Crafting For The Home

DIY TV Tray Table Makeover: Colorado Flag

Have you ever thought about painting your tv tray tables? No kidding…these are one of the most talked about pieces in our entire house, and I have painted a lot of pieces in our house.  Everyone comments on them and wants to know where I bought them. 

LOOKING FOR THE TEXAS FLAG MAKEOVER? Click here to be redirected.

To provide a bit of a back story on where this idea came from, I love to play with DIY furniture upcycling! When I have a storage need in my home, I love to buy old, heavy-duty real wood furniture second-hand and paint/distress it to give it lots of character.  Sometimes I’ll rip drawers out, build new shelves, find a different use for the piece than it was intended for… you get the idea.  Those real wood pieces last forever, can be very functional, and add tons of character!  But, even with all my furniture upcycling excitement, I just couldn’t seem to get rid of my eye-sore tv tray tables because they are so ridiculously functional and easy to move around and we literally use them daily.  So, I had to come up with a solution and this idea was born.

They are so insanely easy to paint and I literally cannot wait to share with you the step-by-step process, so let’s jump right in….

Below are some of my favorite beginner tips for this project:

I only use chalk paint!  Why?  Because it’s so incredibly forgiving.  Don’t like a spot? Sand it, wipe it, start over… whatever… chalk paint is insanely forgiving! … and soooo easy to distress!

I distress everything!  Why?  Because then your mistakes aren’t mistakes because nobody can tell the difference.  Seriously!  If I tried to do a non-distressed project, I would die of perfectionism anxiety.  I would never finish a single project.  Instead, I distress and figure that at the end of the day, most people won’t know if that ooopsie was an accident or on purpose.

Let’s talk paint brands… Guys, I literally use whatever chalk paint that I have on-hand.  I only share the brands and colors below in case you are interested.  If you don’t have any on-hand, I recommend that you drive to your local Wal-Mart, peruse the craft section, and buy some Waverly Chalk Paint in whatever size you need.  It will be your cheapest route and you don’t need much for this project!

Let’s talk tv trays…. I picked up a set of four at a yard sale for $15!  Have you ever priced these things new?  It’s insane how much they cost.  Unless you have some urgent need to start this project right away, I HIGHLY recommend that you shop Marketplace, garage sales, etc to find some tray tables second-hand!  The wait is well worth the $$ saved!!

COLORADO flag instructions below. If you are looking for instructions on the TEXAS flag tv tray tables, CLICK HERE.

Materials for Colorado Flag TV Tray Table

Colorado Flag Instructions:

Step #1:  Give your tray tables a little sand.  You can do this with a ¼ sheet sander, sanding block, or even just a sheet of sanding paper.  You don’t need to do any major grinding down, just enough to scuff up the surface and raise the hairs.

Step #2:  Paint your tables with a coat of black chalk paint.  I only paint the actual tray on mine – not the legs. I have listed above, in my materials list, the color and brand that I keep on hand, but any black chalk paint will do. Why do I add a coat of black paint first?  Because when I distress, I prefer to see a dark color under my paint than the light color of the tables original finish.  Make sure that the black paint is completely dry before moving on to the next step.

Step #3:  Prep the blue stripes of the flag for painting.  For the Colorado flag, the two blue stripes, representing the state’s clear blue skies, and the white stripe that runs down the middle, are all equal in size.  Measure the height of your tray tables and divide by three. (Tip: If you can’t get the three stripes divided easily into equal parts, just make your middle (white) stripe the larger one. It will be less obvious than having one of the blue stripes larger. Measure in from the top and bottom in order to get the blue stripes equal.) Using a pencil or a ball-point pen, make small marks where your painter’s tape will need to go in order to paint the top and bottom stripes blue.  Be sure to mark at least 2-3 reference points per stripe so that when you lay your tape, your line is straight. Once you’ve made the marks, line your tape up on the marks and secure.  Take an extra moment and make sure your tape is secured well to prevent leaks.

