When Tara Wilson contacted me about doing a giveaway on her designs I thought this would be a great way to revisit tablescapes again!
I had no idea that there was a design term for a tablescape until I started reading blogs six months before I started mine back in November 2008.
So here’s what you need:
A box. Or Two. You can stack them (above).
Of course, you need coffee table books.
Anytime I read a blog post or a magazine article where a designer is saying books are out, out, out, here’s what I’m always thinking. . .
That’s nice and maybe it makes good copy to say it, but really? What will you replace them with? Take the books away from the above coffee table and you have a bunch of hard objects sitting on an equally hard glass top. Not the same effect at all, and certainly not something anyone would photograph.
So show me what you’ll replace your books with and I’ll let you know if I think that’s a good idea or not, hehe. Not like my opinion truly matters, I’m just sayin’.
Okay so frames are good for end tables either in bedrooms (below) or living rooms, generally not coffee tables, you don’t want someone looking at the back of your frame.
A small vase with flowers is also a very important element of a tablescape.
If you have a few objects you need to corral a tray is perfect for a tablescape.
And it just so happens that Tara Wilson is giving away this Navy tray (above) or a white one here, value $150. The best thing about these products is that you can change the photo out whenever you want.
So post a comment below and I’ll announce the winner on Friday!
Related posts:
How to Create a Vignette or a Tablescape
How to Create a Child-Proof Tablescape
A Friday Tablescape for a Special Friend
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Love trays! I can find a place for many of these. I am in need of a white tray for decorating for Christmas with a white theme.
OOOH, that Navy tray would work perfectly in our living room, fingers crossed!
Lovely giveaway. White for the house or blue for the boat. Perfect!
What a great idea! I can definitely visualize the tray in my living room:)
Nice tray! I have three areas in my open living space, where I have tablescapes. Entrance, fireplace mantle and cabinet beside fireplace. I change them every season to practise what you preach. Love the challenge. Thanks Maria!
The navy tray would be perfect in my foyer, or living room, or kitchen…
Wow.. thats such an awesome giveaway. I want the whit one 😀
Thanks for the giveaway! and your blog is lovely.
Love the guidance on what makes a great tablescape!! Thank you.
Would love to have the table tray on dresser in my entryway. Smiling photo of my adult daughter who has chronic Lyme disease with co-infections would grace the room and remind me to hold the energy/space for brighter days ahead. Thank you Maria for your lovely blog. I love your ebook!
Would love to add this navy tray in my guest room. It would function great standing up or resting on the nightstand. Love the concept with the acrylic tray.
Count me in, I would love to have a tray! 🙂 Here is hoping.
What a great idea w/ being able to change the photo out.
Thanks
the groupie
Everything looks better on a tray ~ thank you for the generous giveaway! (I’d be up a creek without my books for styling.) 🙂
How fun! I have plenty of things i need to corral.
Love the tray! Love your blog! Love your teaching style! Love your strong opinions!
Beautiful examples! I like your recipe.
You could stack e-readers instead of books.
Seriously? How can books be out of style as long as there are literate people in the world?
I love, love, love that tray-it is modern and so practical-my daughter is having her baby on December 5 and my oh my, wouldn’t a picture of my new grandson look adorable in it!!
I love the tray! I can see it with pictures of my daughter or art prints!
Ginger Kay is cracking me up! Thanks for offering a choice of colors in the giveaway… I love the white one! Great tips in this post too
Love the post, love the photos , love the tray, and books will never be out, out, out!
I definitely need to work on tablescapes… Have been doing lots of renos but have yet to complete the rooms with finishing touches of ‘home’. Thanks for all the great design advice.
What a great giveaway. Thank you Maria! Thank you Tara!
I’m just beginning to decorate my living room after a renovation. The tray would provide a starting point for inspiration, and yes BOOKS will always be part of my Tablescape!
