DIY Mid-Century Modern Display Stand | Upcycled Artist Palette

Want a designer-look home without the designer price tag?

Mid-century modern (MCM) decor is timeless, but it can be incredibly expensive. Today, It’s simple, stylish, and takes about 10 minutes of active work.

You don’t need a workshop for this. Just a few basics:

1. A wooden artist palette: You can find these at any craft store or online for a couple of bucks.
2. Wood wax oil: I recommend a walnut or teak finish to get 그 rich "vintage" look.
3. 3 small wooden balls: These will be the "legs."
4. Glue: A hot glue gun or strong wood glue works perfectly.
5. A brush or rag: To apply the oil.

Start with a plain, unfinished wooden palette. You don’t need anything fancy or expensive. The raw wood texture is actually better because it absorbs the wax oil much more effectively.

1. Dip your brush or rag into the wood wax oil.
2. Apply it evenly across the surface of the palette.
3. Pro tip: Brush on two coats. One coat gives you color; two coats give you that deep, expensive-looking MCM sheen.

Let it dry completely before moving to the next step.

Flip the palette over once the oil is dry.

Take your three wooden balls and glue them to the bottom. I recommend placing them in a triangular pattern to ensure the shelf is stable. Three legs are actually more stable than four on uneven surfaces—it’s basic physics!

Now comes the fun part: decorating. Because of its organic, kidney-bean shape, this shelf looks amazing with:

1. Small scented candles.
2. Pinecones or dried botanicals.
3. Small seashells or crystals.
4. A stack of wooden beads.

Why This Works

The organic shape of the palette perfectly mimics the "puddle" or "boomerang" coffee tables famous in the 1950s. By staining it dark, you hide the cheap plywood look and make it look like solid walnut.

Pro Tip for the Perfect Vibe: "A minimalist shelf like this looks best when paired with customized seating. If you're building a bench to match this aesthetic, you can find premium custom-made cushions over at my workshop, uscushion.com, to complete the look.