There are certain things in our homes that we think are only good for one thing. Trays, for example, are mostly used for serving food and drinks in the dining room. But in case you didn’t notice, they come in various forms that you can use in any room in the house. Whether you have an unused one lying around or you don’t have enough, here’s where and how you can use them in your daily life.
If you just want to stay in bed
Shop: Domesticity Felipa Bed Tray. Available online; Dean & DeLuca English Breakfast Tea. Available at Edades Tower, Rockwell Center.
Lucy Torres-Gomez recently shared a post wherein her daughter, Juliana, set up their trays so they could eat Greek food and hang out in bed together. Another great way to utilize this kind of tray is during breakfast, especially when you live with someone who’s always too lazy to get up. Aside from plates of bread and scrambled eggs, serve some English Breakfast tea as well—plain or mixed with milk and sugar. (Fun fact: Black tea contains the most caffeine, especially when it’s brewed strong and drunk straight.)
When your beauty products can’t stay in one place
Shop: Sedona Honey Rattan Vanity Tray. Available at SM Makati; KORA Organics by Miranda Kerr 3 Step System Set. Available at Freyja.
Sometimes beauty products just can’t sit still. Worst case scenario is that they’ll accidentally tip and fall in the sink if you don’t place them properly. (Ugh.) To prevent this from happening, place a tray on your bathroom counter and put your skincare essentials there—as far from the sink as possible if you can. This tray from Crate & Barrel is made from sturdy rattan and buri. If it gets wet, you can easily dry it with a towel. For skincare products, this KORA Organics set comes with a cleanser, mist, and moisturizer. There are sets catering to sensitive, dry, and oily/combination skin types.
Just because you want sweets in full rotation
Shop: Marietta’s Capiz Amenity Tray. Available at Kultura stores; Aperitif Luxe Chocolate Box. Available at SM Aura Premier.
Whether you have guests over or you’re just a sweet tooth, it’s never wrong to have sweets ready. Aperitif’s chocolate box, for example, has donuts, chocolate bars, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Place them on pretty plates or you can arrange them on Marietta’s Capiz Amenity Tray. You can easily clean and wipe off the chocolate stains right after.
No more losing your jewelry
Shop: Hay Serving Tray. Available at Design Story, Uptown Mall; Elementari Necklaces and Earrings. Available online.
We know some of you like to layer bracelets and necklaces, and it would suck if you were to lose one of them. That’s why a catch-all tray is essential so you can just throw your jewelry on it and easily wear them the next day. This one from Hay comes in different colors—gold, silver, and rainbow—and you can choose from regular to XL sizes. In case you’re looking to buy new accessories, you can check out Elementari’s wares and even get customized jewelry from them.
For your me-time in the bath
Shop: Bamboo Bathtub Caddy. Available on Lazada PH; Beringer Main & Vine White Zinfandel 2016. Available on Manila Wine.
After long work week, we all just want to throw a bath bomb, light a lavender-scented candle, and read a book while soaking in the bath. You know what would make the experience better? A glass of wine, duh! This bamboo bathtub caddy is extendible so it properly sits on the edges of your tub. It has three compartments where you can put the wine bottle—we suggest rosé, a glass (be it a tall or short one), and you can hinge a book or tablet for your reading needs. Night complete!
Art by Marian Hukom
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