Easy DIY TV Tray Makeover Using Paint

If you’ve ever stumbled across some plain TV tray tables at thrift stores or inherited an old TV tray that’s seen better days, you might be tempted to toss it. However, here’s a fun makeover idea that transforms those often-overlooked small folding tables into a stylish accent piece that works beautifully in any room.
This table was free; someone posted it in our community FB page, and I thought, why not! It was dirty and dusty, but I knew I could give it a fun update. Plus, it instantly took me down memory lane, when TV dinners used to be a thing, or maybe they still are? I just know I would get so excited when my parents went on a date and my mom let me pick out a TV dinner from the frozen section, Salisbury steak, anyone? LOL

Here are a few before pictures, I actually loved the hardware and had every intention of keeping it that color, but things changed along the way. It’s thrift store makeover day so make sure to see everyone’s project at the end of the post!

I already had the paint, so this project was free. I was originally going to place bamboo wall paneling on the top of the tray, but when it arrived, it wasn’t the look I was going for. Instead, I decided to use Retique it on top of the tray for a little contrast.

The funny thing is, when I pulled this out of the garage, our middle son said Oh, that’s so cool can I have it? I said Sure, if you go out and find me a new project to work on TODAY! That didn’t happen, but something tells me when he comes back home (visiting friends in Santa Cruz for the week) he might fall in love and can bring in back up to Santa Barbara for his last year of college. I’ll keep you posted.

Supplies for your TV table Makeover

Full disclosure: affiliate links are listed, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Wooden or solid wood TV tray
Black Spray Paint
Painter’s tape (optional)
A damp cloth for cleaning
TSP
Polyurethane. This is the one I use, as it does not change the color of the stain.
Sandpaper or sanding block or you can use a Liquid Sandpaper
Retique It

Step-by-Step DIY TV Tray Makeover

Clean and Prep
Start with a thorough wipe-down using a damp cloth and TSP. You can lightly sand the tray to remove any glossy finish, which will help the paint stick better. Or you can use a liquid sander. I also had to disassemble the belt that kept it together.

Paint the Base
I gave it a black base by applying two light coats of black spray paint. Apply a smooth, even first coat and let it dry completely. Follow up with a second coat to get a solid base color.

Paint the TV Tray Top
For my next step, I used Retique it to give the tray a nice contrast. I have a few very detailed tutorials on this product here and here. With Retique it, you can make any surface look like wood. I did not want to sand this whole piece down, but I knew I wanted a lighter color, so this product was perfect for this situation.

I then used the retique it gel stain over the paint. You can use whichever wood stain you would like over the liquid wood. I gave this piece 3 coats of stain.

Seal It In
Apply the topcoat to protect your new finish. This gives your tray a very durable finish, especially helpful if it’ll be used regularly for snacks or drinks.

Once the table was complete, I took a step back and was not a fan of the gold hardware, which I originally loved. It needed something a little bit more bold. I took off all of the hardware and gave it a quick coat of black spray paint. Once I screwed them back on, I knew I made the right decision. Sometimes you just have to be patient with projects when things don’t look the way that you envisioned them. And that’s perfectly ok.

In just a few hours, that old TV tray table had a whole new look.

I am going to use it in the guest room as an end table once our oldest goes back to college. For now, I will use it as a side table in the living room (great room) and the end of our sofa to set things down. Hopefully, it won’t become a junk collector filled with mail and keys.
I love that I can easily take the top right off.