Decorating and Styling with Trays

Anyone that has visited us in our store in Harrogate knows how much we love a tray!  It’s such a practical, stylish, and affordable, way to give your rooms an update.  You can use items you already have alongside a few new home accessories and update the tray for each season.

Everything feels so much more organised and curated when housed on a tray, plus you can use them in any room. In a hallway for keys; on a coffee or console for candles, books and a plant; in a bathroom they are perfect for lotions and jars -  any space that needs a little “lift" and some order at the same time.

The Basics

Styling a tray is all about balancing shapes, heights and textures. The following tips will help create your perfect display:

The Rule of Odds: Group items in odd numbers to keep the display visually interesting. On a small tray, a group of three works well whilst a larger tray can accommodate 5 or 7 items.

Vary Heights: Pair tall elements (like candlesticks or a vase) with lower items (like stacked books or a small bowl) to guide the eye but keep the heights staggered, ideally you don’t want all the tall items on one side and everything low on the other.

Mix Textures: Combine different materials—such as metal with glass, or wood with ceramic—to prevent the tray from looking flat. Be sure to include a little bit of greenery or foliage/natural elements to give contrast and depth too.

Leave Space: Give everything some breathing room to shine, don’t overcrowd the tray and risk it feeling cluttered.

A few things to consider before styling your tray

Purpose?

Is it for your drinks on an evening and do you plan to have a lit candle there, or is it purely decorative? Raised surfaces like rattan can sometimes be a little bumpy - not ideal for candles or glassware so think about the surface of the tray you are going to use.

Material?

Trays are a fabulous way to add more textures to a room and a contrast of materials and colour is key to creating interest. A wooden tray on a wooden table doesn’t add much, but a metallic or patterned or textured tray on a wood surface works really well and shows off each material.

Likewise a subtly detailed faux shagreen tray on an upholstered ottoman looks fabulous. Think about the textures of the tray and time of year too - we love using rattan trays during the summer months.

Size and Shape?

The size and shape of a tray needs to be balanced with where it is being placed. A square tray on a rectangular or square ottoman looks incredibly stylish, and round trays have their place too - softening the lines of a square or rectangular table. 

But we much prefer a round tray for oval or round surfaces and find a square or rectangular tray too angular. 

All shapes of trays can look fantastic on a kitchen island but just be mindful of proportions - a tiny tray might get lost depending on how big the area is, whereas you often have the opportunity to create a real statement “arrangement”. Just be mindful of low lighting (and any hindrances to conversation) if you go too “high”!

Bathroom Trays

Base: Mirrored, marble, or pale gold trays add an elegant touch, whilst wooden trays add a rustic feel.

Style Essentials: Amber glass soap dispensers, vintage style glass jars, bud vases, diffusers, handcrafted soap dishes, and rolled hand towels.

Tips: Group everyday toiletries together to make countertop cleaning easier and keep the space looking curated and stylish at the same time.

Trays for Coffee Tables and Ottomans

Base: A faux/real leather, decorative drinks, or matt metal tray look fabulous and ensure a stable surface for drinks.

Style Essentials: Coasters, candles, plants (faux or real), a pretty vase/foliage, coffee table style books (or book boxes to hide clutter like remote controls) all work really well. Remember your three’s and five’s though, and a mix of heights.

Tips: We think trays on coffee tables and ottomans have a tendency to be too “busy". Remember to leave some empty space so it remains easier on the eye,  as well as functional for resting drinks or maybe putting your feet up alongside the tray once everyone has gone home!

Dining Tables and Kitchen Islands

Base: Large rattan, marble, or stylish lacquered trays create a beautiful centrepiece for your kitchen island or dining table and can accommodate decorative and functional pieces.

Style Essentials: Oil, vinegar, pepper grinders and cooking essentials on a marble tray by the stove, a vase or jug of flowers and candle and books on your island.

Tips: Use a  marble tray to contain smaller cooking items so they are easily moved when you need extra counter space; equally a larger tray on a dining table or island is easily taken away when you have guests. Adding a few cloth or linen napkins draped across the edge of a tray also adds texture and layers.

Go To Items for Simple Tray Styling

• Books - coffee table style books or book boxes (for tidying things away).
• Candles - pillar candles (real or LED), scented candle in a jar, candlesticks with dinner candles.
• Plants and Foliage - smaller plants or bud vases on a coffee table but think bigger for consoles, islands and dining tables to add some real wow factor.
• Candle holders - perfect for adding varying heights, and subtle evening lighting.
• Natural elements (or faux) - twigs, fruit, gourds, artichokes berries, pine cones - these are a great way to bring in seasonal styling and update your tray.
• Hand made pottery, bowls, trinket dishes - useful storage but these personal items look fabulous alongside your other pieces.  For consoles, you could also include a favourite photo or two in a stylish frame; coasters are perfect on a coffee table tray.

Keep it Personal

As always make your tray personal to you and your style.  Trends and colours come and go. We will always love earthy colours and organic materials but it doesn’t stop us adding a little bit of light gold to lift the space and add a tiny bit of glamour too.  Adding in a family photo, your favourite scent for a candle, or a bowl or trinket tray that has been passed down through the family will make your space unique to you and make you smile.  Enjoy experimenting, putting different items together, changing in seasonal pieces too.

Take a look at our collection of trays online.

Kara and Mark