Bedside & Entryway Trays: Small Corners That Make Your Home Feel Finished
Most of us fuss over sofas, rugs and big furniture… and then dump our keys on the first flat surface we see.
It’s usually the smallest corners that make a home feel either messy or quietly put together: the bedside table, the console by the door, that tiny spot next to a mirror.
A simple bedside or entryway tray fixes a lot of this. One small surface, with a clear boundary, where all your everyday bits land. Here’s how to use trays in these spaces without turning them into clutter magnets.
Why tiny corners matter more than you think
You see your bedside table and entryway console multiple times a day:
- Last thing at night when you keep your phone and glasses
- First thing in the morning
- Every single time you leave or enter the house
If these surfaces are chaotic – wires, bills, random coins – the whole home feels a little “unfinished”.
A bedside table tray or entryway tray doesn’t magically make you tidy, but it gives everything a proper place to land.
Bedside trays: calm nights, easier mornings
Let’s start at the bedside.
- A bedside surface usually has to carry:
- Phone
- Glasses
- Lip balm / hand cream
- A book or Kindle
- Water
- Maybe a candle or small decor piece
All of this loose on the table = mess. The same things grouped on a decorative tray = a calm, contained little corner.
What to keep on a bedside tray
Pick a slim tray that doesn’t eat up the whole table. On it, keep:
- Your glasses (they always end up there anyway)
- Lip balm / hand cream
- Your current book or Kindle
- A small bowl or dish for hair ties, clips, jewellery
Place your phone and water glass just outside the tray, not crammed on it. You still reach for them easily, but visually it looks less crowded.
A mother-of-pearl bedside table tray works well here because it adds some texture and light, even if the rest of the furniture is very simple.
Things to avoid on a bedside tray
- Too many tall objects – they’ll get knocked over.
- Open snacks (crumbs everywhere).
- A full jungle of bottles and products – those belong in the bathroom.
If your tray starts to feel like a mini pharmacy, edit it back to 4–5 essentials.
Entryway trays: no more “where are my keys?”
The entryway (or the first piece of furniture after your front door) is prime tray territory.
This is where everything lands:
- Keys
- Wallet
- Sunglasses
- Watch / jewellery
- Earphones / earbuds
- Random tiny packages / receipts
Instead of spreading all over the console or shoe cabinet, everything can live in a single entryway tray.
How to set up an entryway catch-all tray
Use a slightly deeper tray here – this mother-of-pearl decorative tray if you want it to feel more dressed up.
Inside the tray:
- A small bowl or box just for keys
- A flat area for wallet and sunglasses
- A tiny tray or dish for coins or earphones
- Optional: a small stem vase or mini decor object so it doesn’t look too “utility”
Everything that comes out of your pockets goes into the tray. When someone walks in, the surface looks styled, not like a dumping ground.
If you don’t have a big entryway
If you live in an apartment with no formal entry, place a tray:
- On a shoe rack top
- On a small wall shelf near the door
- On the side of a console table in the living room closest to the entrance
The rule is the same: one dedicated catch-all tray that your hands learn to reach for automatically.
One tray, many roles: let it move around
You don’t actually need separate trays for every corner on day one.
A single neutral tray can move between:
- Bedside table – at night, holding book, glasses, lip balm
- Coffee table – in the day, with remotes and coasters
- Entryway – when guests are coming, to hold keys and a candle
- Dresser – on days you want all your jewellery out and visible
A rattan tray with mother-of-pearl details usually works well across all of these because it feels warm but not too formal.
Start with one tray, see where it naturally “wants to live” in your home, and only then add more.
Quick styling rules for very small surfaces
Whether it’s a bedside table, dresser or entryway ledge, small surfaces get overwhelmed fast. A few rules help your trays for home decor look deliberate:
-
One tray per surface
Don’t line up three trays in a row. One is enough. If you need more compartments, use one tray + one small bowl or dish inside it. -
Limit colours
Stick to 2–3 colours: for example, wood + white + one accent (green from a plant, or blue from a book). -
Keep heights low near switches
Don’t place tall vases or candles right in front of switches or sockets – they’ll annoy you daily. -
Empty and reset once a week
Move everything off, wipe, and put back only what’s still needed. Receipts, wrappers, and expired coupons can go. -
Use coasters or mats under water glasses
Especially on wooden bedside tables – your tray might be fine, but the table will thank you.
Choosing the right tray for bedside vs entryway
If you’re picking just one tray to start with, think about:
Where do you feel the most daily clutter pain?
- Bedside disarray → start with a bedside table tray.
- “Where are my keys?” every morning → start with an entryway tray.
Once you see how much calmer one corner feels, you’ll immediately notice the next one that needs a tray.
Bringing it all together
You don’t need a huge makeover for your home to feel more organised. A couple of well-placed bedside and entryway trays quietly change your everyday routine:
- You always know where your keys and wallet are.
- Your bedside looks like a calm little ritual, not a stash of random things.
- Guests walk in and see a space that feels intentional, not half-finished.
If you’re starting fresh, begin with:
- One bedside tray – slim and easy to wipe clean.
- One entryway catch-all tray – sturdy enough for keys, wallets and everyday bits.
From there, your coffee table, dresser and desk will almost start asking for trays of their own.