THIS FREE BUTLERS TRAY TABLE GETS A BRAND NEW LOOK USING CACTI AND SUCCULENTS!
Hi, creative #sifamily! I have a fun Tray Table Makeover for you today with some trending cacti and succulents stealing the show! This is a build your confidence project so if you’re a total beginner, this one’s for you! If you’re an old pro, you’ll appreciate the simplicity of this drastic before and after and I hope it sparks and inspires some ideas!
Here’s the tray table I started with. It was a FREE curb-shop find. It’s been sitting in my inventory for months (probably years!) and every time I looked at it, I was uninspired. Have you ever had one of those pieces… for whatever reason you don’t want to work on it???
If it wasn’t for these cute Belles and Whistle Cacti & Succulent Transfers, it would probably be sitting in my inventory for another year…lol. Here’s the new look!
I let the transfer design do all the heavy lifting and work on this one and what a difference! What do you think?
This Bombay Co. tray table can be used for a breakfast tray, tv tray, or even a plant stand! Now it has WAY more character and cuteness, don’t you think?
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST
Tray Table – SALVAGED
Paint Brushes
White Lightning (Cleaner)
Slick Stick (Bonding Primer)
Butter Cream (Chalk Mineral Paint)
Cacti & Succulents Transfer
Spray Wax (Topcoat)
TRAY TABLE MAKEOVER
Over the years I’ve found my inspiration comes from unexpected places. Some of you may or may not know I LOVE to garden! And once the gardening season starts, it’s a challenge for me to hunker down in my studio to paint furniture. Our gardening season is SO short here in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) so I’ve been planting all my vegies and trying to make the most of it. This year I’ve been doing some seed swapping with my sister’s mother-in-law Jo and some flower exchange with Andrea so it’s nice to have gardening partners.
This tray table was totally inspired by my gardening this week. As I mentioned this curb-shopped butler’s tray table has been sitting around for a few years. But when I saw this adorable succulent transfer after admiring my sister’s succulents, I knew exactly what I wanted to do!
Here’s the 411 of this makeover…
PREP
I started by taking off the legs and removing the hinges from the tray. Then I gave everything a really good cleaning with this White Lightning Cleaner.
After it was rinsed and dried, I used this Slick Stick Bonding Primer so no sanding was required.
PAINT
To get a gorgeous creamy base coat, I painted two coats of this Buttercream Chalk Mineral Paint.
CACTI & SUCCULENT TRANSFER
I left the two coats of Buttercream to dry overnight and the next day I added this adorable Cacti & Succulent Transfer.
Applying these Belles and Whistles transfers is super simple.
- Cut out the piece you want to use
- Remove the backing
- Place it where you want.
- Smooth it out.
- Rub the design on with the applicator provided.
I have a full video tutorial on How To Rub-On Transfers here.
I used a full sheet on the bottom of this tray.
And I cut out the designs I liked for the sides.
TOPCOAT
To seal and protect this tray, I used this Easy Peasy Wax in a spray bottle. This wax is perfect for beginners! I’m not sure why I don’t use this on more projects because it’s SO darn easy… spray and wipe off excess and it dries and cures REALLY fast! My friend Amy from AJ Vintage Designs has a super short tutorial on this Spray Wax here.
Here’s how it all came together.
This is such a fun design, don’t you think?!
As I’ve mentioned before, the great thing about working with transfers is they are SUPER forgiving. If you have any flaws in your furniture, they are a perfect way to hide them in an artistic way… and you don’t have to be an artist. They can also add so much character to a solid color-painted piece!
Here’s another look at this tray table makeover before and after. I hope it’s sparked some new ideas for your projects. I also hope I’ve inspired you to get out there and nurture ALL your different interests because you never know where your next source of inspiration will come from. 💕
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS TRAY TABLE MAKEOVER. FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. IT MAKES MY DAY! 🙂
Happy furniture painting friends!
