Unsung Heroes: Why You Should Put a Tray on Display
Trays can add a finishing touch to any room, bringing that extra layer of finesse it needs to look its best
Joanna Tovia
22 February 2017
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Trays no longer simply provide the means to take the teacups and plate of biscuits from the kitchen to the sitting room in one go; they are now multi-purpose household items that can work wonders in any room of the house. These handy helpers can bring an extra level of sophistication to a space by framing a vignette, corralling like-minded objects, or providing you with an elegant, sturdy surface for your cup of tea. Read on and you’re sure to ask yourself why haven’t embraced a tray or two at home sooner.
Trays help an ottoman become a sturdy coffee table
Ottomans are lovely, but they’re even lovelier when they’re useful for more than putting your feet on. A tray can be permanently on display here to provide a sturdy surface for cups of tea and objets d’art.
Ottomans are lovely, but they’re even lovelier when they’re useful for more than putting your feet on. A tray can be permanently on display here to provide a sturdy surface for cups of tea and objets d’art.
They set the stage for flowers
We all know how much a floral arrangement can enhance a space. A tray not only provides a level surface on which the vase can sit, but also finishes off the look. A vase sitting by itself is nice; just not as nice if it’s also on a tray with an item or two alongside it. It’s just less bitsy that way.
We all know how much a floral arrangement can enhance a space. A tray not only provides a level surface on which the vase can sit, but also finishes off the look. A vase sitting by itself is nice; just not as nice if it’s also on a tray with an item or two alongside it. It’s just less bitsy that way.
They make more of a credenza
Credenza, sideboard, whatever you want to call it, as well as providing storage, they’re just the spot to show off your styling skills. A tray can give a vignette a little more definition, and provide some contrast when there are other collections on display on the same surface.
An ABC of arranging vignettes
Credenza, sideboard, whatever you want to call it, as well as providing storage, they’re just the spot to show off your styling skills. A tray can give a vignette a little more definition, and provide some contrast when there are other collections on display on the same surface.
An ABC of arranging vignettes
They bring a collection of mismatched items together
When you have a tray to display them together, groups of items can be as mismatched as you like and still look cohesive. This can be just the invitation you need to choose items just because they have meaning, not because they have a particular look. A tray helps anchor a collection of things and turns it into something worthy of display.
When you have a tray to display them together, groups of items can be as mismatched as you like and still look cohesive. This can be just the invitation you need to choose items just because they have meaning, not because they have a particular look. A tray helps anchor a collection of things and turns it into something worthy of display.
They take a living room upmarket
Trays come in all shapes and sizes, and can be made of anything from timber to marble. This one highlights a vignette and adds a little more luxury to an already elegant abode.
Trays come in all shapes and sizes, and can be made of anything from timber to marble. This one highlights a vignette and adds a little more luxury to an already elegant abode.
They make your desk more than simply functional
There’s no reason your home office can’t be every bit as beautiful as the other rooms in your house. A tray can keep paper clips, pens and other odds and ends in check, particularly if your desk doesn’t have drawers. Now all you need is an efficient filing system to keep those papers from piling up.
How to give paper the flick for good
There’s no reason your home office can’t be every bit as beautiful as the other rooms in your house. A tray can keep paper clips, pens and other odds and ends in check, particularly if your desk doesn’t have drawers. Now all you need is an efficient filing system to keep those papers from piling up.
How to give paper the flick for good
They add a layer of detail to an outdoor living room
Decks, courtyards and other outdoor areas have never been more revered as extensions of indoor living space. Outdoor furniture is becoming more sophisticated by the season, and the range of accessories more extensive as people seek to maximise comfort and style the same way they do inside.
It makes sense then that trays are beginning to appear outside too. If your outdoor area is under cover, use trays as you would indoors and you can’t go wrong. Otherwise, reserve their use for sunny days when you have guests over.
