My First Attempt At Styling A Tiered Tray With Fall Decor

For some time I have admired the decorated tiered tray trend.  I just haven’t fully embraced it in my own home.

I have no real reason to explain why except that I haven’t taken the time to gather all of the seasonally decorative items I would need.

Or maybe it is because most of the tiered trays and decorative items on the market lean toward a more Farmhouse style.  My home is NOT a Farmhouse so matching my home’s interior while gathering vintage mid-century-inspired items is a little tougher.

But that hasn’t stopped me from thinking about styling a tiered tray for my home for every season of the year.

A few years ago, I bought a vintage tiered tray in a thrift store.  It looks nothing like the tiered trays on the market today but I couldn’t resist its vintage charm and brought it home to slowly dabble with different decor options, mostly at Christmas time each year.

Nothing that I ever shared with you on the blog before either.

Until now.

This post contains affiliate links that help to support this blog at no additional cost to you.  My wish is that you find something amazing for your home through these links.

 

 

I finally found a few vintage-style decor pieces and other small items to include on a Fall-inspired decorative tray. After a few weeks of random tweaks to figure out a personal style, sporadically changing out the decor items, and adding a pop of color and some natural items for visual interest, I decided my decorative tray was done enough to share it with my readers.

My little silver round tray dressed up in Fall decor is not fancy, but it was fun to dabble in a new-to-me design trend, and I learned some design tips to share with other tiered-tray wannabes like myself.

 

 

 

 

Simple Tips for Creating A Themed Tiered Tray Design

The first tip is to pick a theme. 

My first tiered tray design is for the Fall season and my next one will be Christmas. However, there are some times of the year when a holiday is not the most obvious choice.  Beyond the holidays, I have no idea how I will decorate this little tiered tray to match my home decor style.

So I started thinking about tiered tray themes for the rest of the months without a holiday when seasonal decor is limited.

As a designer, I know that inspiration can come from anywhere, at any time. That’s why I put together a list of decorative trays that are sure to get your creative juices flowing, even outside of the holiday season. So take a look and let this ignite your imagination for your next tray design.

 

• Vintage and Mid-Century Modern collectibles as an array of vintage finds
• Snoopy (my favorite cartoon character)
• Seasonal for Winter, Spring, and Summer
• Small framed photos and toys from my grandkids
• Dog-themed (because I am obsessed with dog-themed items)
• RV and camping (we just bought our first RV this year)
• Travel souvenirs and treasures
• Succulents and small houseplants
• Craft supplies for a fun and whimsical conversation piece

 

 

 

More creative tips

Tip number two is to plan to add items of different heights to your overall tray decor.

Similar to how I described in my post for creating floral arrangements, there needs to be varying degrees of height to create visual interest in a vignette. For my Fall tiered tray, I pulled in a miniature cake stand, purchased at Hobby Lobby, to elevate an item, for me a pumpkin, to keep the eye moving from one item to another.

 

 

 

 

 

Tip three is to pick a color scheme that blends well together.

Every item in my Fall tray is a mix of autumn colors found living together in nature. Using colors that blend well together, even on a small scale like a tiered tray, follows the same design principles as curating a whole room design. There should be a primary color accented by touches of secondary colors that complement each other.

Are you wondering what do you if your vision includes a neutral or monochromatic color theme?

 

 

Then you Lead with tip four, which is to bring in different textures.

Consider incorporating various textures into the mix.

Not only does this elevate the visual appeal of your display, but it also adds an element of interest for to the design. With just a few tweaks, you can take your tray design from basic to stunning.

In my Fall tray, I have included shiny ceramic pumpkins, woven pumpkins, and glittered-covered pumpkins. The final textures are the natural rough texture of pine cones, and bottle brush trees in Fall colors.  Each texture and surface contributes to the overall visual effect of the display.

 

 

Tip Four is to include different shapes.

My fall-themed tray includes a lot of pumpkins, but not everything in my tray has a round shape.  The bottle brush trees bring in a sharp triangular shape. An adorable small decorative sign is square acting as a backdrop to the mushrooms with an elevated dome shape. Lastly, the sunflowers are free-flowing and natural elements.

 

 

Tip Five:  Not all of the items displayed have to be in the tray.

Beside my vintage round tray is a trio of black cat statues I found a few months ago at an estate sale. 

At one point, the trio was displayed inside the tray, but eventually, I decided they looked best sitting outside the tray as an adorable little accent.  Nearby is one of my Fall floral arrangements and a candle that completes the Fall vignette.

This simple change allows the tiered tray to become a focal point in a collected vignette of Fall decorations.

 

 

 

Last tip.

The key to a stunning display lies in choosing a tiered tray style that you love and filling it with carefully selected items. Embrace the journey of seeking out the perfect tray and curating a collection of pretty things to adorn it. Then, proudly display your finds for all to see. With endless options and endless creativity, the possibilities for your tiered tray are limitless. Let your inner designer shine and bring your tray to life with personal flair.

 

Pin For Later

 

 

Thanks for reading through this post and following my long-awaited journey into designing a tiered tray.  I can’t wait to explore this new interest! After all, redesigning a small-tiered tray is a breeze compared to the daunting task of revamping our 8-foot mantel every season.

Hugs,

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”