Salvaged cupboard door = DIY serving tray
I noticed this stash of cupboard doors at my local salvage yard. The white one was the perfect size to make a serving tray. The old drawer pulls — also found at the salvage yard — made ideal handles. Their swirly shape gave me the inspiration for the pattern I painted. All it took was a little black paint. As with many of my projects, the possibilities are limitless: change the handles, add découpage or fabric, paint it a different color, or just leave it classic white. UPDATE: Next time I do this project, I’m tempted to try a Sharpie paint pen instead. It sounds like it will be faster and easier. (This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a small commission. You can read my full disclosure here.)
How to make a serving tray out of a salvaged cupboard door
SUPPLIES
cupboard door
black acrylic paint (I used Liquitex in Ivory Black) or try a Sharpie Paint Marker
black spray paint (I used Rust-Oleum semi gloss)
clear spray paint (I used Rust-Oleum lacquer)
white house paint (I used leftover paint from my antique bookshelf makeover)
4 machine screws (to fit the drawer pulls)
2 drawer pulls (large enough to fit your hand inside)
- 4 felt pads (I used ¾-inch)
sandpaper
newspaper
TOOLS
pencil and hi-polymer (white) eraser
- drill and drill bit
screwdriver
small paintbrushes
ruler
painter’s palette or paper plate (I used a palette pad)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Spray-paint your drawer pulls — top and bottom — if desired. Follow the directions on the can.
2. Draw your pattern with pencil. (Many of you talented artists could probably skip this step, grab your paintbrush, and go for it. I’m not one of you, so I had to sketch it first.)
UPDATE: You asked for the pattern, so you got it. Download it here. Just enlarge or shrink the pattern to the size you need and print it. Then place carbon paper underneath the pattern (or rub a thick layer of pencil lead over the back of the design) and trace it onto your tray.
3. Start painting over the lines. Work top to bottom, left to right (if you’re right-handed), so you don’t smear the paint. Apply thickly so you will only need one coat. Let dry for several hours. Erase any stray pencil marks when dry.
4. Using wood filler, fill the holes where the hinges attached on the back. Let dry. Sand smooth with a piece of sandpaper. Wipe off the sanding dust.
5. Touch up with a few coats of white paint.
6. Attach felt pads on the bottom at each corner.
7. Measure, mark, and drill the holes for your handles. The left ones were pre-drilled on mine, so I matched the placement on the right.
8. Screw on the handles. Optional: The paint is water resistant when it’s dry, but to add extra protection to the surface, apply a coat of clear lacquer spray paint.
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Made this project? Email your photo(s) to monica (at) craftynest (dot) com, and I'll share your version here!
Stephanie at My Creative Attempts painted this serving tray as a birthday present for her sister-in-law, Jami. It’s a huge improvement over the original tray she found at a thrift store. I love her simplified design.
Jennifer Fancher at Noting Grace found this cabinet door at a garage sale for 50 cents. She spray painted the edges black, painted over it with white, then scraped away some of the paint. She drew the design with a black marker, which is a genius idea. And instead of making it a tray, she hung it on the wall. Jennifer did such a beautiful job that we’ll overlook her grammatical mistake.
Aleka Craft sent me this photo through Facebook. She wrote, “You’ve inspired me. Thanks a lot!” I love her version, especially the decorative wood trim.
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