HOW TO - Styling Decorative Trays - Darren James Interiors

Decorative trays have become a must for all our projects, and they don’t look like a trend that’s ending any time soon. We just love them! They are a sure way to add a point of interest to any surface and ground those loose decorative items like vases or candles by giving them place and purpose.

So have you ever wanted to create one for your space and not known where to start? We’re here to give you a few of our top tips on how to craft the perfect tray feature for your home –

KEEP IT SIMPLE

Who said that styling your decorative tray had to be complicated? Most of the time it really is the simpler the better! Whether it’s a circular slab of marble or a handcrafted timber tray, adding only a few items and keeping things minimal allows the art of the tray itself to take precedence. Our favorite combination for an effective and simplistic tray is always adding a touch of greenery with a statement decorative dish. Materiality surely is key though, so make sure the selected pieces feature beautiful colours or finishes to ensure your tray that will grab attention!

UTILITY SPACES

As beautiful as trays can look, they can serve so many useful purposes too! By adding a decorative tray to utility spaces like your kitchen or bathroom, can be a great way to not only give those loose items a home but make them look stunning at the same time! We love adding our favorite Aesop soap with a plant cutting or candle to a tray nearby the sink – both purposeful and beautiful!

TRAYS WITH THE LOT

Some times a space might call for something more layered however. Using a larger scale tray can create opportunities to incorporate more styling items, but also most space for usable everyday items like your favorite books, coasters and jewelry boxes. By layering these items with decorative pieces like vases, candles and planters, and breaking the tray up with mixed materials and varied heights – you are definitely on your way to perfecting the art of the decorative tray!