Looking for genius ways to add some holiday cheer to your home without breaking the bank? Add a Christmas tray! It’s a simple change with a big impact. It is easy to assemble and can be used in any room. It’ll make any place feel like Christmas right away.
Here’s the deal with Christmas decorating: you don’t need to decorate every spot in your home with lights and garland.
Sometimes, it’s the small things that create the most visual appeal. A well-decorated tray can do just that.
Think of this: you walk into your room and see a tray with lit candles, some greenery, and maybe some shiny ornaments or pinecones.
It feels warm, nice, and festive, but not too much. The best part of tray decor is how easy it is to decorate it. You can have one in your kitchen with stuff for hot cocoa or in your hall as a cute “hello.”
Or set one on a side table to add that warm Christmas feel. Let’s face it, trays are real savers if you like to mix things up for each season.
You can swap things in and out with no need to redecorate the full room. After Christmas, you change a couple but and give it winter-only vibes.
In this post, we’ve gathered 24 Christmas tray decor ideas for every style. Whether you’re into the farmhouse style, modern, glam, or somewhere in the middle, you’ll surely find ideas here to make your space cozy and festive.
1. Red Ribbon on White Vase
A white vase with a red ribbon bow tie just screams Christmas in an elegant way. It’s minimal, clean, and instantly festive. Plus, you can use the vase all year and just change the ribbon and branches.
2. Layered Tall Candles
Tall candles are cozy, visually calming, and appealing. When you place them at mixed heights, it gives a warm glow. It makes the place feel warm and thoughtfully decorated, even if it took just five minutes to do.
3. Warm Light Touches
Soft light can change the vibe of a room. A small line of string lights or a lit candle in a tray brings that magic holiday vibe, but not too overwhelming. It’s basically instant coziness.
4. Rustic Bells with Red Velvet Ribbons
Weathered or rustic bells bring that classic Christmas feel, and the red velvety ribbons make them pop. It’s a combination that feels both timeless and elegant at once.
5. Black Stag Ornaments
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Black stag figurines add a bold, modern look to the tray but still keep the Christmas mood. They look great with evergreen branches, brass bells, and other festive ornaments.
6. Juniper Evergreen Pine in a Vase
A vase with fresh pine or juniper is pure Christmas. It smells great, looks effortlessly festive, and gives greenery to the tray. It’s great if you don’t want an overwhelming or overly decorated tray.
7. Black Vase with Faux Pine Branches and Red Berries
No real green stuff? Faux branches to the rescue. A black vase with fake pine & red berries is a no-fuss option that still looks festive. Black is sleek, and red is fun—a great combo!.
8. Neutral Color Scheme
Use neutral colors if you don’t want a busy tray. White, cream, and mild hues keep things minimal and cozy. Add small hints of greenery and a couple of Christmas ornaments for that light Christmas feel.
9. Woven Basket Tray
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A woven basket helps to add warmth and texture that makes the whole centerpiece feel grounded. What makes it so great is that it works with any style, whether farmhouse, rustic, or even modern. Plus, it’s practical, as it helps keep everything in place.
10. Woven Christmas Trees
Woven trees add a neat, fun touch because they bring texture and height to a space without being flashy. They’re also unique, understated, and give off that handcrafted vibe that feels super cozy for the holidays.
11. Evergreen Branches in Vase with String Lights
This one feels like bringing a little bit of the outdoors inside. Evergreen branches always set the Christmas vibe, but add fairy lights and your coffee table will turn into a mini winter wonderland. It’s simple, yet it brings that Christmas magic.
12. Plaid Ribbons on a Vase
Plaid and Christmas just go so well together, don’t they? Simply wrapping a vase with a plaid ribbon instantly makes it look festive. Like you don’t even have to do anything else. It’s the kind of decor that feels cheerful but not overdone.
13. Snowy Winter Theme
A tray with snowy bits? Why not! Use frosty pinecones, small white trees, or fake snow to bring that cozy, winter feel, even if it’s warm where you live. It’s like having a mini winter forest on the table.
14. Red Baubles in Large Glass Vase
This is very easy, but it looks great. Just stack shiny red balls in a glass vase, and now you have a bold, cheerful arrangement that grabs the light and feels super festive.
15. Wooden Tray, Vase, and Miniature House
There’s just something so charming about combining wood elements with some greenery. This look gives that homey, storybook feel, you know? Like you’re setting up a little Christmas village right on your table.
16. Santa Figurine
Nothing screams Christmas like a Santa Claus figurine on your decorative tray. It brings a fun, classic feel, like a nostalgic excitement. It’ll make people (including you) smile whenever they see it.
17. Red Candles in a Stand
Red candles look more festive, especially in a tray decor and a nice stand to go with. Light them and you get a warm, soft glow. This makes any room feel cozy. It’s simple yet so timeless.
18. Christmas Tree Candles
These are a great buy (or DIY project) as they double up as decor and a light source. Even when not lit, they will look like small trees on your tray. Light them and you have a mini forest of festive cheer right on your coffee table.
19. Ceramic Christmas Trees and Bells
Let’s face it, there’s something elegant but still homey about ceramic pieces. A few little trees (varying heights) paired with some brass bells feel both decorative and traditional. This kind of setup works whether your style is modern or rustic.
20. Gold Mirrored Tray with Metallic Ornaments
Gold trays look and feel fancier, don’t they? The mirror reflects whatever decor you put on it, so keep it simple. Put some shiny ornaments on it, and you get this genius, sparkly mood that screams festivity with style. It’s festive yet with a hint of posh.
21. Nutcracker Figurine
A nutcracker on your tray instantly feels like classic Christmas. Like, even if you don’t add anything else, that is obviously Christmasy. It’s one of those decorations that people recognize right away. Plus, it just brings that cheerful, storybook charm into your space while adding height and character to it.
22. Red Metal Lantern and Lighted Ceramic Houses
This pair is all about warm, soft light. The light’s red hue pops, and the clay houses glow like a small Christmas town. It feels like magic, as if you shrank a whole snow town onto your coffee spot.
23. Brass Bells and Reindeer Figurines
Brass bells are one of those little details that feel both rustic and elegant at the same time. Add a reindeer figurine or two, and suddenly the tray tells a whole story. It’s like the bells are ready to ring as the reindeer take off on their Christmas adventure.
24. Set of Porcelain Village House Candleholders
These little houses are just dreamlike. When you light them, the glow from the small windows looks like a snowy town at night. It’s plain, yet so fun, it makes you want to wrap up with warm cocoa and just look at it.
More Content You May Like
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● 40 Farmhouse Christmas Decor Ideas for a Rustic Holiday Charm
