Awesome and Easy Old TV Tray Makeover with Video

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Do you have an old tv tray? With just a few items you can give your old tv tray an awesome update, and guess what, it’s easy!

Why not change an old wooden TV tray into more than just a place for food.

You can see all of the Thrifty Style Team’s posts following this tutorial.

I found this old TV tray at a garage sale for $1.  I grabbed it fast because I knew just how to up-cycle it as a gift for my brother using Dixie Belle Paint, sports stickers, & stencils!

Here is the before picture.

Awesome and Easy Old TV Tray Makeover Materials

A TV Tray

Dixie Belle Bunker Hill Blue

Dixie Belle Florida Orange

 Dixie Belle Gator Hide

Chip Brush

Awesome and Easy Old TV Tray Makeover Video

Optional stickers of your choice

Optional Stencils

Awesome and Easy Old TV Tray Makeover Instructions

Let’s get started…

You’re going to add 3 layers of Dixie Belle Paint and let it dry after each layer.  I’ll be using the Dixie Belle Bunker Hill Blue for this portion.  You will put on one coat horizontally, the second coat you’ll put on vertically, and the last coat you’ll put on horizontally again.  Let this dry completely.

Next you’ll add your optional stickers/decals.

Finally, you’ll add the optional stenciling.  You can either stencil on the team name, or personalize it by adding their name.  I will be using Dixie Belle Florida Orange for this part.

When the stenciling is dry, you will add 3 coats of  Dixie Belle Gator Hide over the stickers and stenciled name/team only.  Follow the directions that come with the gator hide and let dry completely.

Lastly, take a piece of chalk and season the rest of the tray.  To season the tray – lay a piece of chalk on it’s side and rub the whole tv tray both vertically and horizontally.  After this is done, wipe off with an eraser or paper towel.

This step allows the chalk to erase after you are done using it.  If you skip this step and use the chalk, it is likely that your writings will stay on the paint and will not remove all the way.

You can skip this step if you want as well and instead coat the entire tray with the  Dixie Belle Gator Hide. 

I made this for my brother’s birthday, I hope he likes it 🙂

Besides eating on this tray, you can play games like tic tac toe, hangman, keep score, doodle, etc.  If the tray needs to be cleaned off – use a damp rag to wipe it clean, and you will need to season the tray with chalk again.

Awesome and Easy Old TV Tray Makeover Video

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Print Pin

Easy DIY Chalkboard TV Tray

Do you want to make a DIY chalkboard? Why not change an old wooden TV tray into more than just a place for food.

Course Furniture

Keyword diy chalkboard

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 day day

Additional Time 1 day day

Total Time 2 days days 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1

Author Chas

Cost $5-10

Equipment

• None

Ingredients

• A TV Tray
• Dixie Belle Bunker Hill Blue
• Dixie Belle Florida Orange
• Dixie Belle Gator Hide
• Chip Brush
• Stickers
• Stencil

Instructions

• You’re going to add 3 layers of Dixie Belle Paint and let it dry after each layer.  I’ll be using the Dixie Belle Bunker Hill Blue for this portion.  You will put one coat on horizontal, the second coat you’ll put on vertically, and the last coat you’ll put on horizontally again.  Let this dry completely.
• Next you’ll add your optional stickers/decals.
• Finally, you’ll add the optional stenciling.  You can either stencil on the team name, or personalize it by adding their name.  I will be using Dixie Belle Florida Orange for this part.
• When the stenciling is dry, you will add 3 coats of  Dixie Belle Gator Hide over the stickers and stenciled name/team only.  Follow the directions that come with the gator hide and let dry completely.
• Lastly, take a piece of chalk and season the rest of the tray.  To season the tray – lay a piece of chalk on it’s side and rub the whole tv tray both vertically and horizontally.  After this is done, wipe off with an eraser or paper towel.

I have some other vintage tv trays that I’ve given TV Tray makeovers and you can find that tutorial at Upcycled TV Trays – I Had No Idea on the Family Fun They’d Become! and Personalized TV Tray Upcycle

I grew up sitting at these TV tray tables and watching our favorite shows like Dukes of Hazzard. We would treat ourselves to TV dinners while sitting in front of the TV. This was such a rite of passage in American homes and I know it all began in the 1950s.

Now I use them as side tables or end tables (especially because we don’t have a coffee table by our couch), to hold my laptop, etc and I use them in my living room, office, den, dining room, family room, bedroom, and where ever I need a tv table or tray top for something. It’s become an essential furniture item in our home. My kids use them still while watching Netflix movies, as do our guests. I use these during Halloween time for decorating and serving my hot apple cider bar.

If you’re looking for the kind of tray that fits on sofa arms, you can check out my post Sofa Arm Tray Useful and Fun DIY

If you’re wondering where to find these inexpensive folding-tray tables you can look at the store as they still sell them, but I’ve also picked them up at a garage sale, or flea markets. This one was from a yard sale and I love that it’s solid wood.

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