Denise x
RELATED POSTS::
HOW TO REPAINT FURNITURE
TEXTURE ADDITIVE FOR PAINT
DIXIE BELLE TRANSFERS FOR FURNITURE
SPRING MEADOW PAINTED DRESSER
BLENDING AND LAYERING | SPRING CABINET
SPRING LILAC DESK MAKEOVER
PAINTED CHINA CABINET W COSMIC ROSES
FLORAL TRANSFERS FOR FURNITURE | SPRING DRESSER
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Hi Denise! I just passed one of these tables up. I am going to run by after work to see if it is still there. i doubt it. Did you paint some of the inside green? If so, which green? So cute
Thanks my friend! XOXO I just saw another one at a Value Village recently as well! No, I didn’t use any green paint. The green you see is the transfer. But if you wanted to match — it’s like a deep forest green. 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration, Denise. I always enjoy seeing your projects. I can see this would be darling on my patio. Once again, you managed to turn an out of date piece into amazing. Keep up the great work. 🙂 xo
This would be super cute on a patio! Thanks my friend and enjoy your weekend. It’s a steamer here today… I feel like I’m in Texas.🤣 XOXO
Absolutely gorgeous, Denise! The furniture transfer you used is beautiful but it’s the placement from the artist’s eye that made the difference. The way you staged it is equally stunning. Well done my friend, as always! Pinned
Aw, thanks Marie you’re super sweet my friend. Thanks for the PIN and have an amazing weekend! Hugs XOXO
Denise, I’m so glad you did something with these transfers because when I opened them I didn’t like them at all! This table is great and has given me inspiration for using these transfers. Thanks!
Cheryl and Gwen said the exact same thing. Maybe this is one of those designs that ‘looks better-in-life’… like actually on a piece of furniture with some color and structure behind it. Also, I don’t know if you or anyone else feels this way, but when working with transfers, if they are NOT FULL design sheets (but instead included a bunch of smaller cutouts to piece together) it sometimes intimidates me. It’s up to me and my creativity to piece together and create the design… which forces me to think. 😆
Hi Denise! I always pas up these tables but I won’t be passing up the next one. This is a great plant stand table. I didn’t like the succulent transfer until now. Thank you for this wonderful inspiration project.
I had the same feeling about these tray tables I guess… that’s why it took me so long work on it…lol. Happy hunting for your new “plant stand” Cheryl! 🙂
Wow! What a transformation. Love the transfer and your staging is perfect ☺️. I’m gonna have to try the spray wax. I always find the finishing process the hardest.
Thanks Gina… and you’ll love this spray wax. Super easy! 🙂
WOW!!!!!! That is absolutely gorgeous! What a HUGE transformation!!!
I absolutely love it now – so perfect for tea time!!!!! Well done, it looks amazing.
Thanks Michele! 🙂
This table turned out so stinking cute! I have had those projects for sure… The ones you wonder why you took it on in the first place LOL. So glad you kept it! And I love to garden too! I love getting my hands in the dirt. Have a fantastic week, my friend!
Exactly!!! Even while I was working on it I was like… hmmm, not so sure..lol… but I think it turned out stink’n cute as well. Thanks my friend and happy gardening! XOXO
I’m not easily drawn to transfers (a little goes a long way )
But your vision for this tray table is wonderful 🙂
You created an adorable plant stand. My daughter – who is ‘collecting’ plants these days – would absolutely love this
Thanks so much for sharing !!! I love it.
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So cute for plants, right!?! While my dad was ill I let all my house plants die 🙁 … I just felt so overwhelmed even watering them was a chore. But now they are getting VIP treatment with their own furniture makeovers. 😉 Happy plant collecting to you and your daughter. I think greenery in a home is so gorgeous and good for the air!
Well, I HAD my doubts about the cactus transfer, but you certainly changed my opinion Denise! This is such a fun, summery piece now. I LOVE it! THANKS for your inspiration!
Fun and summery…YESSSS! Thanks so much Gwen! Have a super day. XOXO
I love it! Like Meg, I am now on the lookout for a tray table! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Millie! And have fun. If you find one and do a makeover, I’d love to hear how it turns out! x
My new favorite of yours. It’s gorgeous..
Aw, thanks, Jessica…so glad you like it! 🙂
This tray is super sweet adorable! Enjoy your garden. ~ Nicki
Thanks my friend! XOXO
Looks lovely! Great job! It’s so light and lovely with the transfers. You’d just want to walk over and admire the beautiful designs. And the color is great with the buttercream! And the Slick Stick is a good thing for me to remember when looking at smooth, shiny surfaces when considering the “before” surface of a potential piece to make over.
Slick Stick has saved the day on so many of my projects… you’d love it Liz!
Absolutely adorable. I’m now on the hunt for a tray table!!!
Meg
Thanks Meg and good luck on your tray table hunt!🤗
Absolutely love this! Anything involving plants is a win in my book. The transfer is adorable and looks perfect on the table.
Thanks Jen and I’m the same… plants for the WIN!🌿😉
Hi Denise. What a beautiful makeover. This butler table was very 1970-early 1980’s to start, and now looks so cheerful and updated. Simply gorgeous.
Thanks my friend! Ya, I don’t know what it was but I couldn’t get into this 70’s-80’s vibe for this one (which is unusual for me)…lol. So glad I finally did tho!😊