14 Genius Ways To Repurpose Dollar Tree Serving Trays To Use In Your Home & Garden

Dollar Tree stores are filled with amazing inexpensive pieces that have all sorts of uses beyond their intended purpose. This includes their vast selection of dishware and serving pieces, which come in various materials from plastic and metal to solid glass. While they are excellent for serving food, they can also be repurposed into some cool Dollar Tree DIY projects that are as budget-friendly as they are easy to master. Need an outdoor bird feeder or a way to elevate décor elements in a centerpiece? Looking for an organizer for your jewelry or a chic piece of wall art? Dollar Tree serving trays come in all shapes and sizes and are ideal to use in some awesome DIY projects.

The projects are perfect for customizing to your décor, since they typically involve paint and other accents that add personality and interest to the finished product. Even better, many involve other cheap Dollar Tree elements, with many projects coming in well under $10 to create. Here are 14 ideas on how to repurpose inexpensive serving trays from the Dollar Tree to decorate around your home and in your garden.

Make a stylish tiered stand for storage or décor by stacking several serving trays from Dollar Tree together vertically. Paint the trays your desired color and glue a candle pedestal holder between each level with a strong adhesive like E-6000. Top it off with a deeper bowl or pie plate on top. Decorate your tiered stand with items like candles and plants or use it on a kitchen counter to organize spices, jars, and small bottles. It also makes a great place to stow bathroom items on a vanity counter.

Create a stylish woven decoration by applying jute twine over the surface of a round serving tray. Wrap the twine in a spiral shape radiating outward from the center and stick it down with hot glue. Use additional twine or rope to add handles to the sides. This luxe looking tray will bring a natural element and add texture to your décor. It's perfect to use as a base for a centerpiece on your table or as a tray for candles and other decorative items. These can also work as charger plates for a beautiful tablescape.

This glam mirrored table can be created from several silver rectangular serving trays and round mirrors available from Dollar Tree. Use small screws to attach two trays laterally together with dowel rods, forming the legs of the table. Create six legs overall, using a small wood block to fasten them together horizontally for increased stability. Create the top of the table by hot gluing seven mirrors to foam board, then attach the tray legs to the sides of the tabletop with screws. Besides the mirrored elements, paint all other visible pieces silver for a cohesive look.

Use a circular or rectangular tray to create a riser for all sorts of household items, from plants and décor to kitchen or bathroom essentials. For this idea, just add some small legs. You could use Dollar Tree napkin rings, but you could also use wooden beads or drawer pulls. Glue them to the bottom corners and paint the tray to match your aesthetic. This elevated tray also makes a great riser to create levels in your décor, which is genius for adding visual interest and a more streamlined look that prevents clutter. 

This small table is perfect for outdoor use, since it's made with durable Dollar Tree metal trash cans and a tray. Use glue or zip ties to fasten the wastebaskets together at their bottoms, creating a base for a large tabletop tray. Before gluing the tray to the top, add some twinkle lights or greenery inside the upper basket. You may also want to add some rocks for additional weight so that the table will not tip in high winds. Use it as a pretty lit side or accent table in your outdoor seating area.

Turn a rectangular charger tray into a stylish wall mirror by adding hanging hardware to the back (you could cut this from an old picture frame or use Command strips or other hanging hardware). Either leave the tray in its natural silver for a glam look, or paint it to add a touch of color. Use adhesive disco ball glass tiles to cover the entire flat surface of the tray, making sure to get them exactly centered. Hang it anywhere you need a mirror or want to add a reflective accent to the wall.

Large plastic serving trays can be great round canvases for art using acrylic paints. Hand draw or stencil your designs on a series of trays, then hang them staggered on the wall. They make a stunning Dollar Tree DIY that will fill empty space on a wall. You can also use floral decals or temporary tattoos for a fun graphic look or add in other mixed media materials like yarn, decoupage paper, or beads for texture and dimension. Hang them with Command strips or glue a loop of wire to the back.

Round or rectangular serving trays are also great for creating custom pieces of word art using hand lettering, transfer appliques, or stencils. Paint your sign or add other details like beads or glass tiles around the edges of the serving trays for some extra interest. Use sleek silver trays for a glam version, or add paint with a rustic finish to get a cottagecore or farmhouse look. You can also add flowers and ribbons to the top or along the perimeter of the tray to match the rest of your décor.

Want to lure more birds into your yard? Use a round serving tray as a base for an adorable hanging bird bath or feeder. Punch or drill holes on three sides and thread a chain through. Use the platter as a surface on which to place a deeper bowl or saucer surrounded by a wreath form to add color, texture, and a natural look. You can also glue some wood dowels onto the wreath to serve as perches. Fill the interior bowl with water or birdseed and hang it from a tree, arch, or porch overhang. 

Employ a round plastic serving tray as the backing for this cute decorative sconce or planter that uses a partial basket to create a spot for a candle or flowers and greenery. Decorate the center of your plate using painted accents and tissue paper decoupage that matches your other décor. To create the container, cut a small basket from Dollar Tree in half and hot glue the edges to the serving platter. Hang the platter on the wall with Command strips or a wire attached with glue, then fill the basket with whatever you desire.

To illuminate an indoor or outdoor space, create a stylish lantern out of two rectangular trays and some narrow pieces of wood. Paint each tray your desired color, then turn one upside down to serve as the base. Attach the wooden pieces to the bottom of the tray with hot glue in the corners, then place the second tray over the four wood pieces with more glue. The lantern handle is made from wooden game pieces and a D-ring, which attaches to the top of the lantern. Fill the lantern with candles, greenery, and other décor items.

Serving trays from Dollar Tree in all sizes are great for turning into adorable mini-chalkboards. Just tape off the middle and paint the frame, then use chalkboard paint over the interior of the tray. Use this to create a memo board in your home or as a cute accent for party menus, garden reminders, and seasonal décor. Add other decorative accents like novelty figures, florals, and greenery around the edges to create distinctive pieces. Hang the boards on a wall or use a small easel to hold them up.

A great alternative use for deviled egg trays is as an organizer for jewelry or other small items. You can paint it gold to make a luxe jewelry organizer for your space or choose a color to match your décor. Add additional functionality by gluing a glass bottle or tumbler to the center as a place to hang bracelets and watches. Fill the bottom with earrings, rings, hair clips, and brooches. Other great uses for these trays include sorting beads or buttons in your craft room or storing things like paper clips and thumbtacks in your desk.

By gluing a clear glass or plastic serving tray atop a clear glass taper candle holder, you'll instantly create an easy and luxe glass pedestal plate. This is a great platform for baked goods at your next party or an elevated centerpiece if you add flowers and greenery on top. Use a deeper bowl or tray with pronounced sides to create a decorative bowl or planter to add levels to your décor on mantels, shelves, or coffee tables. Fill it with fruit, pinecones, or other objects that add color and texture to your tableau.