There\u2019s something I absolutely love about wandering through Goodwill and other thrift stores.<\/p>\n
You never quite know what you\u2019re going to find.<\/p>\n
One day it\u2019s a vintage casserole dish. The next, it\u2019s a beautiful picture frame hiding behind a stack of dusty ones. And then there are those simple little trays that don\u2019t look like much at first glance.<\/p>\n
You know the ones I mean.<\/p>\n
They might be wooden, metal, plastic, woven, or even covered in a pattern that feels a little too dated for your kitchen.<\/p>\n
But please\u2014don\u2019t overlook them!<\/strong><\/p>\n Those inexpensive thrift-store trays can become some of the most useful pieces in your home with very little effort. A quick cleaning, a coat of paint, a little imagination, and suddenly that forgotten tray has a completely new purpose.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve rounded up 10 brilliant ways to reuse thrifted trays<\/strong>, and some of these ideas are so easy you\u2019ll probably start looking at every tray at Goodwill differently!<\/p>\n And if you love simple DIY projects, clever upcycling ideas, and budget-friendly ways to make your home more useful and beautiful, be sure to subscribe by email so you don’t miss the next one.<\/p>\n Before we get to the ideas, let’s talk about why these humble trays are such fantastic thrift-store finds.<\/p>\n They’re usually inexpensive.<\/p>\n They’re already assembled.<\/p>\n They’re easy to clean and customize.<\/p>\n And most importantly, they’re incredibly versatile.<\/p>\n A tray doesn’t have to stay a tray!<\/p>\n That’s the fun part.<\/p>\n With a little creativity, it can become wall d\u00e9cor, a storage organizer, a serving station, a bathroom accessory, or even a decorative centerpiece.<\/p>\n When you’re hunting for trays, don’t worry too much about the color or finish.<\/p>\n Instead, look at:<\/p>\n A scratched wooden tray might look sad sitting on a thrift-store shelf.<\/p>\n But give me five minutes with some sandpaper and paint, and suddenly I’m interested!<\/p>\n Here comes the fun part.<\/p>\n These projects range from practically effortless to slightly more creative, so there’s something here whether you’re a serious DIYer or someone who just wants to make an inexpensive thrift-store find useful again.<\/p>\n This might be one of my favorite ideas because it combines decoration and storage.<\/p>\n A shallow wooden tray can make an excellent wall organizer.<\/p>\n Clean the tray thoroughly, then decide what you’d like it to hold.<\/p>\n Add hooks, small knobs, clips, or little baskets to the surface.<\/p>\n Depending on the size, you could use it for:<\/p>\n Mount it near your entryway and you’ve got a convenient little drop zone.<\/p>\n And honestly, anything that gives keys a permanent home is a win in my book!<\/p>\n Don’t limit trays to the kitchen.<\/p>\n A thrifted tray can become a beautiful bathroom organizer for items that tend to wander around the counter.<\/p>\n Use it to hold:<\/p>\n A wooden tray painted white, cream, sage green, or soft blue can give a bathroom an instant farmhouse or cottage-style touch.<\/p>\n Add a small plant or rolled hand towels, and suddenly something that cost a few dollars looks surprisingly expensive.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n Coffee lovers, this one’s for you!<\/p>\n A sturdy tray can keep all your morning essentials together.<\/p>\n Use it for:<\/p>\n Coffee mugs When guests arrive, you can simply carry the whole setup to the table.<\/p>\n Make It Extra Cute You could even paint the tray with a color that coordinates with your kitchen.<\/p>\n The smell of fresh coffee, a pretty little tray, and a quiet morning?<\/p>\n Yes, please!<\/p>\n 4. Turn It Into a Bedside Organizer A tray can corral all those nighttime essentials in one place.<\/p>\n Try using one for:<\/p>\n Glasses And if you have a larger bedside table, a pretty tray can make the entire surface look more organized.<\/p>\n 5. Make a Decorative Centerpiece A beautiful thrifted tray can become the foundation for a seasonal centerpiece.<\/p>\n Try a Seasonal Display Small pumpkins Evergreen branches Small potted flowers Lemons 6. Create a Remote-Control Station Instead of letting them disappear between couch cushions, give them a home.<\/p>\n A small tray placed on the coffee table can hold all your remotes in one spot.<\/p>\n You can leave it completely natural or personalize it with paint, stain, or decorative paper.<\/p>\n Add Small Dividers Now each remote has its own little space.<\/p>\n No more \u201cWhich remote turns on the television?\u201d followed by five minutes of button pressing!<\/p>\n 7. Turn a Tray Into a Jewelry Organizer Add small hooks, drawer pulls, or little compartments to create a jewelry station.<\/p>\n You can use it for:<\/p>\n Necklaces For a vintage look, try a soft cream paint with lightly distressed edges.<\/p>\n For something more modern, go with black, white, or a rich dark green.<\/p>\n 8. Make a Craft Supply Organizer A tray can help contain the chaos.