Upcycle A Vintage Toolbox Tray Into A Stylish & Versatile Decor Piece

Finding new and creative purposes for vintage or antique pieces around your home is a great way to create eco-friendly, sustainable decor. Making your thrifted antiques suit the style of your home also doesn't have to be tricky, especially when the items are in decent condition. There are so many ways to elevate your space with upcycled elements, from reusing old prints and frames to turning secondhand baskets into storage solutions. If you've been searching for a vintage-looking tray or organizer for your countertop, skip buying big box store products and try out a DIY that will bring a unique and kitschy aesthetic to your home instead. Old tool box trays can make for great storage solutions, and you only need a few supplies to upcycle them. 

TikTok user @whimsybarn gives us a great example of how to style a vintage tool tray, cleaning it out and adding slim wood blocks to the bottom to create a storage holder complete with faux foliage for extra style. Although there are many complex ways to repurpose an old toolbox, this DIY should be fairly simple. You will need a few pieces of wood that can be cut down to fit inside the tray. You may also want to get some decorative garland or trinkets for styling the piece, and some felt plastic pads for the bottom of the metal so it doesn't scratch your surfaces. You have the option to add a fresh layer of paint, but the faded or worn finish of a vintage toolbox tray might actually add to the antique appeal of this particular upcycle.

Once you've sourced your toolbox tray, take some time to clean it off. There might be some dirt, grime, and rust that needs to be washed away. A mixture of Borax and lemon juice is a great secret weapon against rust, but you can also try to tackle the problem with soap and water. You could even use rust remover discs if other cleaning methods aren't working. Once the cleaning is done, determine if you want to paint your tray. As mentioned above, it's not necessary to paint over the original metal, especially if it's in good condition. The original surface might actually present a nice antique air without seeming too worn. If you are trying to match a particular decor style that's in the room where you will be using the tray, you can use metal-safe paint to get the color and finish you want.

When the exterior is done, you can move onto adding the wood portion of the interior. Choose a block of wood as thick or thin as you want. Then, measure the inside of your toolbox tray and cut the wood down so it matches the tray's dimensions. This will create a flat surface on the inside that ensures that the items you're keeping in your toolbox tray are visible. Cut your wood down to size, then insert the blocks into the bottom of your toolbox tray. They do not need to be glued down unless you want to secure them that way. If you prefer to keep it more simple, you don't need to do any more decorating.

If you want to elevate your tray, you could add wallpaper to the inside for a decoupage-style finish. If you prefer to actually decoupage the tray, that allows you to add a variety of patterns and colors that will help pull through similar palettes in a room. That way, when the tray only has a few items in it, its negative spaces will still have a nice decorative look. TikTok user @whimsybarn added a faux garland to one side of her toolbox to give it more natural appeal, which is also a great way to decorate those empty spaces. You could also stencil the outside to label what the tray is for, so if you prefer to use it for kitchen items or particular rooms it pairs nicely with that layout. For example, adding glasses and other kitchen items would help to organize and display items on your countertops.

Avoid too much clutter inside your toolbox tray. Putting too many items in it could create a messy storage piece that is less stylized. Secure felt or plastic pads to the bottom before adding all your items, and you'll have a creative and unexpected way to repurpose a toolbox in your home. Add your toolbox tray to a bathroom, bedroom, or entryway to act as a catch all, bringing a rustic and vintage vibe that is easy to match your themes.