🏠 Don’t Overlook These Trays From Goodwill: 10 Brilliant Ways to Reuse Them

Those inexpensive serving trays you see stacked on the bottom shelves of thrift stores may look ordinary, but they’re actually fantastic DIY and organization pieces.

Wooden, metal, plastic, wicker, and vintage trays can all be given a second life. Their raised edges already provide something that many DIY projects need: a built-in border that keeps things contained. Thrifted trays are also popular for upcycling because they’re inexpensive, sturdy, and often have interesting vintage designs. DIY Everywhere+1

Before you pass one by, here are 10 genuinely useful ways to repurpose one around your home.

1. ☕ Turn It Into a Coffee Station

One of the easiest ideas is to create a dedicated coffee or tea station.

Place your:

• Coffee maker
• Coffee beans or grounds
• Sugar
• Creamer
• Mugs
• Spoons
• Napkins

on a medium or large tray.

Instead of having all those things scattered across the countertop, everything stays together.

The best part is that when you need to clean the counter, you can simply lift the entire tray and move it.

A metal or laminate tray is especially practical here because it’s easy to wipe clean. A vintage wooden tray can work beautifully too, provided its finish is in good condition.

2. 🧽 Create a Sink-Side Cleaning Station

A tray can turn a messy area around your kitchen sink into a much more organized space.

Use it to hold:

• Dish soap
• Hand soap
• Sponge
• Scrub brush
• Small cleaning cloths
• Dishwashing accessories

A tray with a raised rim is particularly useful because it keeps everything contained and can help prevent small puddles from spreading across the countertop.

For a wooden tray, protect the surface from prolonged moisture with an appropriate liner or finish.

This is one of those ideas that looks simple but can make your kitchen feel noticeably less cluttered. DIY Everywhere

3. 💍 Make a Jewelry Organizer

Don’t throw away a beautiful shallow tray simply because it isn’t suitable for serving food anymore.

Turn it into a jewelry station.

You can add:

• Small hooks
• Felt
• Velvet
• Tiny compartments
• Small bowls
• Jewelry stands

Use the tray to organize necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watches, and rings.

For necklaces, attach several small hooks along one edge. For earrings and rings, add little dishes or divided compartments to the bottom.

You can also mount the tray vertically on a wall and turn it into a decorative jewelry organizer.

This is particularly attractive with vintage trays because the tray itself becomes part of the decoration. DIY Everywhere

4. 🌿 Turn It Into a Plant Display

A tray makes an excellent plant grouping platform.

Instead of placing several small plants individually around a room, arrange them together on one tray.

For example:

• One small fern
• A pothos
• A succulent
• A small decorative pot

The tray creates a little indoor garden display.

It also makes watering and moving the plants easier.

Important tip

Don’t assume every old tray is waterproof.

If you’re using it under plants, put the pots on waterproof saucers or a protective liner so standing water doesn’t damage a wooden finish.

And rather than drilling drainage holes into a valuable vintage tray, keep the plants in separate pots with drainage and use the tray primarily as a catchment and display surface.

5. 🧵 Create a Portable Craft Station

This is one of my favorite uses for a thrift-store tray.

Use it to hold:

• Sewing supplies
• Yarn
• Crochet hooks
• Paints
• Paintbrushes
• Beads
• Scissors
• Glue
• Small craft projects

The raised edges help keep little pieces from rolling onto the floor.

And because the entire project sits on the tray, you can move it from the kitchen table to the living room or another workspace whenever necessary.

It’s particularly useful for children because you can prepare a small craft station and put everything away by simply carrying the tray.

6. 🛋️ Make an Ottoman or Coffee-Table Tray

A large, sturdy tray can become a beautiful living-room organizer.

Place it on an ottoman or coffee table and use it for:

• Remote controls
• Books
• Candles
• Coasters
• Small plants
• Decorative objects
• Drinks

The tray creates a defined area instead of allowing everything to spread across the table.

For an ottoman, choose a tray large enough to sit securely on the surface. Adding nonslip pads underneath can help prevent sliding.

This is also a great way to turn a scratched or outdated tray into something that looks intentional and stylish. DIY Everywhere

7. 🖼️ Turn an Old Tray Into Wall Art

This is where an ugly tray can become surprisingly beautiful.

Choose a tray with an interesting shape, vintage pattern, carved edge, or unusual material.

Then:

5. 🧵 Create a Portable Craft Station

Use it to hold:

• Sewing supplies
• Yarn
• Crochet hooks
• Paints
• Paintbrushes
• Beads
• Scissors
• Glue
• Small craft projects

It’s particularly useful for children because you can prepare a small craft station and put everything away by simply carrying the tray.

6. 🛋️ Make an Ottoman or Coffee-Table Tray

Place it on an ottoman or coffee table and use it for:

1. Clean it thoroughly.
2. Repair any loose parts.
3. Paint it if desired.
4. Add a stencil, pattern, wallpaper, fabric, or artwork.
5. Attach an appropriate wall hanger.
6. Hang it as a decorative piece.

You can paint the entire tray one color for a modern appearance, or preserve its original vintage finish for a more traditional look.

A tray already has a built-in border, so it can function almost like a ready-made decorative frame. DIY Everywhere

8. 🛏️ Create a Bedside Catch-All

A small tray on a nightstand can make a huge difference.

