How To Make a Dirty Boot Tray

Pebble-filled Tray Stops Dirt in its Tracks

No matter where you live, chances are from time to time you’ll walk through messy terrain before heading indoors. Whether they’re from snow, sleet, rain or simple garden work, muddy tracks are never welcome in the house.

One crafty solution for keeping the muck at bay is to create your own pebble-filled boot tray to store and drain soiled shoes. Martha Stewart came up with the idea a few years ago and since then the idea has spread like wildfire, inspiring several crafty variations of the project.

A pebble-filled boot tray brings a little bit of the outdoors inside, in a safe, clean and organized way. You can choose stones that match your décor and give the area an earthy feel. The stones elevate the shoes and allow them to drain while taking attention away from any mud or dirt. The water easily evaporates and a simple cleaning every once in a while will keep the boot tray in good shape.

Are you ready to rock your mudroom? Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Select a Tray

You’ll need a tray that’s at least 1 ½ to 2 inches deep. An old serving tray or a large worn out baking pan would work well if you have one on hand. If you don’t have something you’d like to upcycle, purchase a tray or pan at a home goods or dollar store. Select a non-fragile material like wood, metal or plastic.

Step 2: Gather Your Pebbles

There are many places to find pebbles and rocks for your boot tray:

• Collect them yourself

• Purchase bags of river rocks from the dollar store

• Head to a gardening supply store and purchase decorative stones

• Use aquarium rocks

Step 3: Assemble the Tray

Line your tray to make cleaning a little bit easier. Some prefer newspaper since it’s highly absorbent, but you must replace it often. We suggest lining the bottom of the tray with a rubber mat or plastic wrap.

Place your stones inside the tray. If you want a finished look or would like to create a pattern, glue together some of the stones on the top layer. This is also helpful if you have children or pets who may be tempted to play with them.

References: Martha Stewart Living, eHow Home