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DIY Painted Cutting Board

This post shares my tutorial for an easy DIY painted cutting board that can be used as a serving tray.

DIY Painted Cutting Board

Today I’m popping in with a quick and easy DIY that would make a perfect customized serving piece or hostess gift—color-dipped painted cutting board! I used the Proppmatt from Ikea, which is only $4.

We actually picked it up about a year ago…yes, a year ago! I saw it in the store and thought, “that will make an awesome craft.” And then it sat in a drawer…and moved to two different homes…and then I thought I lost it and found it in the back of a cabinet behind the recycling bin. And that leads me to today’s craft. 🙂

painted cutting board on open shelving with plants and a watering can

Supplies

And here’s how to make a DIY painted cutting board.

(Remember to wear an appropriate mask while working with paints, stains, and finishes. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand.)

Step 1: Apply painter’s tape

Use Frogtape to tape off the section you’ll be painting for the “dipped” effect. I taped off the handle area to paint since this would not need to be frequently washed and wouldn’t come into direct contact with food.

Ikea wooden cutting board
applying painter's tape to the cutting board

Step 2: Paint the dipped area

Using a small brush, paint the dipped area. While the paint is still wet, carefully peel off the tape. This helps to ensure your lines stay super crisp. If you need a second coat, reapply the tape and paint again.

painting the cutting board
painting the cutting board
removing painter's tape from the painted cutting board

For more cute projects, check out my scrap wood mini plant stand tutorial and my post about how to paint glass jars!

Step 3: Coat the entire board

Use a napkin or piece of paper to cover the unpainted part of the cutting board. Then give the painted part a generous coating of matte acrylic spray. I used water-resistant paint, but I wanted to give it an extra boost.

Once it’s dry, you’re ready to use it 😉

painted cutting board on open shelving with plants and a watering can
closeup of painted cutting board
painted cutting board on open shelving with plants and a watering can

A couple notes on washing this and putting food on it…I’m envisioning this being used as more of a serving tray than an actual functional cutting board. If you put a knife to this paint, it will scratch it.

I chose to paint the handle because it doesn’t really come into contact with food (I didn’t research whether the paint was food safe or not because I like to live in the fast lane) and you don’t really have to wash that area. So yeah, don’t cut stuff on the painted part or else you might eat some paint. Here’s your warning. Enjoy!

For more thrifty paint projects, check out my posts on painted wine bottle upcycled into a bud vase, how to paint thrifted clay pots, and how to turn a tea tin into a planter.

Share my DIY painted cutting board on Pinterest!

pinnable graphic with images of painting a cutting board and text overlay about how to do it
pinnable graphic with images of painting a cutting board and text overlay about how to do it


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