Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization

There are certain staples in home decorating with which you can rarely go wrong. One of those pieces is a tray. In both home staging and decorating, we use decorative trays a lot because they are so versatile (they come in myriad colors, shapes, and sizes), always bring extra style to a space, and are great at keeping smaller decor from looking cluttered.

Trays are most often used on coffee tables (or ottomans) and vanities. In a bathroom, for instance, they are wonderful for keeping perfumes and small toiletries organized in a beautiful way so your bathroom counter or vanity doesn’t get cluttered. The same goes for a living room as they can gather decor, books and magazines so the surface doesn’t look messy. Other places we love to use them are on a bed (especially in home staging), on an ottoman at the end of a bed, or on a bedside table.

Basically, they are the perfect solution if you want to have small items on a surface without a cluttered look. While accomplishing that, they also bring an extra stylish detail in their own right. Whether it’s in a color, metallic, marble or even acrylic, they’re a chic statement that makes whatever surface they are on that much more dynamic.

Here are 10 examples of decorating with trays to inspire you:

Decorating with Trays

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comA natural wood tray brings some warmth to the marble surface and keeps all the small decorative pieces from looking cluttered.
Source: The Every Girl

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comA tray by the bed is a luxurious touch that is perfect for a master bedroom or guest suite.
Source: Home Bunch

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comTo keep all of your perfumes and toiletries organized, place them on a lovely tray like this gorgeous marble one.
Source: Style At Home

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comThe darker tray atop the coffee table helps balance out the vibrancy of the sofa and gives the smaller decor purpose.
Source: Erin Gates Design via Decor Pad

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comA grid layout like this one looks modern and chic, using coffee table books and a tray to balance it out.
Source: AM Dolce Vita

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comAn acrylic tray is perfect if you want visual openness while also keeping your decor organized.
Source: The Glitter Guide

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comA small, round tray is the perfect size and shape for this end table.
Source: One Kindesign

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comThis gold tray is perfectly chic for a small, charming coffee station.
Source: The Every Girl

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comIf you have a lot of magazines, you can stack them in a coffee table tray for a more streamlined look. Balance them out with a bouquet of flowers.
Source: Mix and Chic

Decorating with Trays for Style & Organization | HomeandEventStyling.comThe white tray provides some depth to this dresser, as well as allows extra decor to be displayed without creating the look of a cluttered surface.
Source: Harper’s Bazaar

What’s not to love about decorating with trays?

Warm regards,
Megan

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor

The right cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes can make your kitchen beautiful, but it’s the decor that gives it warmth and character. Since there isn’t typically a lot of wall space in a kitchen, the main decor will be on the counters. This can be a bit tricky since you don’t want a cluttered look. (Especially when you’re staging a home for sale.) But of course, you do want to bring some charm in through accessories!

There are some tried and true kitchen counter decor ideas that always work, regardless of the style of your kitchen. You can take these basic ideas and then make them your own. And, if you’re feeling inspired, you can take it a step further and incorporate some more creative ideas.

The following ten spaces offer some classic examples of kitchen counter decor, as well as some more unique ideas to inspire you.

Kitchen Counter Decor Ideas

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comThe cookbook leaned against the wall provides a charming pop of color to the counters.
Source: Good Housekeeping

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comA clear vase or apothecary jar filled with fruit is a classic way to bring a pop of color to your kitchen counters that is easy and budget-friendly.
Source: The Every Girl

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comYou can also fill apothecary jars with other items like candy (for a more playful vibe), beans or other textured items.
Source: Elle Decor

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comTo clear up some room in your drawers, gather your spoons and large utensils into cute jars. Put them in a tray for an even more organized look.
Source: Martha Stewart

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comCutting boards, especially in interesting shapes, will bring some nice texture to your countertops when leaned up against the wall.
Source: My Domaine

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comA cookbook stand looks adorable when a cookbook is kept open in it. We especially love to use this for home staging.
Source: HGTV

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comDon’t be afraid to embrace a theme in your kitchen. This country-chic space used vintage elements and florals to add some extra charm.
Source: Country Living

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comIn a coastal kitchen, some palm fronds look gorgeous in a clear vase. It’s simple and elegant.
Source: Queensland Homes

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comItems you use regularly, like seasonings and oils, can double as chic kitchen counter decor when placed in pretty bottles.
Source: House Beautiful

Charming Ideas for Your Kitchen Counter Decor | HomeandEventStyling.comA bouquet of flowers always brighten up a kitchen.
Source: Home Beautiful

Kitchen counter decor has so many easy, chic options to play with. It’s a great thing to freshen up in a weekend and can easily be done on a shoestring budget.

