The Tray Trick for Instant Order
Here’s a small, simple tip worth sharing precisely because it works: putting a collection of everyday items on a tray instantly makes them feel intentional instead of cluttered. Anything that needs to be out for a space to function well, or just because it makes you happy to look at, benefits from this trick.
Why it works
A tray creates a visible boundary. Once items have an edge to live within, they read as a curated collection rather than random stuff scattered across a counter. It also makes cleaning genuinely easier, wiping down one tray beats picking up and repositioning a dozen individual items every single time.
A few real examples
A beautiful wooden cutting board, too pretty to actually cut on, found new purpose as a tray by the stove, holding the salt and pepper shaker, an oil sprayer, and a spoon rest. Everything on it suddenly looked elevated rather than cluttered. A small round wooden charger, otherwise sitting unused in storage, became the perfect home for coffee station extras like sweetener packets and cinnamon. A tray on a soft ottoman-style coffee table gave remotes a consistent, visible home, and it stuck because it was genuinely easier to put them back there than anywhere else. On a large flat kitchen island with nowhere to visually tuck things away, a tray corralled dish soap, hand soap, sponges, and paper towels into one elevated-looking zone. The same idea works just as well on a bathroom counter, holding a toothbrush holder and soap dispenser.
Who this works best for
If you’re someone who prefers things visible and accessible rather than tucked away in cabinets, this is a simple way to make “out in plain sight” look deliberate rather than messy.
Your practical, actionable step
Pick one cluttered surface in your home, a counter, a coffee table, a nightstand, and find a tray, or repurpose something decorative you already own but never use, to corral what’s there. Notice how much easier it becomes to keep that spot tidy once there’s a clear boundary around it.
Until next time, continue to choose joy.
Don't miss the latest episode of the podcast!