Guest Picks: The Tray's the Thing

I love trays. I guess I'm one of those people who likes to make the most of little things, and I actually look forward to putting my tea or lunch together on a favorite tray and taking it into the living room to eat where I shouldn't. The ritual of gathering refreshments in this manner is quite civilized, isn't it? (It may also be the only consistent example of being organized that I've ever demonstrated.)

And clearly I'm not alone in my fixation. What was once viewed as a common, utilitarian kitchen accessory is now a means for exploring color, texture and form. This ideabook features trays that will rev up your food or drink service and delight your guests, and maybe even turn you into a tray person too. — Denise from The Swelle Life

Hans Bølling Beech Tray Table, Blossom Pink - GBP 360 Hans Bølling's iconic 1963 tray table has more than enough to love with its reversible and removable upper and lower trays. And now there's a softer side, thanks to the 50th-anniversary edition with blossom pink and white beech trays. I love its simple and practical design, and while I'd be tempted to dress it up a bit as a side table, I'd definitely be using those trays. I'd take off the top and load it up with tea-service items in the kitchen, then set it back on the frame to enjoy. Or I'd just wheel it away!


Rectangular Lacquer Serving Tray, Blue - $66.40 I love this vivid twist on the old-fashioned and boxy wooden tray that grandmothers used to line with dish towels. The traditional cutout handles and solid structure have that nostalgic charm, while the bright blue lacquer finish makes it fresh and fun. Whatever you put on this tray will pop.


Cappuccino Tray - GBP 294 Bed trays are just wonderful — their mere existence is an endorsement of the virtues of eating in bed. (Do it without a tray, and you're labeled a slob.) The unique long-legged design of this beech plywood tray makes it great for breakfast under the sheets and lets it double as a low table for use in other parts of the home.


Wooden Square Tray, Small - GBP 65 I like that this oak tray appears very homey and unpretentious at first, then a closer look reveals the elegance of its rounded edges. A silver tea set on white linens would make a striking contrast.


Just Slate Antler Handle Tray - $26 After spending some time in Ontario cottage country this summer, I can see this antler-handled tray right at home in one of the rustic yet refined lakeside retreats. The slate is a nice change from the oak and pine surroundings but still keeps with the natural theme.


Eames Numbers Tray - GBP 30 I'm a freak for anything from the fun-loving Eames duo who sought to give the world fun and practical things to play with in everyday life. The sunshine yellow and mischievous number arrangement on this wood tray will surely liven up your daily routine.


Pantone Tray, Ketchup Red - $39 Ketchup Red is the appropriate Pantone shade for a food tray, is it not? And if you'd never touch the common condiment, the tray can be used to serve up a bit of irony. Either way, the vibrant red is a happy and energizing color that would be most welcome in my kitchen.


My Dinner Tray With Plate - GBP 30 If you like a minimalist look for your tray service — no tea towels! — but hate your plate migrating to the edge on your way out of the kitchen, you may appreciate the brilliance of this porcelain all-in-one version. The plate is part of the tray, so all you need to worry about is your cutlery sliding around, though surely a napkin or two is allowed.


Vattenblänk Plywood Tray - $89 I'm a big fan of the iconic fabrics of Finland's Marimekko design house. But I don't sew. However, now there's a way to get those vivid graphics into the home with no stitches required: trays made with the fabrics pressed into plywood and then laminated. The fabric is cut raw, so you get a random piece of the overall design; each tray is unique. I would lean one against the backsplash in the kitchen or on the wall behind the sideboard to energize the room with happy colors.


Vertigo Glass for Cheese Tray - GBP 108 Sometimes it's nice to switch up the rustic wood-block cheese board for something considerably more elegant. I love glass trays — there's something very pristine about them. The decorative silver ring centerpiece on this one is a signature feature of the designer. Would it be wrong to use this for serving very expensive pieces of rolled-up prosciutto? Probably.


Gridlock Round Tray - GBP 27 This tray is just so much fun. The colors are great, and who doesn't want to remember those neat little dinky cars from childhood? The tray is handmade in Sweden from a single sheet of FSC-certified birch and will last through generations. Everyone will be guessing about which decade it's from.


Monroe Modern Wood Tray, Turquoise - $127.50 Glossy turquoise is a weakness of mine, so this lacquered wood tray would never see the inside of a drawer or cupboard. I'd color coordinate the party food, going with pastel pastries or smoked salmon hors d'oeuvres for an extra-scrumptious presentation.


Oversize Reversible Serving Tray - $34.09 This lovely and sturdy acacia wood tray is reversible. The handles double as a stand when you flip it over, so you can use it as a lap tray to keep your nether regions from burning up while you work on your computer.


Danya B ANG5426 Serving Tray With Cutting Board and Cutlery - $30 I like sections, because they take the pressure off the arrangement of the food, which I always spend far too much time figuring out (even when it's just for family members, who don't notice). This porcelain tray features a removable bamboo board that is great for serving meats and cheeses, and a knife and fork are included. I think this could also double as a posh TV-dinner plate — peas in the corner section.


Square Serving Tray - $55 This canvas and enameled wood tray gives me a pang of nostalgia: The surface design reminds me of the graph paper I used in school. It's appealing as a simple yet bold design, and the protruding handles are unique and give it an unusual geometric style.


Bärbar Tray, Dotted, Multicolor - GBP 5 Now this is just pure joy. It's like a child's paintbox. Go all out with the fun and serve colorful cupcakes in bright wrappers or mini smoothies with striped straws.


Anti-slip Serving Tray - GBP 9.49 When serving drinks, you really need a tray that absolutely will not slip — this I know, having worked as a waitress through school. For crowded parties where errant elbows or inebriated guests are likely to be obstacles, or for simply walking more than a few feet to the next room, this tray's textured grip will be your savior. And the gold rim makes it party appropriate.


Almedahls Belle Amie Tray, Orange - GBP 21.50 This tray is like a dose of vitamin C. It would have to be my breakfast tray whether I needed one or not. I'd set it with a glass of orange juice, yellow linen napkins and a bowl of cereal topped with bananas and blueberries. Yes, I would actually coordinate my breakfast to the tray — it's called inspiration!


Ibride Isidore Visconti Tray - GBP 55.42 Dining service can be hilarious, as this tray depicting a portrait of a suited-up Cornish Rex demonstrates. You can serve drinks on it and watch while your guests realize (or not) what lies beneath their glass as they take it, or you can always display it as wall art to keep yourself smiling throughout the day.


Allium Tray - GBP 15 What a lovely tray for serving afternoon tea and cakes. Keep the dusty blues going with matching china and linen napkins, the latter of which you'll need to keep the cups from slipping on this pretty plastic piece.

Next: Tray Chic: Turn an Everyday Item Into Decor

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