Styling Essentials: Trays
Today marks the next installment in our series Styling Essentials, where we talk about the decor items I source most often for photoshoots to help make a space feel layered and beautifully styled. These styling essentials are the pieces that many homeowners often don’t have enough of - or at all. And one of those item are decorative trays. I find that in many homes, they are a highly undervalued piece of decor, but they shouldn't be, because they have a superpower to unite a collection of objects and transform a scene from cluttered or confused to harmonious and balanced.
The great thing is that trays can be utilized in nearly every room within the house. Here, I’ve sourced 27 different kinds organized by room; kitchen and dining, living spaces, and bed and bath. I’ve also included tips on how you can style them!
TRAYS FOR KITCHEN & DINING
Trays are essential in the kitchen and dining room. I use them to corral my oil, vinegar, and spices next to my stove, as well as the soap and sponges near the sink. They pull together all those small items that would otherwise feel scattered. I also have a few trays propped next to my toaster for quick access to serve meals or drinks outside. Some styling ideas for using a tray on the dining table - a vase of flowers, a pile of linen napkins, a jar of flatware, a citrusy candle, or pinch bowls for salt & pepper.
TRAYS FOR LIVING SPACES
Coffee tables are prime real estate for a large statement tray. They work best when used to group smaller items like a candle and matches, a small plant, the remote controls, or even a little bowl of nuts. Try to avoid placing large vases or objects on smaller trays - the scale will be off in those instances and the items will appear crowded. Instead, set the vase to the side.
TRAYS FOR BED & BATH
Every bathroom vanity needs a tray to corral perfume, jewelry, or other toiletries. They keep your vanity feeling organized and fresh, and give everything a thoughtfully collected feel as opposed to appearing cluttered. I find them essential for the nightstand as well for holding candles, reading glasses, jewelry, and a few good books!
1 - Fawn Leather | 2 - Marble & Brass Inlay | 3 - Oval Gold Leaf | 4 - Black & Rattan | 5 - Clear Acrylic | 6 - Ceramic Pattern | 7 - Minimal Blush & Beige | 8 - Brass Square | 9 - Concrete
TRAY STYLING TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND
Displaying an odd number of objects tends to work best. I recommend styling with 3 or 5 decor pieces.
Don’t crowd the tray with items that are too large. Proper scale is an important element of composition.
Include objects of various heights - short, medium, and taller pieces will give dimension to your styling.
For practice, try playing with contrast, color, and texture between your surface, objects, and tray choice.
PS. I own 7 of the trays in the above round ups! Care to guess which ones?