Another beautiful post – loved the tablescapes. The trays are stunning. I agree, books help make a tablescape.
This tray would work in every room in my house. Just recorated 3 bedrooms, and followed all your advice, Maria Killam. Thank you.
Books out of style… Never! Love the tray… I’ve already built my tablescape around it! Just added the photo tray photo to my Pintrest board!
I especially love making book covers to coordinate with my decor! The tray would be a great addition to our coffee table!
books to me are like oxygen..couldn’t live without them. Love that Navy tray..what a great giveaway!
Those who say books are out of style don’t read. I have books stacked several places in my living room. Maria – you were the one that helped me make them look fabulous and the living room tablescapes enviable. Thank you for another great post!
Well, I’ve never tried for a giveaway, but I have a spot on our house boat in mind for the blue one!
As for books used in decorating, I think they are the most natural objects to have sitting around anywhere in the home, whether on bookshelves, used in tablescapes, lifting up lamps, or providing color. Books are just so human!
I love the older books with the faded covers for my tablescapes. Right now I am searching for shades of bluish green/teal/aqua for this purpose. I am imagining lots of ways to use the beautiful tray. I love mixing the sleek with gently aged.
The joy of setting things out for others to enjoy has always been a passion for me- am so inspired by your posts Maria, and your loyal following shows you got it going on ! Tray or no tray I love your style.
Love the advice on tablescaping! The hardest thing to do in design is bookshelves and tabletops, takes loads of practice!
Love the idea of photos in the trays, could also use photos of beautiful scenes such as a garden or winter landscape to change it up..
thanks Maria and Tara Wilson,
Mary
Love this! I’m wondering how this applies to the top of a bureau? Or maybe I’m just always wondering what to do with the top of a bureau?
Love the tray! They are my weakness!
Also, really enjoy your blog and learning about color!
Great modern trays to add an interesting tweak in a more traditional/transitional space. Clean and fresh! Count me in!
Love trays – I can always find a spot for another!
I cannot get enough of tabletop trays. They keep all my little things corralled so things don’t look too cluttered. I’d love to have a nice one like that!
I love them all and would have a hard time deciding which one to choose.
LOVE the tray with leftover wallpaper on the bottom!
I think i NEED this!
2 things: I agree with you that coffee table books still look great, guess where, on the coffee table. I also think your opinion about that is at least as valuable as the people who think they know better.
I’m just doing an interior now where a large coffee table is in need of a tablescape and a tray, books and vase figure prominently. Your trays look fab.
I would love the white tray! Photos are always so interesting in someone’s house.
Oh pretty! And so versatile too! Love it!
I have lots of books but no trays. I would love to try one for my decorating to change things up. Thanks, Maria for another great post!
Love that tray! The navy would be perfect in my master.
I agree with you completely; how can books ever be out? Crazy.
My cottage is punctuated with navy and this would work perfectly!
Beautiful tray. Nice way to display a photo!
All the tray ideas are awesome. Thanks for the chance to win one Maria!
Books can’t be out. No, no! They are adding not only a texture and color to the coffee table but are entertaining and actually interesting to look through and read.
Is someone collecting them only for binders color, not for the content?
That tray solve all my coffee table decorating problems! Love the navy.
The trays are great, I think the white would be perfect! Love Love Love your blog Maria!
we definitely need a pretty tray for our coffee table. something to corral all my husband’s stuff!
I agree wholeheartedly that books are the heart of the home….I have a bookcase in the basement with books and what nots and that is my favorite space.
am imagining an 8 X 10 photo of me peering up from the tray YIKES! Now that’s a scary thot. Perhaps a more serene photo of the beach or sky or even a photo of YOU Maria would be great 🙂 . This is a cool idea for a tray and a great item. Thanks for the ‘scaping advice too…am putting a couple of books on my coffee table as we speak.
Love the tray! And love that you can switch up what goes in it too!!
