DIY Napkin Decoupage Tray: A Functional Piece of Art

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I love taking something simple and giving it a little “wow” factor with decoupage. Today, I’m excited to share a recent project that has quickly become one of my favorites: a DIY tray using napkins and a few easy steps to create something both pretty and practical.

This is one of those projects that you can customize endlessly — choose your tray shape, pick your napkins, and let your imagination guide you. Here’s how I made mine!

Step 1: Prep & Paint

Paint the base of your tray in the color of your choice. This will show through wherever the napkin doesn’t cover (like the stripe I added across the middle). If you’re using a bold napkin pattern, white paint works well to keep the colors bright.

Let the paint dry completely before moving on.

Step 2: Pick Your Tray & Napkin Design

Start with a wooden base. I used a 15" round, but you could choose square, oval, or even a thrifted tray that needs a refresh. Next, find some napkins you absolutely love — something with a print you’d be happy to see on display.

For mine, I went with a cheerful fall leafy pink design.  I decided to add a stripe through the center for extra interest.

👉 Tip: Lay your napkin on the tray first and sketch out where your design will go before you start gluing. Tape off where you will want the stripe, if desired.

Step 3: Get Your Napkin Ready

Most napkins have multiple layers — peel away the extra plys until you’re left with just the top printed layer. If you’re using a full napkin, trim it to fit your tray. If you only want part of the design (like a bouquet or scalloped edge), carefully cut that out now.

Step 4: Apply Mod Podge & Iron-On

Brush a thin coat of Mod Podge where your napkin will go, then let it dry. (Yes, dry!)

Once dry, place your napkin in position. Cover it with a piece of baking parchment, then gently iron it down using a small craft iron or Cricut mini press. The heat reactivates the Mod Podge underneath, bonding the napkin smoothly without wrinkles.

👉 Tip: Make sure you don’t use steam or water — you want a dry heat only.

Step 5: Smooth & Seal

After it cools, lightly sand the edges to remove any overhang for a clean finish. Then seal the entire surface with another coat of Mod Podge or a protective sealer like Polycrylic. This will keep your tray looking beautiful and protected from use.

Step 6: Finishing Touches

If you’d like handles, add them after sealing. Want to embellish with stencils, wood cutouts, or stripes? Do all of that before gluing anything on top so you have a smooth, sealed surface to work with. I chose to take some gold guilding wax and follow the scallopped edge to have it stand out, since there was one section of the napkin that had a brighter gold. This blended it all in.

 

Display & Enjoy!

Your finished tray can be a purely decorative piece or a functional one — use it as a centerpiece, serve drinks on it, or display it on a riser for instant charm. However you style it, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind piece that’s both Finished & Fabulous! See what I did there? These pieces can be located in our Finished & Fabulous collection...for a limited time only!