How to Style Trays Like a Pro (Using Thrifted & Vintage Finds)

Hey friends! While writing my Antique Mall Shopping Guide recently, I picked up a wonderfully tarnished vintage Turkish brass tea tray. Trays are one of my absolute favorite decorating tools, and my home is filled with a mix of brass, silver, wood, and woven finds. I use them throughout our farmhouse to anchor small vignettes of collected vintage treasures.

Today, I’m sharing my best tips for styling trays using thrifted and vintage decor. Along with my latest brass tray discovery, I’ll show you how to use previous finds to elevate your coffee tables, kitchen countertops, and more!

Finding Vintage Trays

I’m always drawn to vintage trays in thrift stores and antique malls. Oversized trays in brass, silver, wood, or wicker are my favorite, and my collection continues to grow. Today, I’ll share some of my favorite finds and what to look for in thrift stores.

I recently was exploring Antique Malls for the Thrifting with the Gals monthly blog series. I found this unique vintage brass Turkish tea tray and immediately envisioned all the ways I could decorate with it. I could see it on my kitchen island, as an anchor for a dining table centerpiece vignette, and on my coffee table. So although it was heavily tarnished, I had to have it.

I decided to use some Brasso to see if I could find the original shine under all the layers of grime. It took some elbow grease and several applications, but it was worth the effort. The tray doesn’t look like new, shiny brass, but I prefer the slightly tarnished finish for farmhouse decorating. See this similar tea tray on Etsy.

Styling The Vintage Brass Tea Tray

I had so much fun adding decor to the vintage brass tea tray with some of latest fall treasure. First, I wanted to add this adorable turkey planter that I found at the same antique mall. The colors and the sweet face is perfect for this tray display.

I added the vintage tea tray and turkey planter to my coffee table with a couple small vintage books to add height. Then I added a vintage amber bottle with some dried stems and a brass candle holder. A few dried okra pods, hydrangea blooms, and berries complete the tray decoration.

The tray has three focal points in varying heights to add interest. Let’s take a look at pro tips for styling trays.

Pro Tray Styling Tips

When styling trays, you are usually working with small decor pieces, so it’s important to keep it from feeling cluttered. Here are some rules of thumb that will help.

• Varying the size and height of the focal points.
• Add an odd number of larger pieces, either 3 or 5.
• Use books or risers to add height to smaller pieces.

This vintage brass tray is a good example.

• The turkey planter is round in shape and fat.
• The mini-books keep it from getting lost in the tray.
• The DIY Mercury Glass Vase adds mid-level height and holds dried stems.
• A pair of vintage brass candlesticks adds height.
• With the varying heights and shapes, all items draw your attention.

Vintage & Thrifted Decor for Tray Styling

Obviously, you can use new decor to style trays, and I do mix in new items occasionally. However, why pay top dollar for items that can be purchased for a fraction of the cost at thrift stores? Here are things to look for that will help you style your trays like a pro.

• Small or mini-vintage books
• Small decorative bowls or small plates
• Decorative vases, planters, bottles, bowls, etc. to hold flowers, greenery, or dried stems.
• Small faux greenery plants
• Unique salt & pepper shakers, cream & sugar bowls, or other small serving pieces.
• Ceramic, plastic, gold, or glass fruit or berries.
• Seasonal decor such as vintage ornaments, figurines, small birds, and dishes.
• Brass, silver, or wooden vintage candle holders.
• Flicker tapered candles, votive or pillar candles
• Small picture frames with vintage pictures.

Design Challenge: Tray Decorating

Today’s post is part of our monthly Design Challenge Series hosted by Cindy at County Road 407. I wanted to share the design challenge inspiration photo and how I duplicated the design style, along with my new tray and some images of other styling ideas.

I have several trays to choose from, as you will see when you scroll through my thrifted tray collection. However, for this challenge, I decided to use a basket tray for added texture. A framed needlepoint sampler is placed behind the tray. Inside the tray are a couple of thrifted cutting boards and a crock filled with wooden utensils, a bundle of wheat, a candle, and a tea towel. Although not exactly like the inspiration photo, it has all the basic elements.

If you are following the blog hop, you just say Lora’s stunning fall tray centerpiece. Next, you’ll want to hop over and see Barbara’s French Country Kitchen ideas. At the end of my collection, you’ll see all the links to follow along.

Metal Trays: Brass and Silver

This brass tray is perfect for the mantel, a dining table centerpiece, and on this small side table.

The holidays have me bringing out the gold and silver decor. This vintage silver tray holds brass candlestick holders, a small bud vase with greenery, and a vintage silver teapot.

Although this pewter tray isn’t vintage, it adds drama to my collection of vintage amber bottles for fall decorating.

Wood Decorative Trays

I have several wooden trays, and one of my favorite finds is this small wooden tray with a mirrored bottom. It could be hung on a wall, but I love to fill it with decor to decorate my kitchen island. I’ve used it to hold dining table centerpiece decor also.

This oval wooden tray is one I’ve used many times. From kitchen island to the dining table, it helps to showcase some of my larger vintage finds.

The large ironstone pitcher filled with hydrangeas doesn’t overpower the oversized tray. I also used this tray to hold my large DIY Birdhouses and this thrifted bird bath for my birdhouse themed screen porch tour.

The thrifted wooden tray below needed some tender loving care a,nd I used a no-wrinkle napkin decoupage technique to cover the bottom.

Woven and Basket Trays

Baskets add so much texture to a vignette, and these basket trays are no exception. The large round woven tray creates a warm and cozy fall vignette with pillar flicker candles and thrifted fruit. The copper bowl holds gathered hickory nuts, and thrifted candleholders help to elevate the candles to vary their heights.

One of my favorite trays is this DIY tiered basket tray. The combination of two wicker baskets creates a stunning display for any season.