How to Make a Tiered Serving Stand

Updated on March 12, 2024

DIY Tiered Serving Stand. Create a beautiful serving stand for entertaining using inexpensive candlesticks and plates from the dollar store.

Tiered serving stands are perfect for entertaining. Plus, they are easy to make!

The total cost of materials can be low, depending on where you purchase your plates. You could get everything from the dollar store, antique store, craft store, flea market, or thrift store.

How to Make a DIY Tiered Serving Stand

This is an easy project anyone can do. By choosing different plates, you can customize your tray for any event.

Supplies:

• 2 – 3 Melamine Plates in various sizes
• Glass Candlesticks
• E6000 or Beacon Power-Tac Glue

I purchased my plates at Walmart for only a couple of dollars apiece. The glass candlesticks came from Dollar Tree. You can also sometimes find melamine plates at Dollar Tree.

You want to find plates that are different sizes so that the final tray will be tiered.

Glue Recommendations

Of course, I have my trusty E6000 glue. This stuff is pretty toxic, but it works great on various projects. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area. I used it the other day to glue my son’s plastic toy axe back together.

Note: I have found a new adhesive that isn’t as smelly and works just as well as E6000. I now use Power-Tac for all my heavy-duty adhesive projects.

I do not recommend hot glue for this project. Since you will most likely be washing the tray, hot glue can come apart with hot water.

Glue Candlesticks to Plates

Start by gluing the candlestick bottom to the underside of the smallest plate.

I chose to use the candlestick upside down to provide more stability under the plate and less of it showing on the plate below. This leaves more room to put things on the tray, but really, you could use it either way.

After each step, I allowed the glue to dry for a few minutes. You can still move it around for a while, as it takes 24 hours to cure.

Then, glue the top of the candlestick to the next biggest plate. I used a dry-erase marker to mark where the candlestick would go after measuring to find the center.

You could also eyeball it. Wipe off the dry-erase marker after the glue has dried.

Add Additional Tiers

Repeat the above steps to attach a third plate to the tray. 

Enjoy your new tiered stand! If you have room to store them, you can make trays for each holiday or any themed party you throw.

More Tier Tray Ideas

To create a farmhouse style tray, I suggest finding white candlesticks or painting the glass white. Then, add cake pans or pie pans as the tiers.

If you use wood candlesticks or dowels, you can use a drill bit to drill through the plate and make pilot holes in the candlesticks. Attach the different tiers using wood screws.

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