Arlington Handyman: Easy DIY Painted Serving Tray on a Budget

Loving this DIY painted serving tray! The best part is that it's SUPER inexpensive! FolkArt Coastal™ makes it easy to get a beautiful weathered look.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Plaid®. All opinions are my own.

There are a handful of items that I consider to be “design staples,” or things that work well in almost any living space. One example is a decorative serving tray. Whether you’re using it to corral clutter, serve snacks, or display your favorite books and “tchotchkes,” they come in handy and look stylish displayed on a coffee table, ottoman, or even a shelf. Sometimes they can be expensive, so today I’m sharing a project idea that anyone can do for just a few bucks. This DIY painted serving tray is a project that can be done quickly and easily on a major budget, and we all know I’m a fan of easy projects.

Inexpensive unfinished wood serving tray + FolkArt Coastal paint = so pretty! Find out exactly how to make this easy DIY painted serving tray on a budget.

Project Supplies:

FolkArt Coastal™ Paint in Seal Grey
Medium Artist’s Paintbrush
Fine Sandpaper or Sanding Block
Unfinished wooden serving tray (I got mine at Target for about $6, but you can find them at craft stores too.)

Step 1

If you’re using a pre-finished wooden tray as opposed to an unfinished one, lightly sand before beginning. Otherwise, make sure your tray is clean and dust-free.

Inexpensive unfinished wood serving tray + FolkArt Coastal paint = so pretty! Find out exactly how to make this easy DIY painted serving tray on a budget.

Step 2

Paint a thick coat of FolkArt Coastal™ paint onto the tray. I used Seal Grey, which I love! (It’s a pretty medium gray shade.)

Inexpensive unfinished wood serving tray + FolkArt Coastal paint = so pretty! Find out exactly how to make this easy DIY painted serving tray on a budget.

The thing that I love about this paint is that it is thick and adds beautiful texture so it’s easy to create that authentic “coastal” look. The more you stipple the paint on, the more texture you will see. You can even apply it with a spatula if you want even more texture. I wanted a relatively smooth finish with just a hint of texture, but you can really just play around to get the effect you like. You can layer and distress it, and it’s pre-mixed and easy to use. Plus, it’s water-based, non-toxic, indoor/outdoor, and made in the USA. It can be used on wood, terra cotta, metal, tinware, canvas, and paper mache. It comes in 10 colors in 8 oz. jars and will be available in stores soon.

Step 3

After your paint has dried, you can sand lightly if you want to smooth it out or distress the edges.

Inexpensive unfinished wood serving tray + FolkArt Coastal paint = so pretty! Find out exactly how to make this easy DIY painted serving tray on a budget.

No need to seal this paint! (Just another reason I love it. It’s low maintenance.) It dries to a permanent textured finish that looks naturally weathered.

Allow 72 hours for the paint to cure completely, and then style and enjoy!

Inexpensive unfinished wood serving tray + FolkArt Coastal paint = so pretty! Find out exactly how to make this easy DIY painted serving tray on a budget.