The TikTok DIY That Turns Marble Samples Into A Chic Display Tray

Marble samples are a great way to test what works well in your home, and perhaps you have already tried it out for yourself. However, while you may feel like discarding your marble once you've finished, you could instead transform it into a chic display tray and have it double up as a nifty decor item just by adhering two pencil liner tiles to the bottom of it. By doing so, you can use it to easily place items in your home while maintaining a high-end look without wasting any leftover material. As such, you'll also be reducing the amount of waste you produce as an individual — after all, every little bit helps when it comes to lowering your personal carbon footprint.

Aside from that, the whole project shouldn't cost too much, either, so it's perfect if you're looking to get creative with a cheap DIY project. It's also ideal if you want somewhere to display or store some of your household items, such as soap, jewelry, jars, or even a collection of small plants. You could even use it in your kitchen as a high-end key tray, to decorate your coffee table, or use it as a place to put your candles. If this sounds like you, then all you need is a few items, and you can get ready to craft. But what exactly should you purchase? 

To replicate this hack by @shelbeestyled on TikTok, take some Liquid Nails, which is available from Lowe's for $2.78, a marble sample, and two pencil liner tiles of the same material or similar design, such as these Satori liners from Lowe's for $7.98 each. Once you have everything on hand, begin by gluing the pencil tiles to the bottom of your sample with Liquid Nails, ensuring they're in the correct position. To guarantee that you get a good fit, make sure the glue runs in a line from the top to the bottom of your pencil tiles so that there is plenty of grip. Once it's adhered in place, simply flip it over and use it as a tray to place any items you want. It's perfect for different soaps and beauty products in your bathroom or as a jewelry tray in your bedroom.

If you want to store more or larger items on your chic display tray, you may want to opt for a bigger sample size if the store has any, or you could create several trays. If you're struggling to find larger options, it's always a good idea to inquire in-store so you can find the best deals. This is ideal if you want one for each room or to place larger houseplants there, for example, which would require more space. However, these aren't the only ways to customize it.

If marble doesn't quite hit the spot for you, you have the option to opt for some different sample materials, such as wood (which may help to achieve a more rustic look), granite, or quartz, to name a few. For example, you can find a white kitchen quartz sample from Lowe's for $9.98 or a black granite countertop alternative from Home Depot for $7.50. Mixing up the colors of your materials can also help to give you a result that will suit your interior, so there are no limitations here. In fact, you could even paint it to achieve the look you want, as long as you use the correct type of paint and products for your material. Altogether, this hack should cost you no more than $30, depending on the materials you use.

The reason it works so well is that a sample should be the perfect size for a display tray, depending on where you get it from. The material is also sturdy and incredibly versatile, giving you the ability to place various items on it. You can adjust the size of your pencil tiles in addition to the size of your tray to influence whether it sits higher or lower, which would be useful if you want to slot items underneath or keep it out of reach of those in younger age groups.