Ottoman Map Tray

For years I have searched for a huge tray for our coffee table ottoman.  You may remember our ginormous ottoman - it has lived in our family room…...

our sea-of-beige, still-undecorated basement…..

and our living room (my little munchkins's favorite spot to nap)…..

…and now it's back in the family room.  We bought it for our very large family room in our last house, and while it's a bit big for our current house, it's super comfy for putting your feet up while watching a football game in a front of a fire, so we decided the family room was the best place for it.

However, the problem we have always had with this fabric ottoman is that there is no place to put a plate of food or a drink - a big issue when we entertain.  I have used a couple of small trays and even a framed mirror:

but with three kids I worried about this option - they are not exactly gentle, my cherubs.  So the mirror went onto a wall, where the darlings are less likely to shatter it, and I was back to my ottoman issue.

I simply could NOT find a tray that was big enough and within my budget.  So what's a girl to do but build her own tray?

When I recently "inherited" some nautical charts from my parents-in-law, I realized one of them would be perfect in size and color for my tray project.

I got a piece of 1/4" oak plywood - oak because it seemed to be the most non-warped of the plywoods - and cut it down to a smidgen bigger than the map (Lowes or Home Depot will do this for you at no charge if you'd prefer to stay away from saws.)  Then I sanded the edges and Mod Podged the map onto the the plywood.  I also coated the top of the map with Mod Podge so the surface of the tray would be protected from spills.

Then I cut down trim for the sides of the tray, spray painted these pieces and pre-drilled holes for handles (cabinet pulls are perfect for this project.)

When the trim was dry, I attached the trim to the plywood, covering the edges of the map.  I used wood glue, then put crown staples every 2" or so with my nail gun.  

Yesterday when the sun was actually shining, I took the tray outside and gave the bottom of the tray and the sides a couple coats of glossy black spray paint to finish it off.

**Quick spray painting tip!!**

When you are done spray painting, turn the can upside down and spray until air is coming out.  This way the nozzle is cleared for the next time.  Do you know how many bottles of spray paint I've had to throw out because the nozzle was blocked?  Ugh.  Say no to blocked nozzles :)

I love how coats of spray paint dry so quickly.  

I was chomping at the bit to see the tray in her new environs.

I added the handles, and she's finally ready for her debut!

Lake Winnipesaukee is one of our favorite places, and I think the green and white map is perfect with the colors in the family room.

It's not huge, but big enough for some refreshments, plus it makes the ottoman look less like a twin bed in the middle of our family room, and more like an actual coffee table.

For those of you following along on the crazy game of musical furniture in this house, yes - the floral chairs I was sick and tired of in my living room ended up in this room.  I already had pillows with spring green in them, and somehow pairing the chairs with this brighter green freshened them up.  I like them so much more in here - who knew mixing up my furniture could make me like it more!

I'm envisioning a nice fire in that fireplace tonight, 

and a glass of red wine on my new map tray.  

Come over and join me, would you?

That's the story of my little old ottoman map tray.

If you can't find a tray you like, just build your own!

If you are looking for more map projects, check out this post at Simple Details!

Wishing you a happy weekend ahead my dears!

If you're looking for some other fun spray painting projects, look no further than Thistlewood Farm!

I'm also joining these wonderful blogs.  Check them out if you need some new project inspiration!

Just A Girl