<\/p>\n Use small jars, cups, bowls, or containers inside the tray to organize:<\/p>\n Buttons You can pick up the entire tray and move your supplies wherever you’re working.<\/p>\n That’s exactly the kind of simple organization I love.<\/p>\n 9. Turn It Into a Serving Tray But give it a makeover first.<\/p>\n Sand a wooden tray, apply paint or stain, and replace old handles if necessary.<\/p>\n You can create a serving tray for:<\/p>\n Breakfast in bed Try:<\/p>\n Brass handles 10. Create a Pretty Plant Display A sturdy tray can make a wonderful base for a collection of small plants.<\/p>\n Place several little pots on the tray and arrange them by height.<\/p>\n Add a decorative object or two, and you’ve got a mini indoor garden.<\/p>\n Protect the Surface Use waterproof saucers underneath your plants and avoid letting standing water sit directly on the tray.<\/p>\n You want the plants to make the tray prettier\u2014not slowly destroy it!<\/p>\n How to Give an Old Tray a Quick Makeover Don’t walk away yet!<\/p>\n A makeover may be all it needs.<\/p>\n Step 1: Clean It Thoroughly For wooden pieces, avoid soaking them. Wipe them down and allow them to dry completely.<\/p>\n Step 2: Repair Loose Parts Tighten or repair anything loose before decorating.<\/p>\n Step 3: Sand Wooden Trays Remove dust before painting or staining.<\/p>\n Step 4: Paint or Stain Acrylic or furniture paint can work for many decorative projects, while appropriate wood finishes can enhance a wooden tray.<\/p>\n Step 5: Add the Finishing Touches Consider:<\/p>\n New handles Sometimes the little imperfections are exactly what make a thrifted piece charming.<\/p>\n Things to Check Before Buying a Thrifted Tray Before putting one in your cart, take a closer look.<\/p>\n Check for Damage Severe warping No problem!<\/p>\n A completely broken tray?<\/p>\n Probably not worth the trouble unless you’re buying it specifically for parts.<\/p>\n Think About the Intended Use If you’re uncertain about an old painted or coated tray, it’s better to use it for d\u00e9cor or organization rather than serving food directly.<\/p>\n That’s one little detail that’s easy to overlook when you’re excited about a bargain.<\/p>\n More Clever Ways to Customize Your Tray You could turn one into:<\/p>\n A candle display One little thrift-store tray can have a surprisingly long second life.<\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions How do I clean a thrift-store wooden tray? Can I paint a wooden thrift-store tray? Can I use an old thrift-store tray for food? What kind of tray is best for DIY projects? Can I use a tray as wall d\u00e9cor? General Information Final Thoughts Look beyond the scratches.<\/p>\n Look beyond the outdated color.<\/p>\n Look beyond whatever it was originally designed to do.<\/p>\n Because that little tray might become the perfect coffee station, bathroom organizer, jewelry holder, plant display, craft organizer, or serving tray with just a little imagination.<\/p>\n And that’s one of my favorite things about thrift shopping.<\/p>\n You’re not just buying something.<\/p>\n You’re finding a starting point.<\/p>\n So grab that inexpensive tray, bring it home, give it a good clean, and let your creativity take over. Anything but boring!!<\/p>\n If you try one of these ideas, I’d love to hear what you did with your thrifted tray. Leave a review or share a photo of your finished project on Pinterest so others can get inspired too!<\/p>\n And if you love clever ways to turn inexpensive finds into useful treasures, subscribe by email. There are plenty more budget-friendly ideas coming!<\/p>\n More Thrift-Store Upcycling Ideas to Try Look for other inexpensive pieces that can be transformed into something useful, including:<\/p>\n Old eyeglass cases turned into clever organizers And that is exactly what makes them so much fun!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There\u2019s something I absolutely love about wandering through Goodwill and other thrift stores. You never quite know what you\u2019re going…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2188,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2187"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2189,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2187\/revisions\/2189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/recipesecrets.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Why Thrift Store Trays Are Worth Buying<\/h2>\n
What to Look For at Goodwill<\/h3>\n
\n
10 Brilliant Ways to Reuse Thrift Store Trays<\/h2>\n
1. Turn a Tray Into a Decorative Wall Organizer<\/h2>\n
How to Do It<\/h3>\n
\n
2. Make a Pretty Bathroom Organizer<\/h2>\n
\n
3. Create a Coffee Station Tray<\/h2>\n
\nSugar
\nCreamer
\nCoffee pods
\nSpoons
\nNapkins
\nPlace everything on the tray beside your coffee maker.<\/p>\n
\nAdd a small chalkboard-style sign, a little jar for sugar packets, or a decorative mug.<\/p>\n
\nHere’s a simple solution for the collection of things that somehow ends up beside the bed.<\/p>\n
