How to Make a Marble Serving Tray

Take your next soiree up a notch by serving drinks and snacks on this elegant do-it-yourself marble serving tray. With a piece of marble floor tile from your local home improvement store, drawer pulls and gilding paint, you can create this conversation piece in a matter of minutes.

Serve drinks and snacks on your DIY serving tray.

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Gather Your Supplies

Things You\’ll Need

Marble floor tile
2 drawer pulls
Four screws to fit through the thickness of the marble and into the pulls.
Tape measure
Painter's tape
Pen
Drill and drill bit the size of your screws
Liquid gilding paint
Small paint brush
Plastic bumpers
Clear gloss enamel spray (optional)

Summer Hogan Choose screws that fit the drawer pulls. Image Credit: Simple Stylings – Marble Tray

Measure, Drill Holes and Attach Handles

On opposite sides of the tile, where you want your handles to be, use your measuring tape to find the middle and make a small mark 2 inches from the edge. Place a piece of tape at least the width of your handles just below the mark, close to the edge of the tile. Using the middle point as a reference, measure the holes on your handles where the screws go and mark the spots on top of the tape.

Measure the middle of the tile on either side and mark. Place a piece of tape on the marble and mark where the holes go.

Drill all the way through the tile where you made the two marks. Marble is brittle and not difficult to drill. Plus, the tape keeps the edges from splitting.

Drill holes through the marble at the marks

Place the screws through the holes and attach the handles using your drill. I used #6-3/2-by-3/4-inch machine screws.

To protect your table or countertop, attach five self-adhesive plastic bumpers to the bottom of the tile — one near each corner and one in the middle.

Stick plastic bumpers on the bottom of the tile. The drawer pulls serve as the tray handles.

Paint a Design on the Tile

Place tape around the edges of the tile and paint the sides. Then, tape off the design you want and paint those areas. I used a natural bristle brush to paint three small stripes with gold liquid gilding paint.

Use liquid gilding paint to add a design to your new tray. Tape off the edges before you paint. Paint the sides of the tile, too. Tape off and paint stripes or your design of choice.

Remove the Tape and Let the Tray Dry

Remove the tape gently while the paint is still wet to create a crisp edge. Let the paint dry at least 1-2 hours, and then use the tray for all of your serving needs. You can even wash it gently with a soft sponge and a little soap and water.

Let the painted design dry for at least 2 hours. Impress your friends with this elegant tray. An elegant serving tray at an affordable price.

The tray can also be used to display toiletries in a bathroom or items on a bar cart.

Warning

The paint you use most likely isn't food safe, so don't place food directly on the painted areas. Refer to the label on the paint type you choose.