Step #4:  Paint the blue on your flag.  You’ll want to be more picky about the shade of blue that you use for this part. If you would like to know what shade/brand was used in the photos, scroll up to the materials list above. Keep in mind, you do not need a heavy coat of paint.  In fact, it helps with distressing and with preventing leaks if you do a light coat, repeating the process once it’s dry, if necessary.  When the paint is dry, slowly remove your painter’s tape.  (Tip: Do not pull painter’s tape straight up when removing.  Instead, gently pull it at an angle, as pictured below.)

Step #5:  Prep the white stripe of the flag for painting.  (You’ll want to make sure that the blue sections are completely dry before proceeding.)  For the Colorado flag, the white stripe, representing the snow on the mountains, goes right down the middle, between the two blue stripes.  No need to make marks.. just use the existing blue meets black lines to line up your painter’s tape. Most any white chalk paint would work, but if you would like to know what shade/brand was used in the photos, scroll up to the materials list above. Again, don’t do a heavy layer, but rather, a light layer that can be repeated if necessary.  Allow to dry and then remove painter’s tape.

Step #6:  You must be getting excited now because I’m sure you can see it coming together.  A lot of people choose NOT to distress at this point…and that’s okay…I like to distress because I’m a fan of the style and because it creates a very forgiving look.  If you want to distress, this is your step.  I pick up a sanding block, somewhere around 100 grit, and just give it a light sand around the sides and edges first.  Hit those edges where the side meets the top a little harder to give a more distressed look. Then you’ll be ready to move on to distressing the top…BUT, I have several tips here that I would like to encourage you to read before you distress the top of your tv tray table:

1 – My local hardware store always has sanding blocks at the register discounted to $1 because they weren’t made 100% correctly.  Want to save some extra $? It never hurts to ask.

2 – Don’t cross colors when sanding.  I would always encourage you to use a different side of the sanding block for each color.  Sometimes the dust from one color sticks to another color if you don’t. 

3 – Blow your chalk paint dust as you go. Keep it off your surface so that you don’t accidently grind it into another color. 

4 – See picture below.  Always run your sanding block lengthways.  Do not run it from top to bottom.  Run it from end to end (right to left, left to right) on the table.

5 – Remember…the point of distressing is to create imperfections.  That’s the point.  Enjoy the shabbiness and embrace the imperfect!  It’s fun…I promise!

6 – When you are satisfied, blow as much dust as you can off of the top and then grab a dry paper towel and gently sweep it over the sections to remove any extra dust.  Again, do not cross-contaminate colors.  Use a different section of the dry towel for each color.

Step 7:  It’s time to add the “C” to the complete the Colorado Flag! The red “C” represents the state’s red soil and the gold circle inside represents the “abundant sunshine!”

 (Tip: Before you apply your stencil, take a moment to determine how your tables will hang when collapsed.  Most tray tables open on one side and rest on the other.  Although it will not affect the appearance when upright, when collapsed, the flag may hang upside down.) 

I own a Cricut vinyl cutter and I used it to cut a Colorado “C” stencil. If you go this route, measure out your space and make sure that you cut a stencil that will fit well inside the blue section of your flag. For my measurements, I ended up with a “C” that measured 10″ in height. When you’re ready to apply the stencil, just measure top to bottom to get a good even spacing above and below your stencil. Then decide if you want it closer to the left side of the tray or in the middle. Once you’re ready, apply your stencil. (*See additional “Vinyl Stencil Note” below, with photo, if you are using a vinyl cutter.)

If you don’t have a vinyl cutter, or a friend with one, no biggie! Figure out what size you need, drop it into Microsoft Word, and print it out on cardstock paper or something a bit heavier than standard copy paper. Simply cut the “C” out and use the paper as a stencil. The key with cardstock stencil is to use as little paint on your brush as possible and brush from the edge of the stencil in, not from the middle out. That will reduce bleeds. Unfortunately, this option is a bit trickier because you are limited to the size of paper that you have on hand and that may be a bit smaller than what you need for your tables, so it may require cutting the stencil on two pages and taping them together. Work carefully to not get bleeds if you go this route.