\nBooks
\nHand lotion
\nRemote controls
\nPhone chargers
\nA small alarm clock
\nReading glasses
\nA tray with handles is especially handy because you can move everything at once when it’s time to clean.<\/p>\n
\nYou don’t even need to modify the tray for this one.<\/p>\n
\nFor fall, add:<\/p>\n
\nPinecones
\nCandles
\nFaux leaves
\nFor Christmas, try:<\/p>\n
\nOrnaments
\nCandles
\nPinecones
\nFor spring:<\/p>\n
\nDecorative eggs
\nFresh greenery
\nFor summer:<\/p>\n
\nFlowers
\nSmall glass jars
\nCoastal-inspired decorations
\nThe tray keeps everything together while giving the arrangement a finished look.<\/p>\n
\nIf your living room has a mysterious pile of remotes, you’re definitely not alone.<\/p>\n
\nIf you’re feeling crafty, add small wooden dividers inside the tray.<\/p>\n
\nThis idea works especially well with shallow trays.<\/p>\n
\nBracelets
\nWatches
\nEarrings
\nRings
\nA decorative tray can even become part of your bedroom d\u00e9cor instead of something you want to hide away.<\/p>\n
\nIf you’re a crafter, you already know how quickly tiny supplies can take over.<\/p>\n
\nRibbon
\nThread
\nPaintbrushes
\nScissors
\nBeads
\nEmbroidery supplies
\nSmall tools
\nThe best part?<\/p>\n
\nOf course, sometimes the best way to reuse a tray is to let it remain a tray!<\/p>\n
\nAfternoon tea
\nSnacks
\nDrinks
\nDesserts
\nHoliday gatherings
\nA Simple Makeover Makes a Huge Difference
\nEven something as basic as changing the hardware can completely transform a thrift-store tray.<\/p>\n
\nMatte black handles
\nVintage-style pulls
\nRope handles
\nSuddenly, that Goodwill find looks like something from a home d\u00e9cor shop.<\/p>\n
\nHere’s one for my fellow plant lovers!<\/p>\n
\nThis is especially important with wooden trays.<\/p>\n
\nFound a tray that’s structurally great but visually questionable?<\/p>\n
\nStart with warm soapy water when appropriate for the material.<\/p>\n
\nCheck the handles, screws, joints, and bottom.<\/p>\n
\nIf the finish is rough or peeling, lightly sand the surface.<\/p>\n
\nChoose a finish that matches how you plan to use the tray.<\/p>\n
\nThis is where you can have fun!<\/p>\n
\nStencils
\nDecorative paper
\nDecoupage
\nLabels
\nVinyl designs
\nDistressed edges
\nAnd don’t feel like you have to make it perfect.<\/p>\n
\nNot every tray at Goodwill is worth rescuing.<\/p>\n
\nAvoid trays with:<\/p>\n
\nBroken structural pieces
\nDeep cracks
\nMold
\nStrong persistent odors
\nSerious rust
\nFlaking finishes that you can’t safely address
\nA few scratches?<\/p>\n
\nA tray used for food should be appropriate for food contact after cleaning and refinishing.<\/p>\n
\nOnce you start looking at trays as blank canvases, the ideas really do start multiplying.<\/p>\n
\nA breakfast tray
\nA perfume station
\nA sewing organizer
\nA desk organizer
\nA snack station
\nA seasonal d\u00e9cor board
\nA pet treat station
\nA gardening supply tray
\nA baking ingredient station
\nSee what I mean?<\/p>\n
\nAre Goodwill trays worth buying?
\nThey can be excellent inexpensive DIY pieces because they’re often sturdy, versatile, and easy to customize. Look for good structural condition rather than focusing only on the existing finish.<\/p>\n
\nWipe it with a suitable mild cleaner and avoid saturating the wood. Let it dry completely before sanding, painting, or using it.<\/p>\n
\nYes. Light sanding, cleaning, and using a suitable primer and paint can give an old wooden tray an entirely new appearance.<\/p>\n
\nThat depends on its material, condition, previous use, and finish. If you aren’t confident that the surface is appropriate for food contact, use the tray for d\u00e9cor or organization instead.<\/p>\n
\nWooden trays are especially versatile because they can often be sanded, painted, stained, drilled, and customized. Metal and plastic trays can also work for many projects.<\/p>\n
\nAbsolutely. A decorative tray can become a wall organizer, display piece, or backdrop for hooks and small storage compartments. Make sure any wall mounting hardware is appropriate for the tray’s weight and the wall surface.<\/p>\n
\nProject type: Thrift-store upcycling and home organization
\nBest thrift-store find: A sturdy tray with a solid structure
\nDifficulty: Easy to moderate, depending on the makeover
\nEstimated cost: Often inexpensive, especially when using a thrifted tray
\nBest materials: Wood, metal, sturdy plastic, or woven trays in good condition
\nCustomization options: Paint, stain, hardware, stencils, decoupage, labels, hooks, and dividers<\/p>\n
\nThe next time you’re wandering through Goodwill and spot a lonely old tray sitting on a shelf, don’t walk past it!<\/p>\n
\nIf you’re already in the mood for a Goodwill treasure hunt, don’t stop with trays!<\/p>\n
\nVintage kitchen containers turned into storage
\nPicture frames transformed into practical displays
\nWooden boxes turned into decorative storage
\nOld jars turned into countertop organizers
\nSometimes the best DIY projects start with something someone else no longer wanted.<\/p>\n