Hooray for Tray Tables
Unassuming, compact and oh-so-useful, tray tables are champions all round the home
Tray tables seem pretty much impervious to the trends of home fashion – and it’s not hard to see why. They avoid bulkiness, so don’t block the view through a room, and the raised edges of the surface go that extra distance in making a group of items look considered. See how you like these examples.
Match – but not quite
A pair of tray tables are functional and aesthetically appealing in this living room. By choosing the same design, combining two colours, two sizes and even two different heights isn’t jarring.
The black-and-white pairing has a softer counterpart in the tonal grey of the walls and pale grey of the rug that warm this room, and piles of cushions and a throw make the sofa extra inviting.
A pair of tray tables are functional and aesthetically appealing in this living room. By choosing the same design, combining two colours, two sizes and even two different heights isn’t jarring.
The black-and-white pairing has a softer counterpart in the tonal grey of the walls and pale grey of the rug that warm this room, and piles of cushions and a throw make the sofa extra inviting.
Stay in reach
A slim-sided, freestanding bath doesn’t leave room for a bottle of your favourite body wash on the side – and it might get in the way in any case. A folding tray table is the place to set out soaps and oils so they’re reachable. This transparent one doesn’t detract from the centrepiece tub.
A slim-sided, freestanding bath doesn’t leave room for a bottle of your favourite body wash on the side – and it might get in the way in any case. A folding tray table is the place to set out soaps and oils so they’re reachable. This transparent one doesn’t detract from the centrepiece tub.
Boost your basin
Or you might prefer the idea of an extra surface beside the basin when it’s time for pampering. The black tray table in this room is a stylish addition between the wall-hung pairing and can be folded away, if preferred, when not in use.
Or you might prefer the idea of an extra surface beside the basin when it’s time for pampering. The black tray table in this room is a stylish addition between the wall-hung pairing and can be folded away, if preferred, when not in use.
Group greenery
A deep tray table gathers houseplants to make a display in this nook. With most of the planters unseen, it’s a way to put all the focus on the contrasting leaf shapes and shades.
The picture above is hung at a level that associates it with the group below, as the tallest foliage overlaps the frame, while a low pendant light slightly overlaps the decorative arrangement at the top left, and illuminates the niche perfectly.
10 ideas for styling your home with house plants
A deep tray table gathers houseplants to make a display in this nook. With most of the planters unseen, it’s a way to put all the focus on the contrasting leaf shapes and shades.
The picture above is hung at a level that associates it with the group below, as the tallest foliage overlaps the frame, while a low pendant light slightly overlaps the decorative arrangement at the top left, and illuminates the niche perfectly.
10 ideas for styling your home with house plants
Stay in the frame
Opting for a tray table can make a coffee-table vignette – I’m talking pleasing arrangements of objects – easier to pull off. The tray’s sides are an instant frame for your choice of items, attracting the eye to what you’re displaying.
Follow the vignette rules by selecting objects of different heights to lead the eye around, and opt for balance rather than symmetry, as the designer’s done here with the diagonal pairs on the black table.
Master the art of decorating a coffee table
Opting for a tray table can make a coffee-table vignette – I’m talking pleasing arrangements of objects – easier to pull off. The tray’s sides are an instant frame for your choice of items, attracting the eye to what you’re displaying.
Follow the vignette rules by selecting objects of different heights to lead the eye around, and opt for balance rather than symmetry, as the designer’s done here with the diagonal pairs on the black table.
Master the art of decorating a coffee table
Keep on the move
This tall tray table is easy to reach from the sofa, and echoes the dark legs of the seating. The removability of the tray gives this style of table an advantage over its side table competitors in a living room. If eating on the sofa is on the agenda, the tray can be taken to and from the kitchen, and it’s equally good as a surface for a laptop when flipped over.
If a detachable tray is essential, double-check before you buy. While many designs offer this, some have tray-style tops that have other advantages but aren’t portable. You’ll find detachable tray tables are sometimes called butler’s tray tables when you’re shopping.
