Outdated Tray Tables Get A Rustic Chic Makeover

We have had these tray table for 16 years now, and the style doesn’t necessarily go with the rest of our current decor.  The stained finish is a reddish mahogany color that clashes with the other wood finishes in my home.  My husband and children use them almost every day, so I couldn’t just get rid of them without considerable protest.  I thought of replacing them, but they are still in really good condition.  The only problem is the color, so out came the chalk paint and a little creativity!

I used a sanding block to ruff up the entire tray table and remove the glossy finish.  Then I applied two coats of Rust-oleum Chalk Paint in the color charcoal.  Chalk paint dries really fast, so I only waited approximately twenty to thirty minutes in between coats.  After the final coat of charcoal paint had dried, I decided to paint the top a lighter color called linen white also by Rust-oleum.  

• 

• 

• 

 In our neighborhood, we have a variety of wild life, which became the inspiration for these tray tables. I began to look for monochomatic pictures of different wild life.  I found silhouettes of some of my favorite creatures at http://www.thegraphicsfairy.com   that were perfect for this project. 

The deer I scaled to fit the full size of a standard 8 1/2″ by 11″ piece of paper.  The rabbit I wanted to have more than one image, so I saved the original and duplicated it to make a mirror image. 

 I wanted to use multiple birds, so I printed each one individually, cut them down, and placed them where I wanted on the top of the tray table.

 Now, there are many ways to transfer the image.  You can use Decoupage image transfer medium, make a stencil, or use carbon copy paper just to name a few.  I decided to do a homemade version of carbon copy paper, since I didn’t have any on hand.  All you need is to print out the image.  Then on the back side of the paper, color with pencil along the boarder of the image.

• 

• 

 Next, I flipped the paper back over, so I could see the original black and white copy and traced along the edges.  I used the pencil that I colored the backside of the image with, but you could use a colored pen to make it easier to see the lines you are drawing.  You will want to make sure you use a fair amount of pressure on the pen or pencil when tracing, but not to much that you dent the wood underneath.    

After I completely traced the images, I filled them in with the same charcoal chalk paint that I used to paint the base of the tray table.  I have a pretty steady hand when it comes to painting, but it does not have to be absolutely perfect.  Since I am going for the faded weathered look, I will be sanding to distress the finish, anyways.

• 

• 

• 

When the images were completely dry, I took out my sanding block and gave a light sanding along the edges and over the entire tray top.  Then I used a dry cloth to clean off the powdery dust.  I repeated this process several times until I was satisfied with the look.  There isn’t a right or wrong amount of distressing.  It’s all about what you want.  Also, if you feel you sanded off too much, just had more paint , let it dry, and lightly sand to smooth out the texture.  I find this Rust-oleum brand chalk paint gives a very smooth texture after sanding.  

• 

• 

I repeated these steps for each of the tray tables.  After letting the chalk paint cure for twenty-four hours, I applied three thin coats of a water-based sealer to all three tray tables by Dixie Bell Paint called Gatorhide. This makes it water-resistant and easy to clean without damaging the finish.  Unlike wax sealers, you will not have to re-apply the Gatorhide in order to maintain the finish.  Also, it is completely cured in twenty-four hours.  

• 

• 

Now, my husband is happy to have his tray tables back, and I am happy that they look fabulous!  Let me know what you think about this project by leaving your comments below.