I think I’m going to “play” tablescapes tomorrow rather than cooking Thanksgiving dinner! I’ll be figuring out how to use that tray!
I agree with you on the books Maria. I’d also like to include small plants (healthy only please) as they are more economical than flowers for everyday.
I love trays and could put some vintage wallpaper or wrapping paper in it instead of a photo. I actually USE them for carting around tea and coffee in case I spill:(
You never have gieveaways, so maybe I’ll get lucky:) CTD
I’ve got a perfect place for the photo tray on my upcycled high-gloss coffee table. Pick me, pick me!
I agree with you about books. Beautiful and nice to have in a home. Good point about the flowers too. Nothing is lovelier than fresh flowers. I love your blog, check it every day. I choose the navy tray. Pick me!
I change my tablescapes all the time. Makes things fresh and new with little effort, and so fun too. I search thrift stores for objects to keep on hand so I can mix things up from time to time. You can always find interesting and unusual items that aren’t mass produced. Stacked books are always included .
Great giveaway! (and perfect present for my mom!)
Those trays are beautiful!
lovely pics as always. would love the white tray in my living room – for my stuff AND books.
Now I realize what has been missing on my living room tablescape – a lovely tray. I love this one in particular because it has clear sides, so for certain seasons the coffee table would not look as cluttered, but it would be the perfect accent or place to keep the smaller items or leave bare to show off the perfect photo (as you said you can’t use frames on a coffee table!). I love the navy but would prefer the white.
I love your source photos – especially the bedroom one. In this case the design not only brings beside the bed the things we want but also gives the perfect place to bring in your accent colors (by the way I love, love the use of purple and green here!). Once again a great lesson on designing our table spaces even if this is a give-away contest. Hope I win!!
What a lovely tray! We just moved into our first house just two months ago, painted it with the help of your undertone book and this tray would be wonderful way to decorate our currently completely bare living room coffee table. Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!
By the way – so glad your choice of winner will be Friday – lately my server has been randomly delivering your posts a day and a half late! I sure didn’t want to miss the chance of winning this wonderful tray.
What a wonderful topic. Just in time to ready the house for Thanksgiving. Thanks too for the generous giveaway. Lovely tray.
I will always appreciate seeing nature in tablescapes–green plants, large ocean shells, or glass, brass/silver metals. I like the colors and textures that books can add. The tray is gorgeous! Count me in!
We are broke from purchasing and furnishing our house, so it would be great to have some accessories!
Tablescapes really are an important finishing touch, aren’t they? If done right, they really make the space look professionally decorated.
I was decorating my client’s coffee table the other day and discovered a thin brown lacquered tray in her storage room…I ended up placing it on the glass top coffee table and adding this cute little silver chest and a sea shell cluster. The combination brought in the brown and white of the west elm Andalusia rug underneath the coffee table, and really made the room! Thanks for your posts on the importance of tablescapes, Maria. You inspire! 🙂
Jill
Tablescapes escape me! I’m trying to make mine look as effortless as yours do and my two coffee table books that I got for my birthday (:)) have started me on the right path. That tray would be perfect on my glass waterfall table in my family room!
The tablescapes look great, but they definetly have their place. Family rooms, boys who wrestle, and tablescapes do not go well together, but they are beautiful and effective in most other applications!
I love using trays for tablescapes. Great advice, as always, Maria
Hi Maria
I’m thinking the white tray would be pretty fab on my coffee table!
I am a lover of trays! I am quite addicted actually, I have not thought of the idea of a photo in one but it sounds and looks amazing.
I pulled out the term tablescape one day and received blank stares….I love the tray and it would be great in my home! Thank you Maria!
Love the navy! And the white. Glad to here we still love books!
I would find some pretty wrapping paper to insert in the bottom of mine. I could also change the theme depending on the time of year.
I want this tray…I’m just sayin’.
I adore trays! I would love to have this one. Beautiful!
