The Anatomy Of Styling A Coffee Table Tray

Back in 2012 I had a series here on the blog entitled “The Anatomy Of…”. In each blog post I shared the ins and outs of decorating different areas of your home. One of the areas I never addressed was The Anatomy of Styling A Coffee Table Tray. Today I’m relaunching the series and sharing tips and inspiration on how to style a decorative tray on a coffee table.

THE ANATOMY OF STYLING A COFFEE TABLE TRAY

* Use one large tray or group a couple of smaller trays together on the coffee table.

* A coffee table is a great place to gather a collection of items that you love and that represent your personal interest.

* The mix of accessories displayed on a coffee table can fit a theme or be an eclectic grouping, whatever fits your style. A variety of textures, colors and materials will make the overall arrangement more interesting and inviting.

* Similar to layering accessories on a console table, your tray arrangement should be layered. Group items to create a focal point and use items to create dimension.

* Books on a coffee table can be used for more than reading. Use books as risers to elevate smaller accessories and to create vertical and horizontal lines within your arrangement.

* Use greenery or flowers to add softness and color. The dark green leaves of a plant provide a great contrast against dark wood furniture. Colorful flowers will add a sense of vibrancy.

Now that you have the fundamentals of decorating a tray on a coffee table, here’s the different ways I accessorized my tray.

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Different Ways to Accent Your Coffee Table Tray

Decorate with Objects–I used a combination of objects that were somewhat ornate in feeling and all within the same color palette. The books were used to elevate the smaller pieces and I put the scrolled bookend under glass to give it more impact. The bookend is inexpensive but under glass it has a glam feel.

I also tried a simple arrangement with flowers as the focal point and smaller decorative accessories to fill the tray.

Decorate With Books–I love coffee table books and always have them on my coffee table. Books add visual interest and are great for elevating smaller decorative items. I kept this arrangement simple and used the books as the focal point. You’ll notice that I placed books in different directions to give the arrangement more visual interest and also use books in different sizes for more variety. The lidded jar and magnifying glass add personality.

Decorate with Greenery and Monograms— I gathered up a few of my monogrammed dishes and incorporated them into the arrangement. I love the color and the personalized feel they add to the coffee table. To add depth, I added a large and small greenery sphere to the arrangement. I love how the color and texture pop against the bright colors. I finished this grouping with a mix of decorative objects to give it an eclectic feel.

Decorate with Candles–The last arrangement I pulled together was all about color and candles. A vintage brass trophy urn holds a jar candle and serve as the focal point on the table. The flowers add color and texture and the monogrammed dish add another pop of color.

After trying all of the decorative combinations, I decided to combine several of the looks. Once the tray was styled, I added a few more decorative pieces to fill out the table surface.