Decks, courtyards and other outdoor areas have never been more revered as extensions of indoor living space. Outdoor furniture is becoming more sophisticated by the season, and the range of accessories more extensive as people seek to maximise comfort and style the same way they do inside.
It makes sense then that trays are beginning to appear outside too. If your outdoor area is under cover, use trays as you would indoors and you can’t go wrong. Otherwise, reserve their use for sunny days when you have guests over.
Having a well-stocked tray on hand to carry out to your alfresco dining table avoids you having to make multiple trips and encourages eating outdoors – the easier it is, the more likely you are to want to do it. And it looks pretty good sitting on a sideboard between meals too.
They make breakfast in bed more special … and practical
A tray laden with breakfast goodies, and perhaps a bloom or two in a vase, is a heavenly way to start the day, whether it’s been prepared for you or you’ve done it yourself then carried it back to bed. Far better than a cup of tea or coffee on its own, that’s for sure.
Breakfast in bed … and other important activities
A tray laden with breakfast goodies, and perhaps a bloom or two in a vase, is a heavenly way to start the day, whether it’s been prepared for you or you’ve done it yourself then carried it back to bed. Far better than a cup of tea or coffee on its own, that’s for sure.
Breakfast in bed … and other important activities
They make bedside clutter look neat and tidy
If you’re the type whose bedside table holds little more than a lamp and a novel, a tray may not be necessary. For the rest of us, a tray is a godsend. All those bits and pieces can pile into the tray, leaving the rest of the bedside table surface clear. This is especially helpful if you have a table but no drawers beside your bed.
If you’re the type whose bedside table holds little more than a lamp and a novel, a tray may not be necessary. For the rest of us, a tray is a godsend. All those bits and pieces can pile into the tray, leaving the rest of the bedside table surface clear. This is especially helpful if you have a table but no drawers beside your bed.
They add character
Trays needn’t be rectangular to be useful. A tray with personality can be just the thing to reflect your playful side, no matter where you display it.
Trays needn’t be rectangular to be useful. A tray with personality can be just the thing to reflect your playful side, no matter where you display it.
They make your bathroom and laundry products look better
Laundries are often purely functional places to do the washing and ironing, but there’s no reason they can’t look their best; a tray is the answer to keeping mess contained, wherever it is. Some nice looking products or containers to display on your tray will make a difference too.
Laundries are often purely functional places to do the washing and ironing, but there’s no reason they can’t look their best; a tray is the answer to keeping mess contained, wherever it is. Some nice looking products or containers to display on your tray will make a difference too.
The same goes in your bathroom. Trays make the space boutique-hotel beautiful.
Little luxuries that lift your bathroom
Little luxuries that lift your bathroom
Once you fall in love with trays, keep in mind that one is unlikely to be enough. Layering a tray on a tray will suddenly seem like the logical next step!
Tell us
Do you have a tray on display at your house? Share a photo or tell us why in the Comments below.
More
Browse more home design ideas
Tell us
Do you have a tray on display at your house? Share a photo or tell us why in the Comments below.
More
Browse more home design ideas
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i have several old imitation cut glass plastic trays that sit on the bathroom vanity to hold hand wash, toothbrushes, hand cream etc and another bigger one in the bedroom with piles of jewellery and different size trays that sit on coffee tables and bedside tables and trays i use on desks and trays i use for sorting sewing bits and trays for counting coins and trays for grandchildren to use for building lego and a traymobile with removeable trays to store toys and books and trays that are just for decoration and i even have trays for carrying food and drinks around the house and outside: i don't think i'd manage without all my trays
Trays are awesome! I have perhaps gone a bit OTT with trays over the last couple of months. In fact I now have 12 throughout the house, including the study and the laundry. They are also in bathrooms, the spare room, the outside table and on tables. What would be a mess on a desk/bench is now ordered and easy to remove for cleaning. As the article said, they bring a collection of items together and give them a purpose. IMHO anyway...