Easiest Ever DIY Wooden Tray!
Use this step-by-step tutorial to make the easiest decorative tray! When you’re done, try these DIY Wooden Stars too. This post contains affiliate links.
As you may have noticed from this previous post, I have a soft spot for rustic decor. My home has naturally rustic touches and I’m in love with them.
So when I saw these unfinished planks of wood at the dollar store, I just had to find the perfect use for them – and here it is! You can use simple small planks in any size to customize the scale of your tray – just use the process tow work with what’s available.
Use this wooden tray to display smaller decorative objects, corral toiletries in your guest room or powder room, or to display items in a buffet spread (I wouldn’t put food straight on this, though, unless you use a food-grade finish).
This tray is purely decorative – I wouldn’t use it for actual serving because there’s no lip to stop things from falling off and the handles aren’t very strong – they’re mostly for show. But it can help keep your table or buffet clean by placing dishes or drinks on top of it.
While the finished product looks sophisticated and even somewhat upscale, this craft is really easy to do and can come together in minutes. You don’t need to be artistic to pull off this classy yet simple look. Crafters and helpers of any age can participate (young crafters will need your help to attach the handles with tacks.)
An advantage of the rustic style is that imperfections are part of the look – so you can relax and jump right in without worrying about your level of skill or neatness. Just as no two trees are quite the same, no two wooden trays are, either! So don’t worry if the edges of your wood pieces don’t line up just so, or if the paint came on a little blotchy. It’s all part of the vibe.
This is a perfect craft to let your personal taste shine – if you’re not into the rustic farmhouse style, you can easily dress it up any way with different colors and types of paint. Try using a stencil to add a pop of design with paint, or add a glossy or semi-gloss finish if you prefer a sheen.
I’ve given you dimensions based on the materials I used, but feel free to go smaller or larger depending on what you have available and what you plan to use the tray for. This really is a super flexible, easygoing craft.
What you’ll need
- 4 pieces of wood, about 1 inch thick and 12 inches long – or combine multiple pieces to get your desired size.
- Glue (wood glue would be great, but other strong craft glues – such as Tacky glue – should work too)
- Paint – white or off-white
- Foam paint brush
- Rope – the rope you’ll choose will strongly influence the look of your final tray
- 4 thumb tacks
- Scissors
How to make a DIY wooden tray
1. Arrange the wood chunks side by side, in the shape of a tray. Glue them along the edges. If you have time, it may be helpful to hold each piece firmly for a minute or two while it sets, before adding the next one.
2. Allow time for the glue to dry fully. Use the foam paintbrush to paint the whole tray. If you want to see the wood grain, use less paint and a light touch – you can even try wiping off the paint after applying it to see if you like that look. If you prefer an opaque color and don’t want to see the wood grain, consider adding a second coat of paint after waiting for the first one to dry.
3. Cut two pieces of rope about 7 inches long – the exact length isn’t so important, as long as they’re the same as each other.
4. Use thumb tacks to attach a piece of rope as a handle on each end of the tray.
Tip: you can also glue it in place for added security.
Your DIY wooden tray is complete – display and enjoy!
How to Make an Easy Wooden Tray
Materials
- 4 pieces of wood, about 1 inch thick and 12 inches long
- Glue (wood glue would be great, but other strong craft glues - such as Tacky glue - should work too)
- Paint - white or off-white
- Foam paint brush
- Rope - the rope you’ll choose will strongly influence the look of your final tray
- 4 thumb tacks
- Scissors
Instructions
1. Arrange the wood chunks side by side, in the shape of a tray. Glue them along the edges. If you have time, it may be helpful to hold each piece firmly for a minute or two while it sets, before adding the next one.
2. Allow time for the glue to dry fully. Use the foam paintbrush to paint the whole tray. If you want to see the wood grain, use less paint and a light touch - you can even try wiping off the paint after applying it to see if you like that look. If you prefer an opaque color and don’t want to see the wood grain, consider adding a second coat of paint after waiting for the first one to dry.
3. Cut two pieces of rope about 7 inches long - the exact length isn’t so important, as long as they’re the same as each other.
4. Use thumb tacks to attach a piece of rope as a handle on each end of the tray.
