Styling your table tops by artfully displaying items of use or beauty is a wonderful way to avoid chaos. A tray provides parameters and a designated spot for items, for example; oils, and frequently used spices in a kitchen. Above are examples by Stylizimo (left), and the very instagram-worthy Kristin of Damernasvarld (right).

A clean desk is the best fresh start to the day, agreed? A tray is a great landing spot for items like a glass full of pencils, a pretty letter opener, or a pill-box full of stamps. The top right image is a simple acrylic tray with a pretty card stock cut to fit inside, see the tutorial here at Just A Girl. A deep sea-green tray houses desk curiosities (left) from The Everygirl.

Notice how a small vase of flowers instantly make this bedroom tray vignette incredibly dreamy? This image above from Moth Design has repurposed a Jonathan Adler match strike as a Q-tip holder.

So assemble the troops and get organized and stylized. Above is a collection of trays I have selected for every use (from top left to bottom right):

1. Lucite and brass tray from the Jacques Collection by Jonathan Adler.
2. Square marble tray from Williams Sonoma. *If placing an oil or wine bottle on true marble, try using a coaster to protect the porous material.
3. Safari leather tray by Sarreid.
4. Acacia rectangular wood tray by Lulu and Georgia.
5. Greek key mirrored round tray by Williams Sonoma.
6. Black melamine large serve tray by Target.
7. Silver plate Malmaison tray by Christofle from Bloomingdales.
8. Orange lacquered round wood tray by Lulu and Georgia.