Neither of these options work? Use painter’s tape and carefully build a “C”! Once you paint it, and remove the painter’s tape, you can go back and smooth out the edges. You can make this work… I promise!

Painting Tip: The idea on this step is to paint the “C” and make it look distressed without needing to actually distress it. Why? Distressing red chalk paint is notoriously risky. No matter how careful I am, I sometimes get red chalk paint dust in my white paint and it’s a pain to get off, if possible at all. Or, your red may turn a pink tone when distressed. So, I highly recommend that you try to make it appear distressed without actually needing to be distressed.

This look can be achieved by putting only a very small amount of paint on the tip of your paintbrush and then dabbing it on another surface until the paintbrush is almost dry. Use what little bit of paint is left on the brush to create a very light coat of red paint where the stencil is placed. By using a very light coat of paint and soft brushstrokes, you can achieve a distressed look without it requiring any further steps.

Vinyl Stencil Note: Sometimes, when you remove the vinyl (or sticker) you may be able to see where the vinyl stencil had been because it removes a bit of the chalk paint. For that reason, if I’m using a vinyl stencil, I take some of my leftover vinyl and simply run it all over the rest of the tray (as pictured below), press and allow to sit for a minute or two, and remove. It should even out the look. If not, just grab your sanding block or sandpaper and give it a little rub until it evens out.

Step #8: Time to add that sunshine! Grab your sponge foam brush and get busy! I use a sponge foam brush because it has a nice edge for where the red meets the yellow. Again, you’ll want to be a bit picky with what yellow you use. If you are interested in what shade/brand was used in the pictures, I have listed it in the materials list above. Try to do a light coat so that the paint takes on a bit of distressed look without needing any further distressing. Don’t overstress about imperfections. We can always give them a little love, aka sanding, later, to minimize them, or just re-coat the area.

Step #9: We’re almost done! Now’s the time to take a moment and check out your flag for any imperfections that you wish to correct! That’s the wonderful thing about chalk paint…it’s very forgiving. Dab some extra paint on, sand some paint off, whatever you need to do! This is your chance to review and correct!

Step #10: Apply 3-4 coats of clear coat to your flag. I usually use a paintbrush when I apply clear coat, BUT I’ve learned the hard way that red chalk paint does not always cooperate. I’ve had too many tears shed over finished projects that were ruined during the “sealing” process by red chalk paint that ran. So, I HIGHLY recommend that you use a spray paint clear coat on this project! If you want to know what clear protectant I grabbed, I’ve included it in the materials list above. Keep in mind, if you plan to use your tv tray tables daily, you’ll want plenty of coats of protection. We tend to spill drinks and food on ours and clean-up is as easy as a quick wipe off, with soap and water, if necessary, because I apply a minimum of 4 coats of clear coat to my tables. Make sure and hit the edges of the tray, as well. As always, make sure you use a well-ventilated area when using a spray paint clear coat and follow the directions on the can, including the safety recommendations!

There you have it! I hope you enjoyed our tutorial and please feel free to share your comments below! Happy crafting, friends!

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Shannon's two most treasured roles in life are wife and mom. She's also a college instructor with an MBA in Marketing. She and her husband live in Colorado with their little "blessing." Life threw them an unexpected curve ball when they spent several years going through the agonizing pain of infertility and underwent multiple rounds of IVF before being blessed with their son. Nowadays, Shannon likes to soak up each adventure that life has to offer with her family of three and blog about her experiences as a homeschooling mom, a self professed "slap and go" thrifty crafter and decorator, and really anything that might help out a friend! Follow "raising a blessing" on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to keep up with all of her latest family antics. See you there!

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