Wooden Bathtub Tray DIY Tutorial

Enjoy your bath even more with a simple, wooden bathtub tray! Use it to hold a book, a candle, 
or even a tablet to make it easier to soak in the relaxation.

When we did our master bathroom makeover last fall, one of the small DIY projects we completed during the challenge was making a simple, wooden bathtub tray to lay over our large soaker tub. Not only does it add some functionality to bath-time, but it also adds a ton of style to the space when the tub isn’t in use!

To be honest, I think my favorite thing about this wooden bathtub tray isn’t that it’s stylish and functional… I think my favorite part about it is that it hides the large, unsightly handles on the inside of our tub! I knew when we went to redesign this bathroom that I had to find a way to get rid of the “old person” vibe this almond colored soaker tub was giving off, and I think this small piece of decor did a lot to help with that!

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HOW TO BUILD A
WOODEN BATHTUB TRAY
DIY TUTORIAL

Materials/Tools Needed:

• 1x8x8′ Common Board
• 1x2x8′ Common Board
• Stain and Rag/Foam Brush
• Chop Saw or Table Saw
• Nailgun and Nails

Instructions to Build a DIY Wooden Bathtub Tray:

STEP 1 – CUT YOUR BOARDS

Begin by measuring the distance from the outside of your tub on one side to the outside of your tub on the other side.

Use your chop saw or table saw to cut your 1×8 to that dimension plus 4″. (For example, our outside to outside measurement was 34″ so we cut our 1×8 at 38″.) This will allow us to add the 1x2s underneath on each end.

Cut two 7.5″ pieces out of your 1×2 board.

STEP 2 – NAIL THE BOARDS TOGETHER

Use your nail gun (with 1.25″ nails or shorter) to nail the 1x2s to the underside of the 1×8 board, leaving a 1/2″ overhang at each end.

The 1x2s keep it from shifting side-to-side when it’s set atop your tub.

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STEP 3 – STAIN THE ENTIRE WOODEN BATHTUB TRAY

After the boards are all nailed together, use a rag or foam brush to stain the entire tray and then let it dry for 24 hours.

STEP 4 – SET UP AND DECORATE!

The final step is to set your DIY bathtub tray over your tub and decorate it! Try placing a small plant, a nice candle, a fancy bottle of bubble bath or a little bowl of bathbombs on it.

I chose to put just a small succulent on ours and I love how it adds style to the space!

How would you use a bathtub tray in your tub? I use mine for books and reading, and my husband uses his for his phone and watching movies. 😉

I hope this simple tutorial for making a DIY wooden bathtub tray helps you add some stylish elements to your bathtub and bathroom!

As always, let me know if you have any questions.

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