I’m excited to share how I transformed a neglected wooden breakfast tray from Goodwill into a stunning piece of home decor with IOD paint inlays. With a little creativity and the magic of IOD Paint Inlays, this tray went from broken and drab to a fabulous focal point in my bedroom.

Follow along as I walk you through the steps of this upcycling project, proving that even the most unassuming thrift store finds can become beautiful treasures.

In this blog, I will show you Transforming a Thrifted Wooden Tray with IOD Paint Inlays — Also, don’t forget to bookmark this page and add it to your DIY Home Decor Ideas list!

**This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase from these links.**

Below is a list of the items you will need to recreate this project:

*Product can be purchased directly through my website [www.juliesdesignsandsigns.com]

PURCHASE PRODUCTS ON MY WEBSITE

SHOP DIY TOOLS ON AMAZON

I almost left this beautiful wooden tray at the Goodwill bins because the back was coming off, but I just couldn’t walk away! I knew I could create something special out of it, so into my cart it went.

How To Use IOD Paint Inlays: Transform a Thrifted Wooden Tray

The back was coming off due to missing screws, but this turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It allowed me to deconstruct the piece for the DIY project and then reassemble it once the transformation was complete.

Since the bottom piece of wood had water stains and damage, I knew it needed a fresh coat of paint. I decided to use the IOD Paint Inlay to breathe new life into this wooden tray!

I had been eager to use the IOD Paint Inlay – Grisaille collection. The muted tones, adorned with birds and floral patterns, perfectly align with my style.

If you’ve never used Paint Inlays before, you’ll be pleased to discover that they’re actually very easy to work with!

Since the wooden tray is larger than the 12 x 16 sheet, I laid the pieces out and used painter’s tape to attach them to one another. The pages align perfectly, just make sure not to place the tape over the painted areas on the sheets.

After assembling all the sheets together, I used scissors to trim the entire piece down to fit the size of the wooden tray.

Next, I painted two coats of Dixie Belle Chalk Paint in the color Fluff onto the wood board using a STAALMEESTER Pointed Sash Brush. It’s essential to use chalk paint when working with Paint Inlays.

Transform a Thrifted Wooden Tray - dixie belle chalk paint in fluff

Before you lay your inlay down you want to add a fresh coat of paint. So I covered the entire piece in another coat of chalk paint.

To make sure everything is wet – I use a Fusion Misting Spray Bottle to wet the entire piece.

Then, I laid the paint inlay onto the wood piece with the painted side facing down.

Once I laid the inlay down, I used my hand to smooth the paper.

Next, the paint needs to be ‘activated.’ Simply grab your fusion mister bottle and spray a coat of water over the entire piece.

Then, I used my brayer tool to smooth the paint inlay over the entire piece of wood. This tool ensures that no parts are missed.

It may create some wrinkles, but I don’t worry about them because they add to the overall effect of the design.

Before moving on to the next step, allow the paint inlay to dry completely. Take this time to do some laundry, water your plants, or make yourself some lunch—whatever you need to ensure the paint has ample time to dry.

Once my piece was dry, I used my fusion mister to wet the entire surface again.

Then, the magic happened! Starting at one corner, I slowly peeled up the backing paper of the paint inlay.

How beautiful is that?

REMEMBER: You can reuse paint inlays up to three times. Set it aside and let it dry so you can use it again on another piece!

This paint is activated by water, so it’s important not to use a liquid sealer directly on it. I recommend starting with the Dixie Belle Clear Matte Spray Wax Sealer as your first layer.

I sprayed the sealer onto the entire piece.

After the spray sealer dried, I used a Zebra Palm Pro Brush to apply 1 coat of Dixie Belle Seal – Flat Finish to the entire tray for added protection, considering this tray will likely see a lot of use.

Lastly, I waited for the sealer to dry before screwing the pieces back together.

I am absolutely in love with this Paint Inlay design—it complements my home decor perfectly!

Did you know that I sell all of the greenery and floral that you see styled in my blogs & YouTube videos? The lamplighter buds (pictured above) are super popular!

SHOP FLORAL AND GREENERY

Are you ready to create your own? Be sure to share a photo and tag me on social media [@juliesdesignsandsigns] so I can see what you create.

This blog is all about Transforming a Thrifted Wooden Tray with IOD Paint Inlays!

CLICK TO SHOP

What Is The Colors Of The Month Club?

Don’t forget to join the Colors of the Month Club to receive (4) sample Fusion Paint colors I picked that are perfect for the current season! → Click here to learn more

Like what you see? Be sure to join our mailing list for weekly DIY Ideas, thrift flips, new product alerts, video announcements, live events & more!

DISCLAIMER: This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links provided I may receive a small commission. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!