Easy Fall Tray Decor with a Vintage Wood Tray Makeover

My kitchen is very bright white, which I love, but I also like to add some warm wood tones for color. I especially love using decorative trays along the backsplash to help hide the multitude of plug-ins we have in our home.

Unfortunately, the space between the countertop and upper cupboards is often too narrow for an upright cutting board with a handle. So I was really excited when I came across these two beautiful vintage wood trays.

The trays looked like they were in very good condition and wouldn’t need a lot of work, but I know from experience that old wood pieces still need a good scrub. Dust and dirt can hide down inside all that beautiful wood grain, even when the surface looks clean.

How to Make Fall Tray Decor from a Vintage Wood Tray

Supplies for the Vintage Wood Tray Makeover

Step 1: Clean the Vintage Wood Tray

The first step was to give the trays a really good wash, but I didn’t want to immerse them in water and risk warping the old wood. Instead, I filled a dish with warm soapy water and a little dish soap and gathered several clean rags.

Using a damp rag, scrub the wood really well, then check the cloth for dirt. Keep repeating the process until the rag comes back clean. You can see in the photo how much hidden dirt came out of my trays, and I actually did two more rounds of cleaning after taking that picture.

Once the cloth comes back clean, you can stop. I cleaned both the front and back of each tray, then wiped them down really well with a dry cloth.

The wood didn’t look much different once I finished, but now I knew it was actually clean and ready for the next step.

Step 2: Refresh the Old Wood

The wood was expectedly a little dry and dull from age, so I wanted to bring back some of its natural color and shine. I used Dixie Belle Big Mama’s Butta, brushing it into all that beautiful wood grain with a chippy brush.

Once the wood was well covered, I wiped away the excess with a clean, dry cotton rag. This helped revive the wood without covering up the character and patina that made the vintage trays so pretty in the first place.

Your trays are ready to use now, and if you want to leave them just as they are, you certainly can. But I had an idea to dress mine up a little for fall using painted leaves and a couple of vintage owl salt shakers I had been saving for fall decorating.

How to Decorate a Wood Tray for Fall

Step 3: Paint the Faux Fall Leaves

My faux leaves were from the dollar store, and when I placed them against the warm wood trays, the combination was orange and more orange. I really disliked the look, so I decided to tone the leaves down.

Using some cream-colored craft paint I already had on hand, I gave each leaf two coats of paint on the front and back. Then I let them dry for a couple of hours before adding them to the trays.

Step 4: Add Ribbon to the Wood Tray

I wanted the ribbon to be very secure because it would eventually hold one of my vintage owl salt and pepper shakers. I ran a long strip of double-sided tape along the back of the tray, then pressed the ribbon firmly onto it so it couldn’t shift around.

Wrap the ribbon around the front of the tray and tie it in a tight knot. Leave some ribbon tails hanging free so you have something to attach your decorations to later.

Vintage salt and pepper shakers are often quite inexpensive, especially seasonal ones like these, and you can often find them for under ten dollars. They are a fun way to add personality to budget-friendly home decor ideas without buying brand-new seasonal decorations. Of course, you could also use a small pumpkin, a Dollar Tree ornament, or another lightweight decoration, but I think the salt and pepper shakers make the trays feel much more unique. Even better if you already have a pair tucked away somewhere.

Step 5: Add the Leaves and Decorative Ribbon

Once you know the placement, secure the two extra ribbon tails to add another layer over the ribbon already wrapped around the tray. Stapling these extra pieces in place gives you a secure base for attaching the owl.

Next, attach the painted leaves using staples. Place them where you want them around the ribbon, then staple them securely in place. The staples will be hidden once the owl and remaining decorations are added.

Tie a loose decorative bow just above where you want the owl to sit. Keep it simple. It only needs to add a little extra color and texture without competing with the owl.

Step 6: Attach the Vintage Owl

Finally, cut a Velcro Command strip in half. Place one half on the back of the owl and the other half on top of the ribbon. I secured the piece on the ribbon with both staples and hot glue for extra strength.

Then attach the owl by lining up the two Velcro pieces and pressing it firmly into place.

Styling a Decorative Wood Tray for Fall

This is where you can have a little fun with the finished tray. I used one finished tray in the living room and the other in the kitchen. In the living room, I styled the tray with a small pumpkin, greenery, and a framed print.

In the kitchen, I used the tray as a warm wood backdrop against the white backsplash, adding a small canister, a folded towel, and a pumpkin in front.

The warm wood adds just enough contrast against a bright white kitchen, while the painted leaves, ribbon, and vintage owl give it a little fall personality without making the whole arrangement feel too busy.

I love how these vintage wood trays turned out. They still have all the warmth and character that made me bring them home in the first place, but the cream leaves, ribbon, and little vintage owls give them just enough fall personality. Best of all, the decorations are simple enough to change later, so the trays can keep being used long after fall is over. If you come across an old wood tray while thrifting, I hope this gives you a little inspiration for turning it into your own budget-friendly fall decor.

Love this easy fall tray decor idea? Save it to Pinterest so you can find it later. This vintage wood tray makeover is a simple way to refresh an old decorative tray with cream painted leaves, ribbon, and a vintage owl for warm, budget-friendly fall decor.

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