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Always enjoy reading your posts Maria! Wonderful images and advice. (I’d love the white tray btw. 🙂
I think the right tablescape can make the whole room.
I have just started tablescaping in my living room. I would love to win the White Tray!!!
Can’t have too many trays, books or pillows! 🙂
Nice giveaway idea!
I agree with Lori, I would love the blue tray with a gorgeous piece of wallpaper instead of a photo. Great giveaway!
I would love the Navy Photo Tray! It’s such a smart idea!
Love navy, my go-to “basic” color! Just painted my front door a divine navy blue, Van Deussen Blue, BM. this tray would be a lovely accessory in the room!
The tray is a great gift… several young adults on my list
would be very happy to receive this!
Thanks for your great tips!
What a unique tray….I’ve never seen anything like it. Table scaping is an interesting and beautiful art form if you know what you are doing. Thanks for sharing this great advice!
I use trays all the time. They make all the small stuff look like something more!
Hi Maria,
I’ve always loved that tablescapes give you the opportunity to put the most personal finishing touches on your decor … a chance to compose and showcase cherished books (yes, books still rock IMHO), mementos, beautiful flowers and candles, bits of nature, found objects. I often find some of the best and most unexpected “solutions” from nature in my backyard, and personal items in my cabinets and closets, stored and forgotten until they’re plucked from obscurity for public display and appreciation 🙂
The tray is really beautiful in its functional simplicity and elegance. I would love to present this to my mother with a picture of her two cherished granddaughters … a place to corral her daily essentials and start her morning with a smile. I’ve been her caretaker for over a decade since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I know this would help keep the memories alive.
Thanks for this opportunity, Maria … I follow your blog religiously and appreciate your many perspectives and inspiring advice!
What a lovely giveaway! I would love one in navy blue!
The white one please. My family photos will look great in it. Choose me, choose me!
Everything looks better in a tray.
A beautiful tray that I would love to incorporate into one of my table scapes! Someone is going to get a lovely early Christmas present, thank you Maria!
I love finding different ways to display photos…cool tray
Whoa! Books can never be out. That’s just crazy talk. However, please people, do decorate with books you would actually read. Home decor should reflect who you are.
Awesome blog Maria! I really enjoyed your e-book too! Thanks for the give-away. I would love to win the white one.
The tray is great, awesome giveaway. I look forward to your posts every day, I have learned so much from you. Merry Christmas
Table scapes are lovely and take thought and reflection, however, are they only for display? where do I put my other stuff, that I might want to put on the table, if it is next to a bed, etc.
Very helpful post Maria, thank you 🙂
What do you do if you have too many coffee table size books?
Love your ideas and the tray would be the ideal addition for our home, especially if it was a picture of my family
Trays are almost a necessity. Would love a navy tray.
I have a new blue sofa and an old coffee table. A beautiful lucite tray with the white frame would give my coffee table just the boost it needs. 🙂
Love the tray!! My husband is an amateur photographer, what a novel way to display his photos.
And you can switch out the pics so you don’t get bored! How good is that?
It would make a great Christmas gift as well.
Hope I get one!!!
Maria
Can’t imagine my life without books and just redid my house in navy and white, so either tray would thrill me to pieces and work beautifully in my home, should I be the lucky winner. Love, love your blog, Maria! Am most grateful that you are so generous in sharing your knowledge as well your opinions! 🙂
Books are a great accessories for the table! Also the tray is beautiful.
I am a newbie to tablescapes . I love the guidance from your posts. The giveaway is a perfect way to get me to jump right in. Thanks!
What a great article on tablescapes! I like the way it’s broken down step by step so even a decorating dunce like me can get it. Beautiful illustrations, also. Love the tray. Thanks!
My table is a mess! Help!
Love the giveaway. I think everyone needs a tray in their home. It puts all those special momentos’ in one perfect and adorable place.
Trays are my obsession! Thanks for the opportunity to have such a beautiful one.