I adore taking baths in my dreamy new bathtub. It is the stuff of dreams, I tell you. I’ve never had a tub like this where I can actually relax and enjoy my time so I’ve never had a need for a bathtub tray. But now that I do have this sexy new tub, I knew I needed a place to put my wine, my candles and my book…STAT!

I wanted my tray to be chunky and a bit rustic. I’m not really into the sleek bamboo trays with all the cutouts for a phone and wine glass and a stand for books. I mean, they’re cool and all, but I want to feel like I’m in a tub in the middle of the French countryside and bamboo doesn’t really scream that to me, you know? 

I knew I could probably find a fantastic chunky wooden tray on Etsy but I also knew it would cost me. So I decided to just make one of my own for less than $10 and about an hour’s worth of work. Here’s how I did it!

DIY Weathered Wood Bathtub Tray

This post contains affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can read my full disclosure policy here.

What You’ll Need:

• 2X10 wood plank (cut to the width of your tub)
• (2) 2X2 wood pieces (cut to the width of the plank, about 10″ each)
• (4) 2 1/2″ wood screws
• sanding block or orbital sander 
• cordless drill
• wood stain (I used Minwax Jacobean and Rust-Oleum Weathered Gray)
• matte polyurethane sealant

What You’ll Do:

1. Cut your 2X10 plank to the width of your tub. My tub was 30 inches from one end to the other end.
2. Cut your 2X2 into two 10-inch lengths.
3. Sand your pieces smooth.
4. Measure how wide the lip of your tub is on each side. This will tell you where you need to put the 2X2 pieces on the bottom of the tray. My tub edges are 3.5 inches wide, so I marked 3.5 inches on the bottom side of my wood tray and drew a line. This is where I lined up the edge of the 2X2 “foot” of the tray on each side.
5. Using a drill bit slightly smaller than the size of your screw, pre-drill holes into the feet of your tray. 
6. Attach the feet of the tray to the underside of the tray using two screws, one on each end.
7. Wipe down with a microfiber cloth and begin the staining process. I used small foam brushes to apply a layer of Jacobean stain and then wiped it off using a cotton cloth. Then I immediately applied a layer of the weathered gray stain and again wiped it off using a cotton cloth. Let dry.
8. Seal with a matte polyurethane and let dry. You’re done!

Perfection, y’all. I am never leaving this tub again. I love how easy this tray was to make and it is super sturdy (a little heavy, too!). I also really love the way the stain turned out with the blending of the two stain colors. Just the right shade of warm wood with hints of weathered gray. It works perfectly with the rest of the wood tones in my bathroom!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bath to take. Cheers!

Related posts:

DIY Bed Tray Quick & Easy Reclaimed Wood Feature Wall DIY Nautical Wood Buoys DIY Wood Bead Garland With Tassels