entire plate?

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