DIY Pretty Pallet Style Serving Tray

Want to add a little pallet-style to your backyard? Looking for a way to use up that scrap wood? Or, do you just need a big serving tray for those backyard BBQ’s? Then I’ve got the project for you.

I designed this pretty pallet projects DIY serving tray with backyard BBQ’s, pool parties, beach trips, and picnics in mind. It seems that it always takes 20 trips just to get everything outside for a meal. This tray is extra large and sturdy at 24″ x 21″. You can take all those dishes, utensils, condiments, and side dishes out at once.

Then just pop that loaded tray in the middle of the table. Everyone can grab from the tray, then load it up when it’s time to clean. Quick and Easy. You can even use it as a small tabletop for picnics and beach trips.

The best part of this project is that it works as backyard decor for our grill. It has that pallet-style look that everyone loves. Just display it on your back patio or BBQ whenever it’s not in use. Bonus!

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Backyard decor for our grill.

No need to unload the tray. Just place it on the table or picnic blanket.

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Cost to Make this Pretty Pallet Projects DIY Serving Tray

I actually made mine for free. I had old fence pickets and extra handles from my kitchen remodel in my garage. So, if you have scrap wood to use up, this is a great project for you. BUT this can be easily made for $10 to $20, depending on the wood and pulls you pick.

Time to Make this Pretty Pallet Projects DIY Serving Tray

You can cut and assemble this tray in under an hour. Then you’ll just need to wait for glue to dry. Then paint and poly layers to dry. So, you can make a bunch of these at once to sell or give as gifts.

Old fence pickets that my donkeys chewed on.

Scraps cut to size with my table saw and miter saw.

Materials for this Pretty Pallet Projects DIY Serving Tray

• 2 Cabinet pulls (You can get good deals on 10-pack’s like this, if you plan to make more than one tray.)
• 2 – 8′ long 1″x6″ Pine Fence Pickets (to get the faux pallet look) or 1″x4″ Common Board for a smoother finish. Cut to sizes below.
  • 2 – 20″ long 1″x4″ boards for the tray back
  • 6 – 24″ long 1″x4″ boards for the tray front
• Wood Glue
• Primer, paint, and polyurethane of choice

Keep the glue away from the edges to prevent drips.

After gluing, I weighed it down to keep everything tightly in place. The scrap 2×4’s just protect the finish.

Directions to Make this Pretty Pallet Projects DIY Serving Tray

This tray is such an easy DIY. It’s a great project for beginners or if you need to make something fast.

1. You just need to make the straight cuts above with your miter saw, jigsaw, or circular saw. You’ll need to use a table saw to cut them length-wise too, If you are using pickets.
2. Sand the pieces with 120-grit sandpaper. This prepares the wood for paint.
3. Paint every piece with a coat of primer. Give it 2 or 3 coats of your latex paint after that dries. Just make sure you have an even finish before applying a coat of a water-based polyurethane, I used this one.
4. Pick the best side of each of the 24″ long pieces. Lay those best side up on top of the back supports on a flat surface. Space them about a pencil-width apart. You want the back pieces to be about an inch away from the sides of the tray. (see picture)
5. Grab that wood glue and attach the top pieces one at a time. Don’t squeeze too much glue near the edges. You don’t want it dripping down between the boards.
6. After gluing, weigh those top pieces down with something heavy and let it dry.
7. Once you are sure everything has dried, mark where you want the handles. Keep them close to the edge. But make sure it goes through the back piece. That back piece will support the weight of the tray on either side.
8. Use the best drill bit for your handle screws. Drill all 4 holes. Then screw the handles on.

That’s it. Your tray is ready to hit the beach, or BBQ, or picnic…wherever you need it. 🙂

Works great with the DIY Patriotic Utensil Caddy too.

Don’t forget to Pin Me!

You can make this easy patriotic utensil caddy too. Just $7 to complete your backyard BBQ set.

Feeling inspired? Get out there and build your own . Follow the links above to get the things you’ll need. Have fun and let me know if you have questions. Or post pictures of your work and tag Abbotts At Home on FB, I’d love to see it!