How To Style a Tray
I’ve been getting into lots of decorative styling lately. Like many of us, it’s probably because I’ve been spending a lot of time at home.
These past few months have made me realize how important it is that we love the place we live. Our home should energize us and calm us. It should give us joy. Here’s a few ways I’ve been finding little joys these past few weeks – styling up special items in my house because the laundry can wait. This is more fun!
Think Layers
When you first choose an item to style like a tray, think what of all the different purposes you can do with it. You want to see the tray as another plane for dimension (No, I’m not talking time/space travel here.) Instead of placing items directly on a table, use a tray as another interesting layer. For example, think about a flat bare table. You place a vase of flowers on it and it looks okay, but something is missing. Next, you place a linen striped runner on the table with the flowers. Now, we are talking. It adds layers and visual interest. A tray does just that. It is another layer that adds visual interest to places in your home that are vast, flat planes that need to be broken up with something exciting.
Think Vertical
Scale wise, trays are a perfect bookshelf item when turned on their side. They make a great vertical backdrop for your books and treasures. It adds height and weight to an otherwise empty space and gives good visual heft to your styling. Many of our decorative items are smaller and don’t take up much physical presence. They need something to ground them.
Special Piece for Special Items
I love creating thoughtful vignettes with special items in my home. Take this tray, for example:
I could have put this bourbon and barware on a regular wooden tray, but the custom color and gold leaf horse head make this one so much more special. It is a nod to our home’s color scheme (blues and greens) and also where we live. (Lexington, KY is the horse capital of the world.) It also emphasizes the specialness of the pieces on it – a one-of-a-kind tray for special treasurers. The bourbon was purchased on a tour of Willett distillery and the glasses were passed down from my husband’s grandparents.
Just keep in mind that treasured items should be displayed with intentionality. Then your home reflects you and your individuality, not just the latest home decor line at Target. (Don’t get me wrong, I love a good Target home decor find. I just don’t want my whole house to look like Target lives there.) I live here. Brooke and Aaron live here. We love unique things and to travel. We love collecting family heirlooms. We want each decor item in our home to be something we love that comes with a memory.
You can also be the one who passes on treasured items as wedding gifts or for special occasions like this lovely bed and breakfast tray.
Styling Dos
Just some styling rules regarding your tray:
Think in threes, or odd numbers. I don’t know who decided this but odd numbers of items do look more visually appealing than a group of even numbered. Three items on a tray feels much more balanced than two. Stick to three or five items on a tray. Don’t go overboard filling it up.
Think about scale. You want items of various heights and levels to add visual interest so your eye doesn’t land in one spot and stop.
Think about texture. You’ll want to vary it up again for…let’s say it together…visual interest. That’s the word of the day. Leafy plants, smooth glass, and linen covered books all make your special displays more thoughtful and textural.
Add life. Again, bringing things that are alive into your decorating such as plants, cut flowers and fruit bring your home to life. Live stuff makes things look alive. Imagine that? That’s why you should bring them into your decorating, to breathe life into your home.
If you want to learn more about the custom trays photographed here, please visit my website. I love creating custom trays for people and their homes that match their unique color scheme and personalities.
