Give a Thrift Store Tray a Coastal Makeover

by Beverly Roderick at Across the Blvd

6 Materials

1 Hour

Easy

Finding items at a thrift store that just need simple makeovers to fit in with my decor is something I love to do! This tray got a coastal makeover and is both useful and pretty. Home decor accent pieces don’t have to be expensive to look great!

give a thrift store tray a coastal makeover

I love finding trays at thrift stores. They are always inexpensive and they can be altered to fit any decor. This tray was in great shape and while the the child’s motif isn’t something I need, it came home with me to await its makeover. I gave it one coat of white chalk paint to cover the design. Starting with a white base coat is something I began doing a while ago and it helps to cut down on the number of coats it takes for coverage.

I used Waverly Chalk Paint in Agave for the tray. I've used this for several coastal pieces. It's one of my favorite shades of paint for small decor pieces.

Along with the tray, I also found a couple of these decorative plaques. One says monsieur and the other one says madame. I’m assuming this was someone’s diy project for an event.

I painted the plaque using white chalk paint and and then I used a starfish stamp and teal and gold ink pads to add a coastal look.

The plaque is glued to the tray using Gorilla Glue. I didn’t use hot glue for this because sometimes it can be clumpy and I wanted to make sure the plaque set flush against the tray. I also used a small piece of medium grit sandpaper to scruff up the tray a little for a more weather worn look.

I sorted through my stash of shells to find a couple that were the right size for the sides of the tray. Most of the shells that I've found on local beaches too large, so I used two white ones from a package that I bought and had in my craft stash. These are glued in place, also using Gorilla glue.

The final step was to give the tray a coat of protective sealer. Trays like this can be versatile decor pieces. It makes a great base for flower arrangements, candles, or as a convenient spot for remotes.

It can also be used as a drink serving tray.

For more easy and budget friendly coastal decor, I'd love to have you visit Across the Blvd.

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2 comments

Kay Johnson on Feb 02, 2020

I love all things coastal and this tray is no exception. I especially like the starfish stamped plaque.

1 Reply
- Beverly Roderick at Across the Blvd on Feb 04, 2020
  
  Thank you. I love coastal decor, too.
  
  Like