DIY TV Tray Table Makeover: Texas 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 COLORADO FLAG MAKEOVER? C lick 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!!

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

Materials for Texas Flag TV Tray Table

TV Tray Table(s)
100 Grit Sanding Paper, Sanding Block or 1/4 Sheet Sandpaper (for step one)
100 Grit Sanding Block for Step #7
Paint (Personal Tip: I use whatever brand of chalk paint that I happen to have on hand, but for reference, I have provided links to the paint that I used in the photos. I do not purchase my paint from Amazon…I tend to pick it up at local hardware stores or Walmart, but I’ve provided paid links for you in case you are interested in purchasing them online.)
1-2″ Paintbrushes (Quantity depends on your preference, but 1-4 brushes. I buy cheap ones at Walmart for around $2, but it depends on what you like)
Painter’s Tape
Ruler or Measuring Tape
Pencil or Ball-Point Pen
Star Stencil (My stencil was 5″ wide)
Clear Coat Protectant (Rust-Oleum Matte Clear Ultra Cover Spray Paint)

Texas Flag Tray Table 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 section of the flag for painting. For the Texas flag, the blue section, representing loyalty, is 1/3 of the width of the flag. Measure the width of your tray tables and divide by three. (Tip: Before you tape, 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 if you paint the blue on the wrong side.) Using a pencil or a ball-point pen, make small marks where your blue tape will need to go in order to paint the left 1/3 of your flag blue. Be sure to mark at least 2-3 reference points so that 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. Keep in mind, that the tape pulling example is on a Colorado Flag, but still demonstrates the method well.)

Step #5: Prep the white section of the flag for painting. (You’ll want to make sure that the blue section is completely dry before proceeding.) For the Texas flag, the white section, representing purity, and the red section, representing bravery, are equal in height, so you’ll want to measure the height of your tray tables and divide by two. Remember, with the Texas flag, blue is on the left, white on top, and red on bottom. Again, use a pencil or ball point pen to make small marks along the line where the red should meet the white and tape it off. You’ll also need to tape off the vertical line down the blue section. I recommend that you run that tape from top to bottom and don’t remove it until both the white and the red sections are painted. 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 between white and red line.

Step #6: As long as your white and blue paint are completely dry, you are ready to proceed. In preparation for painting the red section. Again, you’ll want to be a bit picky with what shade of red chalk paint you use. If you would like to know what brand/shade was used in the photos, please reference the materials list above. (Tip: Red chalk paint is a VERY difficult color to distress. It tends to discolor other sections, EVEN WHEN I’M VERY CAREFUL, and sometimes turns pinkish, so I TRY TO PAINT MY RED WITH A DISTRESSED LOOK. I do a very light coat and allow some black to be seen through it. This greatly reduces my need to distress it further later. I cannot emphasize this enough. Red is a tough color when it comes to chalk paint and distressing. This step will make it work much better for you.) Allow to dry and then remove painter’s tape.

Step #7: 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 – Try to distress the red only a little, if any. Red is finicky when it comes to distressing. So give it a little love and leave it. And definitely don’t push it over to the white. You may not get it off.

5 – 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.

6 – 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!

7 – 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 8: It’s time to add the white star to complete the flag for the Lone Star State! According to Texas State Library and Archives Commission, “the five points of the star represent the characteristics of a good citizen, which are fortitude, loyalty, righteousness, prudence, and broadmindedness.” Find more information on the history of the star here, if interested.

I own a Cricut vinyl cutter and I used it to cut a star stencil. If you go this route, measure out your space and make sure that you cut a star that will fit well inside the blue section of your flag. For my measurements, I ended up with a star that measured 5″ wide.

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 star 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.

Neither of these options work? Use painter’s tape and carefully build a star! You can make this work…I promise!

Painting Tip: The idea on this step is to paint the star and make it look distressed without needing to actually distress it. 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 white paint where the star stencil is placed. By using a very light coat of paint and soft brushstrokes, you can achieve a distressed look (and can see the blue under the white) without it requiring any further steps.

Vinyl or Sticker Stencil Tip: 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. If that happens, don’t panic. Take some of your leftover vinyl and simply run it down the rest of the blue (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 #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. I did go with a matte finish, rather than something shiny. 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!