Bath Tray with Book Rest

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A relaxing bath is one of life’s most glorious treasures. Adding a bath tray with a book rest makes it even better.

Making your own bath caddy is one of the easiest and least expensive luxuries you can do for yourself. Seriously ladies – this is a must do weekend project!

I have seen a ton of bath trays roaming around Pinterest, but I wanted one I could prop a book or magazine on. There is nothing better than slipping into a hot tub with a cold drink and a good read at the end of a long day, am I right? 

You’ve heard me say it a million times, but the reason I love to DIY is making things exactly how I want them with a custom fit. This project is just one more example of DIY perfection.

Measure your bath tub and find old boards that speak to you. Think old fence pickets, left over lumber and roadside trash. You don’t need much.

Cut two boards to your desired length and get one board sturdy enough for a book rest, but not to thick.

Space your two long boards enough that the book board can rest between them at a slight angle. Secure the two cross braces toward the middle of the tray, close enough together to support the book board. I used a touch of wood glue and screws.

Be sure to protect your bath tub by adding a soft layer of adhesive felt to the back of your bath caddy. This prevents scratching if the bath tray slides on your tub. (lesson learned from a project I did in my kitchen!)

Paint or stain your bath tray to go with your bathroom. This tray was dry brushed with white and sanded for a weathered feel. I used a wax finish to help protect the wood.

My bath tray is versatile in the fact that I can use the book board to prop up reading material, take it away or lay it flat for a larger tray area. Versatility is always a bonus. I got some good mileage out of my new creation this weekend as I soaked in an Oatmeal bath to sooth the crazy hives and swelling I got from the weird skin allergies I have. This time I think a new hair product was the culprit. Massive antihistamines and steroids are in the works as we speak! Yuck! But at least my bath was extra fancy 🙂

Next I think I need to make one for my daughter, she loves a bath as much as I do! Go ahead and pamper yourself with this guilt free project and a relaxing recharge time!

If you like this project please be sure to save it or share it, thanks for stopping by today. A supply list is below for your convenience:

Bath Tray Supply List:

*affiliate links, this means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission to help support the blog. Thank you!

Two long boards

One square sheet of wood

tape measure

Wood Glue

Screws (4)

Drill

Saw

Felt pads

Paint/Stain