This is the week of the spring refresh.

I’m doing something a little different and I’m hoping you’ll join me.

My friend Leslie and I were chatting and talking on the phone about our houses and spring and should I get a spray tan and what color lipstick would work for summer and we came up with the BEST IDEA.

Are you ready?

Are you sitting down?

We are going to go through our entire house this week and refresh it room by room with a new item for each room.

We’re picking the same type of item, but each of us is going to feature that item in our own style, in our own spaces and we’re starting today with the living room.

I picked the CUTEST thing and then styled it four different ways in the space.

Can you figure out what I picked in this living room picture?

If you guessed this….

….you are brilliant.

The challenge was to refresh the space with a tray.

And of course?

I chose this one.

Hello Captain blue and white obvious.

It’s from Spode and I ordered it from here.

I chose it because of the details.

See the tiny swirls on the handles?

And this scene that looks like it stepped out of the farm on Downton Abbey.

Spode never disappoints. Look at the frame around the center?

And the perfect blue color?

And the floral details.

Here are four ways that I styled it:

1. Add it to a side table

I put it on the brass side table between the two love seats.

And simply added moss.

I have this set of the faux moss stones. It comes in three different sizes and I just stack the moss on the tray on top of each other. The color is perfect for spring against the blue and white.

2. Add it to a bookcase

It’s also the perfect size tray for layering in a bookcase.

I added it to the navy bookcase (painted SW Naval) behind my whiteware.

The blue and white makes the vases pop.

3. Add it to a mantel

I put the blue and white tray on a plate stand.

Then added in two sets of brass candlesticks.

And some fun brass accessories and this artwork.

I almost kept it here, but then I found the perfect home for it.

4. Add it to a coffee table

Look at the tray here.

It’s so beautiful it doesn’t need a lot of decorating.

I just filled small vases with fresh flowers and added them to these brass terrariums.

And then added a white wood bead strand to the tray.

Wasn’t that fun?

A new tray.

A little spring refresh.

A space that makes me so happy.

If you have any questions on anything else in the space, you can always shop my house here.

I’m doing an entire tour of the space on Instagram later and Leslie and I are going to share a new room and a new find each day this week.

Want to see what tray she picked?

It’s SO pretty.

You can see her entire room refresh and details on her trays here.

And now I have a question?

Which place did you like the tray best in my house?

Should it move?

Inquiring decorating minds want to know. 🙂

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Posted On: April 26, 2021

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  1. Image for Lanita Anderson Lanita Anderson

    I love it best on the coffee table! Thanks for sharing all of the great ideas and inspiration......Happy Monday!

    Reply
  2. Image for Karen Mary Karen Mary

    Pretty, pretty tray! I love it in the bookcase. It's a sweet surprise! When I finish spring cleaning a room I often top it off with one small new item, something like your tray. It's a little reward and usually all the room needs (well, besides fresh flowers, of course)!

    Reply
  3. Image for Kathy Menold Kathy Menold

    I like it on the mantle where you can really appreciate the lovely details of the craftmanship of the tray. As you said Spode never disappoints.

    Reply
  4. Image for Betsy Betsy

    I've had that tray for years and I use it for food serving. The rest of the time it sits very pretty on a kitchen shelf. I recently found the same tray in melamine and it's been a work horse for outside dining. Of course it's blue and white so it has to be a winner! : )

    Reply
  5. Image for AnnTN AnnTN

    I like it best on the coffee table. I like it least on the mantle. It's having to compete with the picture on the wall behind it. It seems lost on the mantle. But it's your house and you can place it wherever you want.

    Reply
  7. Image for Sandy Sandy

    Blue and white has been a favorite of mine. I like your blue tray on the mantle with the bronze candleholders. My home is full of Polish pottery. There’s a tray that needs to come out from the dining room cabinet and find a home for spring. Will be following your next refresh idea. May is right around the corner. Eighty degrees here in Ohio tomorrow. Can’t wait!

    Reply
  8. Image for Rebecca Turner Rebecca Turner

    It looks great in all of the ways you’ve featured it but I like it best on the shelf. However, I realize that it’s an up close and personal shot and you’d need more of its kind to make it work, but it looks SO good there. Like adding a layer that you didn’t know was missing. In any case, I love it! What a great little tray!

    Reply
  10. Image for patricia patricia

    I think it would look best with some homemade scones and a cup of tea... Or is that because I'm ready for breakfast?

    Reply
  11. Image for Scarlett Scarlett

    I always love decorative items that can me moved around & used in different ways. I like it in all the places you used it but on the coffee table is my favorite spot.

    Reply
  12. Image for Teresa Gonzales Teresa Gonzales

    What great ideas! I love trays and use them in every room in my house. The tray on the coffee table adds a touch of blue and white.

    Reply
  13. Image for cynthia chilson finger cynthia chilson finger

    I love it with the moss covered rocks, but I live in Seattle so I may be biased?! :D Second would be on the book shelf, but with a brass stand. It's lovely wherever it lands. Happy Monday!

    Reply
  14. Image for Marcy Marcy

    First let me say I admire you so much and enjoy your site. I can't think of a way to say this without sounding critical and judgmental...I would love to see you in a pale lip color (since you mentioned it) and a less harsh under eye line. (mean looking) Sorry. I know our mama's all said " if you can't say anything nice"...

    Reply
  15. Image for Lynn Mosher Lynn Mosher

    Ooo...how to choose? I love it with the faux moss stones. I have a small one, not really eligible to be called a tray but I guess it is. Would be suited for pens and pencils. Going to add my moss stones! But I digress. I love each place you put it. Maybe my fave is in the bookcase. And add some more! {giggle} Just have fun moving it around. Start a new game: where's the tray? LOL 😍

    Reply
  18. Image for Kris Kris

    I really liked the side table, coffee table, and bookshelf options. Maybe I don't have the right perspective, but it seemed to be too small on the mantel--it somehow looked disproportionate to me. I agree with the person who said it would look best with scones in it! ;)

    Reply
  19. Image for Kim Kim

    I love it in the bookcase although it looks awesome on the coffee table also. You always find the best stuff. I really dont have anymore room to add things to my house. When you are 65 you have by then collected LOTS OF STUFF as my husband calls it. Regardless I am still going right to Spode as soon as I send this

    Reply
  21. Image for Darlene Darlene

    Hi. .......I love it on the coffee table. Anywhere is beautiful. Great minds think alike! I ordered the Same plate and am in love with it. I move it around often. I am a blue and white lover. Ordered the planter pots you showed us last week as well. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  22. Image for Debbie Debbie

    It matches so good you could put it anywhere but the table is great! It brings your blue to the table where there is mostly gold and glass it looks great there

    Reply
  25. Image for Anita Sams Anita Sams

    Beautiful tray, a wonderful choice. My personal feeling is that it is much too pretty to cover it with beads or mossy stones. The plate stand on the mantel is nice, but the large picture detracts from it, and is an entirely different style,(not compatible). The bookcase is lovely, and it draws the eye, in combination to the white glass.

    Reply
  26. Image for Anne Cockes Anne Cockes

    I love ea h choice you made. I collect blue and white antique plates, platters, cups etc. I love the simplicity of the coffee table. Refreshing with the red. You always make us smile. Thank you

    Reply
  27. Image for Debbie Guess Debbie Guess

    Hi Karianne! Love that Spode tray! It is such a beautiful piece that I would hate to cover it up with anything. It looks fabulous in all four places you put it but my favorites are on the bookcase or the mantle..

    Reply

Comments are closed.