Make A Sleek Sofa Tray Using Only Two Dollar Tree Finds

Picture this: you're sitting on the couch enjoying a book or your favorite TV show, but you have nowhere to place your snack or beverage. While you might normally haul over a side table or chair to serve as a sturdy surface, what if you instead had a nifty sofa tray to place your items on? Sofa trays are highly practical for individuals who don't have a dedicated side table or homes that don't have enough space for one; the downside of them, however, is that they can be pricey, sometimes costing $20 or more. Fortunately, there's a way to glam up your living room with a budget-friendly Dollar Tree tray.

The two products you will need are a pack of Crafters Square Craft Wood Planks ($1.25) and a White Nonslip Shelf Liner ($1.25). You'll also need a hot glue gun, a pair of scissors, and a clear surface to put this project together. Once your sofa tray is completed, you can drape it over the armrest of your couch or on your ottoman and begin using it right away. The good news is that this project is quick to finish, requiring just a few minutes of your time.

To start, set out your wood planks and roll out the shelf liner. Apply a generous amount of glue to one side of a wooden craft plank, aligning it with the width of the shelf liner, and applying enough pressure to securely affix it. Then, repeat the process, gluing one craft plank next to another, until you've reached your desired length. The video shows 16 craft wood planks being used, but you can opt to use more or fewer depending on your needs. For the final step, you just need to trim off the ends of the shelf liner to give a polished appearance to the sofa tray.

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If the completed result of this DIY is a little too plain for your liking, there are a number of ways to personalize it. You can stain the wooden craft planks for a richer color (work in a well-ventilated space and wear gloves, as things can get messy); remember to brush up on these helpful tips you'll want to know before using wood stain. 

You can also keep things simple by painting the wooden craft planks. For the best results, paint before gluing the planks, so you can get into all the nooks and crannies. While you won't be seeing the underside of the sofa tray often, you can beautify it by gluing some fabric to the liner. Even if you have absolutely zero sewing skills, you can use fabric glue to create fray-free seams that will make the tray look extra refined.

While the sofa tray is most commonly used on the armrest of a couch or sofa in a living room setting, there's no reason that you can't also use it in other spaces. An outdoor patio couch makes for an ideal application for this sturdy surface, especially if you like to keep your coffee right next to you. 

You can also put a sofa tray to use in your bedroom, where it can hold a bowl of popcorn or a glass of water while you're watching a movie. An additional use for the tray is as a stable surface on the floor of a carpeted room, like your kids' bedroom or playroom, as this will prevent a drink from accidentally tipping over on higher-pile soft floor coverings.

Even if you cannot think of a use for this sofa tray in your home, it makes an excellent and affordable gift for a loved one. Be sure to try some of the aforementioned methods of personalizing and beautifying it before giving away this DIY. When it's ready to be gifted, you can roll it up and secure it with a decorative ribbon and a handwritten tag for some added charm.