I get lots of comments and questions about my tiered tray that I decorate for each season. I actually have a couple of them and they have become my favorite things to decorate.
Do you have a tiered tray? They can be a little tricky to find sometimes. I have found them at Pick Your Plum, Hobby Lobby and there are some darling ones on Amazon. It can be a bit of a challenge to figure out how to make them look good, and finding the perfect items to display so I’ve come up with some tips on how to style them.
5 Tips for the Perfect Tiered Tray
1-FUNCTION
First of all, you can make them functional…they don’t have to be decorated just for the holidays. I keep this wood one on my kitchen counter with mugs and plates (changing them out occasionally for the different seasons) so that they are easily accessible for a quick snack. I’ve seen some used as a beverage tray for morning coffee, a place to hold fruit and veggies for a healthy option and in a bathroom holding washcloths, q-tips and other bathroom essentials.
When using them for function, they can still be cute! Add a cute little figure, a wood saying, a small bowl filled with pretty things…the options are endless.
2-BUILD UP
That top tier has no ceiling, so remember you can make that top taller. For Christmas I added some bottle brush trees and a sparkly silver pick taller than the top of the tray. When decorating that top tier, find items that are a little taller and thinner that will keep your eye travelling up. This is not a hard fast rule, by any means. You can keep the top shorter, and it can look amazing…just remember that you don’t have to limit yourself on that top tier.
Things to build up with: Flowers, figures, candles, jars with straws or floral picks and potted plants. 
3-THINK SMALL
Unless you are really into small collectibles, chances are you won’t have a lot of items to fill your tiered tray on hand. At least that was the case for me. When I shop for decor, I am usually looking for something to make a BIG impact. The tiny little things at the store usually get looked over by my wandering eye. Since I started decorating my tiered trays I have started noticing the smaller things.
That mini red truck from Target I would have seen, but never purchased, just because it was smaller and didn’t have a place in my decor. That’s the good thing about decorating the trays, they can be their own little world of completely different decorations! Sometimes I see a whole style of decorating I love, but have already invested in another style. With these tiered trays you can try out those other decorating styles on a smaller scale without breaking the bank!
Some small item ideas to pick up if you see them while you’re out and about…just remember to think small on these: Ceramic figures, moss or boxwood orbs, ornaments in different colors, floral picks, candy dishes and jars.
4-USE YOUR WORDS One thing to add that might not be obvious are little signs with sayings on them. Those tiny wood blocks with holiday inspired words on them are at most craft stores and big box stores for really inexpensive. Chalkboards are also a favorite way to add a little holiday spirit to your tiered trays. If you can’t find any you love, another easy solution is to shrink down any cute free printable, print it on card stock and set it in your tray, easy and free!
5-MAKE IT FUN!
Finally, remember to make it a fun place to add little bits of your happy. One of our favorite ways is with a little candy dish full of holiday themed treats. Purchase some simple white or glass jars that you can use year round, or go ahead and buy those darling holiday themed ones! Small things store easier…and you can hide them from your husband easier, wink wink!
Another way to add some fun, is to add photos. You don’t even have to use a frame, just pop them in with the decor. Pull out those holiday themed photos that you have, like the kids with Santa or the Easter Bunny. My step daughters did a fun Valentine shoot a couple years back, and it’s fun to pull out a few and add them to the decor.
If you look at any of my home tour posts, I’m sure you can find even more examples!
Tiffany
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