Use it for:

• Reading glasses
• Phone
• Hand cream
• Lip balm
• Watch
• Jewelry
• Remote control
• A book

Instead of having ten little objects scattered around the nightstand, everything has a defined place.

This is particularly useful in guest bedrooms because you can put a few useful items together in one attractive arrangement.

A simple vintage tray can make the space feel surprisingly thoughtful.

9. 🛁 Organize Your Bathroom Counter

A tray can turn a collection of bathroom products into an organized display.

Try grouping together:

• Hand soap
• Lotion
• Perfume
• Cotton swabs
• Hairbrush
• Small towels
• Skincare products
• A decorative plant

For a particularly attractive setup, use a pretty vintage tray and add a small glass jar or dish for cotton balls.

The trick is not to fill the entire tray.

Leave some empty space so it looks organized rather than crowded.

10. 🍽️ Give the Tray a Complete Makeover

If you find a tray that is structurally sound but simply ugly, don’t give up on it.

A basic makeover can completely change its appearance.

For a wooden tray

You can:

• Sand the surface
• Repair scratches
• Paint it
• Stain it
• Add decorative handles
• Apply an appropriate protective finish

For a metal tray

You might:

• Clean and polish it
• Refinish it with a suitable coating
• Add decorative artwork
• Use it strictly for non-food purposes if its original coating is damaged

For a wicker tray

You can:

• Clean it carefully
• Repaint it
• Add a fabric liner
• Use it as a decorative organizer

A thrifted tray makeover doesn’t have to be complicated. Even something as simple as paint + new handles can make an inexpensive tray look completely different. Thrift-store tray makeovers using paint, stencils, and new hardware are a well-established DIY approach. Design Improvised+1

✨ Bonus Idea: Turn Two Trays Into a Tiered Organizer

If you find two trays that complement each other, you can create a two-level organizer.

Use a sturdy connector, riser, or appropriate hardware to create two tiers.

This can be useful for:

For a wooden tray

• Sand the surface
• Repair scratches
• Paint it
• Stain it
• Add decorative handles
• Apply an appropriate protective finish

For a metal tray

• Clean and polish it
• Refinish it with a suitable coating
• Add decorative artwork
• Use it strictly for non-food purposes if its original coating is damaged

For a wicker tray

• Clean it carefully
• Repaint it
• Add a fabric liner
• Use it as a decorative organizer

• Bathroom products
• Jewelry
• Cosmetics
• Craft supplies
• Kitchen spices
• Party supplies

Another variation is to combine a tray with a thrifted candlestick or similar sturdy support to create a pedestal-style display. DIYers have long used thrifted plates, trays, and candlesticks for this kind of project. DIY Inspired

🧼 Before You Bring a Thrifted Tray Into Your Home

Don’t immediately put an old thrift-store tray into your kitchen.

First inspect it.

Look for:

First inspect it.

Look for:

• Cracks
• Splinters
• Loose handles
• Rust
• Peeling coatings
• Mold
• Strong odors
• Damaged nonstick surfaces
• Warped plastic
• Structural weakness

Wash and clean it appropriately for its material.

⚠️ Be especially careful with old food-contact surfaces

If the tray has peeling paint, flaking coating, damaged plastic, heavy corrosion, or an unknown deteriorating finish, don’t use it for serving food.

Instead, give it a non-food purpose, such as wall decoration, craft storage, bathroom organization, or a catch-all.

Damaged old cookware and food-contact items can be inappropriate for continued food use, so repurposing them for decorative or organizational purposes can be the safer option. Simply Recipes

💰 Why Thrift-Store Trays Are Such Good DIY Finds

The beauty of these trays isn’t necessarily that they’re valuable antiques.

It’s that they’re already-shaped, finished objects.

Someone has already done much of the difficult work:

• Building the base
• Creating the raised edges
• Adding handles
• Designing the proportions
• Making the object sturdy enough for everyday use

You’re essentially buying a ready-made DIY foundation.

And because thrift-store inventory changes constantly, you can find everything from simple wooden trays to unusual vintage designs. Thrifting experts also recommend looking beyond the obvious sections because overlooked kitchenware and vintage household pieces can have considerable decorative potential. Real Simple

🌟 The Bottom Line

The next time you see a stack of inexpensive trays at Goodwill or another thrift store, don’t automatically walk past them.

A single tray can become a:

Damaged old cookware and food-contact items can be inappropriate for continued food use, so repurposing them for decorative or organizational purposes can be the safer option.

💰 Why Thrift-Store Trays Are Such Good DIY Finds

1. ☕ Coffee station
2. 🧽 Sink organizer
3. 💍 Jewelry holder
4. 🌿 Plant display
5. 🧵 Craft station
6. 🛋️ Ottoman tray
7. 🖼️ Wall decoration
8. 🛏️ Bedside organizer
9. 🛁 Bathroom organizer
10. 🎨 Completely redesigned serving tray

The best part is that you don’t need expensive materials or advanced DIY skills. Clean it, inspect it, decide what problem you want it to solve, and then give the old tray a new job.

Sometimes the most useful thrift-store finds are the things everyone else walks right past.