How to Make a Bed Tray
Imagine waking up each morning to your spouse treating you with a hot steaming cup of tea or coffee, or even breakfast. This dream can become a reality by building and using a bed tray. A bed tray looks similar to a normal wooden tray except it has four legs that are used to make it stand and function like a table. There is no need to spend a lot of money on buying a bed table when you can make one by yourself at home with a little expertise in carpentry and a thick piece of birch wood. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Birch wood, 14 x 20 inch with ½ inch thickness
- 100-grit sandpaper
- Measuring tape
- Wooden rod,1/4 inch or 6 mm in diameter
- Small saw
- Hinge
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Wood primer
- Wood paint
- Wood stain
- Thick and thin brush
- Varnish
Instructions
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1
Use coarse sandpaper to even out the rough edges of the board, made either of birch or another thick wood. Ensure that the board is thick enough to withstand the weight of plates and utensils.
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2
Use a measuring tape to measure the desired height of the bed tray. Use that measurement to cut the wooden rod into four equal pieces for the four legs. You can use a small saw to do this work. Use sandpaper to even out the rough edges.
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3
Place one hinge on the upper side of the wooden rod at the joint. Remember that a hinge has two parts; affix one part to the edge of the wooden rod and affix the upper part to the wooden board.
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4
Screw the hinge into the rod and the board with the screwdriver. Repeat this process with the three other legs. Check that the legs are opening with ease beneath the wooden board.
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5
Apply wood primer all over the wooden surface to protect the bed table. Let the primer settle down and dry before moving to the next step.
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6
Retain the wood color of the wooden board by applying a wood stain or paint it using wood color. Apply two coats of paint or stain to ensure no area is left out. Use a thick brush to paint or apply wood stain to the tray and a thin brush for the edges.
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Apply varnish to both the upper surface and the lower surface of the tray. Use a thick brush for the middle portion of the tray and a thin one for the corners and edges.
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Tips & Warnings
You can also customize the tray by adding handles to the sides for easy portability. Add linen, place mats, or paintings on the upper surface of the tray and place a thin strip of plastic on it. You can also make indents on the wooden surface to fit in a glass or cup. You can also decorate the tray using flowers, candles, trinkets, candy, stained glass, paintings or confetti.