Warm regards,
Megan

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You

The coffee table is one of the most fun decorating opportunities in a living room. You can do so much to personalize it and bring more character to the space using the right mixture of pieces. These pieces can be a myriad of things, from books and plants to more unique pieces like heirlooms and DIY projects.

This versatility is why styling a coffee table is one of my favorite parts of decorating a living room. There are some common guidelines that help create designer results, but the most important part is the personality you bring to it. It’s a great spot to get creative with. You can try a myriad of ideas and have fun switching things out for the seasons, too.

Here are 10 examples of coffee table styling to inspire you and get the ideas flowing.

Coffee Table Styling Ideas

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comA stack of books is a classic way to add charm to a table and give the vignette some height.
Source: Refinery29

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comCandlesticks are an elegant choice for a coffee table. The varying heights help add some nice visual interest.
Source: Harper’s Bazaar

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comThe gold vase was a great way to add some glamour to this beautiful coffee table.
Source: One Kings Lane

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comInteresting elements like the antlers, magnifying glass, and filler in the vase provide character and texture.
Source: House Beautiful

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comThe pop of green brings depth to this table in an artistic and modern, yet natural way.
Source: The Everygirl

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comA tray is a great way to keep a clean, organized look on a coffee table. You can decorate with some smaller pieces without getting a cluttered look.
Source: Style Me Pretty

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comTo make a strong statement, use one large piece like this gorgeous vase.
Source: Pier1

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comA pop of pink from the book is just enough on this clean, white palette.
Source: Domino

10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comFor a larger table, multiple vignettes can help create movement in the decor. Using a square tray and a round tray also gives it more visual interest.
Source: My Domaine

 10 Coffee Table Styling Ideas to Inspire You | MeganMorrisBlog.comYour coffee table styling can help pull together the entire look of your space with subtle nuances, like this rustic tray and potted plants in this country chic space.
Source: PopSugar

Styling your coffee table is a lot of fun when you let your creativity take the lead.

Warm regards,
Megan

Decorating with White Accents

You can never go wrong when decorating with white. White accents bring an easy elegance and chic appeal to wherever they are used, regardless of style. They are the perfect versatile accent.

White accents have an especially powerful impact against darker or bold colors, when contrast is created. They can lighten it up and create a visually eye-catching space. They also bring a touch of elegance to rustic textures, such as wood or stone.

There are so many ways you can take advantage of this simple trick. Here are 10 great examples of spaces that used white accents to create depth and contrast of design.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comCrisp white pops against black walls in this chic home office.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comWhite accents create a spa-like appeal in this bathroom and elevate the wood paneling to a more elegant level.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comThe white sofa allows the other, more colorful accents to thrive without overwhelming the space.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comWhite slipcovers can instantly transform any old, outdated seating into something new and stylish.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comChocolate brown looks clean and sophisticated when paired with white and pink.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comThe white accessories mixed in with the more colorful books help balance out this bookcase.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comIf you have any open shelving in your kitchen, white dishes always look best for displaying.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comA white faux bamboo chair allows the emerald green desk to pop.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comThe yellow books and grey accents are given a more sophisticated edge when paired with white.

Decorating with White Accents | HomeandEventStyling.comNothing creates a hotel suite-inspired bedroom quite like white bedding.

What’s not to love about white accents? When in doubt, spray paint it white.

Warm regards,
Megan

Images { 1 – The Every Girl / 2 – HGTV / 3 – House of Turquoise / 4 – Better Homes & Gardens / 5 – House Beautiful / 6 – Good Housekeeping / 7 – Sarah Richardson Design via Decor Pad / 8 – Better Homes & Gardens / 9 – Homedit / 10 – Pop Sugar }