Skip to Content

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover

It’s the second edition of the Thrift Store Decor Upcycle Challenge for 2017. As a quick reminder, we each take a secondhand item, and upcycle into something new and fresh for the home. You can really find so many treasures in a thrift store — and the affordable price point gives you freedom to be creative! This month, I’m showing you how to give a basic wood bowl a custom look. There are 30 bloggers participating, so you will have plenty of inspiration for your next visit to a thrift store.

The Rules:
  • Upcycle an item(s) from a thrift store, resale store, or garage sale into a new piece of decor.
  • There’s no monthly theme.
  • There’s no budget to stick to.
Meet the Hosts

Amanda | The Kolb Corner    Maureen | Red Cottage Chronicles   Kim | Made in a Day 
Dru | Polka Dot Poplars    Erlene | My Pinterventures    Colleen | Life on Kaydeross Creek
Shirley | Intelligent Domestications    Debra | Shoppe No. 5    Marie | DIY Adulation
Chelsea | The Johnsons Plus Dog    Jes | My DIY Envy    Lindsay | Crazy Organized
Molly | Just a Little Creativity    Ashley | 3 Little Greenwoods    Kimm | Reinvented    
Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay   Sue | A Purdy Little House   Sara | Twelve on Main
Claire | Pillar Box Blue     Chelc | Inside the Fox Den    Kim | Farmhouse Made
Victoria | Dazzle While Frazzled     Michelle | Our Crafty Mom     Pili | Sweet Things
Sherry | Savvy Apron    Jennifer and Vicki | 2 Bees in a Pod    Lora | Craftivity Designs
Megan | C’mon Get Crafty  Denise | My Thrifty House   Toni | Small Home Soul
Ann | Duct Tape and Denim

Make sure you follow our board on Pinterest for more upcycled decor inspiration!

[Tweet “30 Bloggers share thrift store upcycles #RepurposeIt”]


What are your favorite items to collect at a thrift store? I’m a sucker for baskets, vintage art, and decorative bowls — to name a few. This black wooden bowl was one of those finds — and it has been handy to hold crayons, puzzle pieces, and more. It doesn’t have much personality, though, and I was ready to give it a more custom look.

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

**Affiliate links are included in this post. 

Supplies: DIY Tribal Wood Bowl

Wood Bowl {similar}
Chalk Marker
Clear Coat Spray

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

Instructions: DIY Tribal Wood Bowl

Step 1: Start by giving the bowl a quick wipe-down, making sure to remove dust and residue from the surface of the bowl.

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

Step 2: Settle on the tribal, or geometric design, you want to create. I liked a mix of lines, angles, and circles. My camera broke in the middle of this project, so I don’t have in-process shots, but I’ll do my best to explain.

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

Step 3: Begin by drawing lines with a chalk marker. I love Super Chalk Markers and have used them for several projects including an Aztec Console Table and a Prayer Chalkboard. I drew lines from the base of the bowl to the top edge, each approximately 1.5″ apart. I did not measure. To me, the imperfection of a hand drawn tribal design is part of the appeal.

Step 4: After I completed each line, I drew the angles to create a “fishbone” effect on the line.

Step 5: Next, I added rows of circles between each “fishbone” line. They looked busy, so I colored them in and made solid circles.

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

Step 6: At the end of each circle row, I added either a plus sign or solid triangle.

I should note, I was really making this up as I went. There is no reason to overthink a craft project, like this tribal bowl.  Be creative!

Step 7: To highlight the shape of the bowl, I outlined the upper rim and the pedestal base.

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

Step 8: Finally, to accent the pedestal, I added alternating arrows and dots on the base.

Step 9: In order to protect the chalk lines, apply a light coat of Clear Spray onto the finished bowl.

[Tweet “How to makeover a wood bowl with a tribal style. #RepurposeIt @CraftivityD “]

DIY Tribal Wood Bowl Makeover, Thrift Store Upcycle, Update a wooden bowl with a tribal look to store keys, small toys, etc. by @CraftivityD

And now for more thrifty goodness!

Check out what my fellow upcyclers created below!


Emy

Thursday 13th of July 2017

Your bowl looks great! So cool!

Debrashoppeno5

Saturday 4th of March 2017

This is gorgegous. What a great way to update a wooden bowl.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Sunday 5th of March 2017

Thanks, Debra!

Erlene

Thursday 2nd of March 2017

Clever way to quickly transform a bowl. Love the tribal design.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Friday 3rd of March 2017

Thanks, Erlene!

Sue Purdy

Wednesday 1st of March 2017

What a cute little bowl. And so clever to preserve the chalk with the spray. Thank you for sharing.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Friday 3rd of March 2017

Thanks, Sue!

Shani | Sunshine & Munchkins

Tuesday 28th of February 2017

I love what you did with the bowl! I never would have thought to use chalk paint markers.

craftivitydesigns@gmail.com

Wednesday 1st of March 2017

Thanks, Shani!