One of my favorite ways to upcycle is to see an object’s potential and transform it into something new and useful. In this project, I’ll show how a vintage serving tray can be repurposed into a charming framed display for a loved one’s artwork—a simple, meaningful DIY that preserves memories and adds personality to a room.
Reimagining a Vintage Serving Tray
I bought this tray years ago thinking I would use it to serve coffee and tea to guests. In reality, it spent most of its time stacked under jars and tucked away in a kitchen corner. If you upcycle regularly, you learn to spot potential in everyday items: shapes, textures, and materials that can be refreshed. That’s how this tray caught my eye again—its vintage look and glass-covered center seemed perfect for a new purpose.
Instead of serving drinks, the tray becomes a durable, decorative frame that can proudly display kids’ drawings, a small print, or a sentimental memento. It’s a simple project that offers big impact: you keep a beloved object in use while creating a personalized piece of wall art.
- Related: DIY Photo Display for Father’s Day (idea)
How to Upcycle a Vintage Serving Tray
Start by disassembling the tray to understand its construction. Many vintage-style trays are built from chipboard with a wood laminate rather than solid wood—good news if you plan to paint, since laminate accepts paint easily after proper prep.
Once the tray is apart, remove any metal hardware such as handles or decorative escutcheons. These pieces can be repainted and reattached for contrast, or replaced with something new if you prefer a different look.
I cleaned the metal handles, primed them, and painted them black for a crisp, modern contrast against the frame. Painting small metal parts separately makes reassembly neater and ensures even coverage.
For the frame itself, I chose white paint to brighten the laminate and create a neutral border that won’t compete with the artwork. Because the underlying color was dark, I applied several thin coats of paint rather than one heavy coat—this minimizes drips and yields a smoother finish. Light sanding between coats helps the paint adhere and gives a professional look.
With the frame ready, choose what to display. For a sentimental touch, I selected a piece of children’s art that has meaning to our family: a painting made by my daughter’s older brother when he was young. Framing this keeps the memory in view and adds a personal story to her room.
- Related: Paint your own impressionist art (project idea)
To mount the artwork, trim it to fit behind the glass or mat it with a backing board for added stability. The original glass keeps the piece protected while still allowing you to swap artwork whenever you like. Secure the backing and reattach the handles once everything is in place. Use picture-hanging hardware appropriate for the combined weight of the tray and glass to ensure it hangs safely on the wall.
This project keeps treasured artwork on display, makes thoughtful use of an underused object, and adds a handcrafted accent to a child’s room or any living space. Because the artwork is easy to change, the tray-frame can evolve over time with new pieces, seasonal prints, or family photos.
Additional Tray Makeovers
If this idea inspires you, there are many other tray upcycles to explore—decoupage, seasonal wall décor, or converting a tray into a small chalkboard or mirror. Below are a couple of makeover examples that illustrate different directions you can take.
