How to make a decoupage bar tray

How to transform a boring old tray into one with style using a simple and quick decoupage technique.

Table of Contents

• Supplies to make a decoupage bar tray
• How to make a random collage decoupage tray
• How to care for your decoupage project
• Learn from my mistakes
• Shopping guide

Ah, it’s a new year! Yeah, yeah, I know, New Year’s Resolutions seem to be passe or gauche or some other French word that basically means “lame” but I don’t care. There’s nothing I love better than a fresh start and a new resolution. This year, my DIY/crafting resolution is to buy less stuff and use the materials I already have on hand, as much as is possible. I’m thinking this will help me save money, have fewer things to find out how to get rid of, and maybe even stop this mindless consumerism that I seem to have gotten caught up in over the last few years (can I blame the pandemic?)

My basement, home to my den, home office and living quarters for one of my pet bunnies, needed a makeover. Ok, so I did spend some money on some macrame curtains to divide my office and James Bun’s living space from the den/family room so both areas feel more cozy but not too boxed off. Then, I bought some nice upholstery fabric and made a make-shift slip cover for the bunny destroyed “big blue couch.” I thought about replacing it, but other than several bunny holes and some stuffing sticking out, honestly it was fine. It’s about 30 years old, but it’s comfortable and it is the basement… There’s something to be said for a well loved piece of furniture that’s comfortable and a little worn. Like the Velveteen Rabbit of couches.

One issue with the slipcover, though, is that it rendered the built in table (this was a pimped out 90s style big blue couch) unusable, so I had to find a new solution.

So, using THINGS I ALREADY HAVE, I found these little trays that we use from time to time and decided to make it look a bit snazzier and turn it into a kind of fancy bar tray.

If you’ve ever tried decoupage, you know that the possibilities are basically endless. I could have covered this tray with one sheet of pretty paper for a uniform look. But I like this other technique better – it leaves plenty of room for creative happy accidents. I call this “random collage decoupage” and I’m always happy with how it turns out.

Supplies to make a decoupage bar tray

A plain tray (this is the exact one I have)

Pretty paper. I used an origami pack and a wrapping paper pack.

Mod Podge – They have both glossy and matte

A good sized flat paintbrush or foam brush

Scissors

Flower shaped paper punch (optional)

How to make a random collage decoupage tray

For this decoupage technique, I started with one large sheet of gold tissue paper and I adhered it to the white part of the tray with Mod Podge, using a paintbrush. I did this because I planned to have some of the gold show through the other paper I put down.

Then, I cut up several coordinating patterned paper into various shapes, including strips, squares, and flower shapes from a punch.

Starting with the larger pieces, I just started randomly pasting them down with Mod Podge. Then, to remove some of the hard lines of the squares and strips, I strategically put the flower shaped pieces on the edges to give it more of a flow.

Then, I realized I didn’t have much of the gold background showing, so I cut some more gold tissue paper out with the flower punch and added them all around to give it a pop of gold.

When I was happy with the pattern it made (somehow it always turns out beautiful with this technique!), I painted on a light coat of Mod Podge over the entire area and let it dry. The Mod Podge serves as both a paste to paste the paper to the tray, and also as a clear coat on the top.

Voila! I think it’s so much nicer than a boring old white tray, and I already had all of the supplies on hand!

How to care for your decoupage project

Though the Mod Podge does give it some protection, you don’t really want to get this wet. I use coasters for my drinks to protect it and just wipe it down with a damp cloth when necessary.

Learn from my mistakes

Don’t put the Mod Podge on too thick. I used a paintbrush, but I think a foam craft brush might actually work better.

Shopping guide

Here are some materials to help you make your very own decoupage bar tray:

Or if you’re not in the mood, here are some beautiful bar trays for purchase:

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