Decorating with Trays

It's time for our monthly decorating edition centered around our Facebook group, Decorating Enthusiasts. We are having such fun over there. If you haven't requested an invite yet, you can do so HERE. Each month we have a decorating topic that the members can participate in. We share our project photos and sing praises to each other. It's also a great place to ask for advice and just to share your decorating and DIY adventures.

This month, we are talking Decorating with Trays! Go style a vignette, snap a cell phone picture and share in the Facebook forum as well as Instagram!

 

Trays are not just for function like carrying glasses of iced tea to the patio.

They make great vignettes on various surfaces. I didn't realize how often I use them in our home until I started writing my post.

 

 

This is a current tray styled on my kitchen counter from my summer home tour. While it is mainly just for looks, it does hold a few of my favorite summer cookbooks. Add an extra layer of texture to your trays by adding a decorative cloth napkin or tea towel. This napkin came from Word Market.

 

 

Trays can be styled in a way for function and design. Here is a little mini-lemonade station in the dining area. A simple little sign written on an index card is all that is needed to let your guests feel welcome.

 

 

How about using a tray to make a table! I had this old discarded base. See the complete transformation HERE.

 

 

Have you ever tried painting a tray. This tray was just too light to work in my decor.  With chalk paint and a glaze, I brought it back to life and now it looks fabulous on the family room coffee table. It really creates a relaxed farmhouse look.

 

 

Even a simple silver tray from the thrift store looks perfect when loaded up with various mercury glass votives. You can see the entire post HERE.

 

 

Trays can also be displayed on heavy-duty easels in vignettes like here in my Summer Family Room Tour.

 

 

I love coming across trays in thrift stores with good bones. A paint treatment can change the look to work in your home.

 

 

A small, narrow wooden tray is perfection in a narrow space.

 

 

Trays can also be functional for outdoor entertaining. You can see how I made my beverage station from a thrift store door HERE.

 

 

You can also hang your trays on the wall…one of my favorite ways to display my toile tray collection.

 

 

I even made this fun serving tray. It was a very easy DIY. Now my computer monitor sits on it. That way I can hide my router under it! You find the how-to HERE.

 

 

Be sure to check out the other creative ways to use trays in your home decor from the other Decor Enthusiast Forum Bloggers:

Our Southern Home (me)

Refresh Restyle

Top This Top That

Confessions of a Serial Do-It-Yourselfer

Artsy Chicks Rule

Restoration Redoux

 

 We are also kicking off a monthly Instagram tour! This is how you play  1. Add your own post   2. Tag it with the #DecorEnthusiast hashtag   3. Follow all 6 of your hosts.  We will choose one winner that will be featured on all 6 Instagram accounts. Our accounts are below!

RestorationRedoux – ArtsyChicksRule – OurSouthernHome – ChristyKJames – RefreshRestyle – TopThisTopThat

 

Thinking ahead to July…..

I’d love for you to follow along on social media!

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