This tall tray table is easy to reach from the sofa, and echoes the dark legs of the seating. The removability of the tray gives this style of table an advantage over its side table competitors in a living room. If eating on the sofa is on the agenda, the tray can be taken to and from the kitchen, and it’s equally good as a surface for a laptop when flipped over.
If a detachable tray is essential, double-check before you buy. While many designs offer this, some have tray-style tops that have other advantages but aren’t portable. You’ll find detachable tray tables are sometimes called butler’s tray tables when you’re shopping.
Double the benefit
In this luxurious bathing space, the contents of the tray table make for a decorative display in front of the window. Look more closely, though, and you’ll see it’s not just a pretty face. The two containers hold lotions and potions, both tidying and concealing. Seek out tall and good-looking jars or boxes with lids to serve a similar purpose.
The metal here also does its bit to warm the room, while the cooler finishes of the bath, towel rail and tray table, as well as the blue-grey of the walls, keep it feeling expansive.
In this luxurious bathing space, the contents of the tray table make for a decorative display in front of the window. Look more closely, though, and you’ll see it’s not just a pretty face. The two containers hold lotions and potions, both tidying and concealing. Seek out tall and good-looking jars or boxes with lids to serve a similar purpose.
The metal here also does its bit to warm the room, while the cooler finishes of the bath, towel rail and tray table, as well as the blue-grey of the walls, keep it feeling expansive.
Stand out
A fluoro tray table is part of the eclectic mix in this apartment. Note how it’s balanced, but not matched, by the mini nest of tables on the other side of the sofa to keep the look informal. None of the side tables intrude beyond the arms of the sofa, which helps a small living room feel well furnished but not cramped.
Check out the fabulous uplighting of the plant in this room. Arranging the lighting in this way to create shadows on the ceiling looks dramatic, but it’s easy to do.
A fluoro tray table is part of the eclectic mix in this apartment. Note how it’s balanced, but not matched, by the mini nest of tables on the other side of the sofa to keep the look informal. None of the side tables intrude beyond the arms of the sofa, which helps a small living room feel well furnished but not cramped.
Check out the fabulous uplighting of the plant in this room. Arranging the lighting in this way to create shadows on the ceiling looks dramatic, but it’s easy to do.
Say cheers
Don’t hide a cocktail shaker away in a cupboard. A tray table’s just as good as a trolley if you only want to set out a few choice ingredients for your favourite tipples.
If you don’t want a permanent bar in the room, you can use it on social evenings and make carrying glasses, bottles and ice from kitchen to living room convenient.
Bar trolleys: Let the good times roll!
Don’t hide a cocktail shaker away in a cupboard. A tray table’s just as good as a trolley if you only want to set out a few choice ingredients for your favourite tipples.
If you don’t want a permanent bar in the room, you can use it on social evenings and make carrying glasses, bottles and ice from kitchen to living room convenient.
Bar trolleys: Let the good times roll!
Watch the series
The tray tables in this room certainly don’t hide their light under a bushel. In zingy yellow, they might be an attention-grabbing feature, but their compact dimensions and outline make them a clever choice for the area in between the sofas, too. Group three together like this and you’ll also ensure everyone who’s seated has easy access to a surface to set down a cuppa or glass.
TELL US
Where do you use tray tables in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
The tray tables in this room certainly don’t hide their light under a bushel. In zingy yellow, they might be an attention-grabbing feature, but their compact dimensions and outline make them a clever choice for the area in between the sofas, too. Group three together like this and you’ll also ensure everyone who’s seated has easy access to a surface to set down a cuppa or glass.
TELL US
Where do you use tray tables in your home? Share your ideas in the Comments below.
In this bedroom, tray tables take the space more usually occupied by cabinets or chests. The advantage? They keep the small room looking as spacious as possible, as you can see right to the wall either side of the bed. In white, they blend in with the backdrop as well, which makes them appear to occupy less space.
The sloping sides of the trays, meanwhile, are a bonus for those who aren’t tidy by nature, as they can conceal some of the contents. Add in taller items that are decorative – like the picture and plant here – for a chic finish.