This $25 IKEA Find Is My Powerful Little Party Tool (It Works in Any Room!)

The summer season means that I have ample opportunities for hosting friends and family. As such, I’m always on the lookout for fun finds that elevate my hosting game while also making it a little bit easier: serving trays, accessories that elevate a table spread, and functional items like solar-powered miniature lamps for indoor and outdoor usage. 

I recently happened to find one such item: IKEA’s FULLSPACKAD Serving Tray. This $25 tray is a powerful little find that can have many use cases (I see it as a great organizing gem on a kitchen countertop, for example). But I love using it when guests come over.

The IKEA FULLSPACKAD serving tray is a two-tiered tray with a handle and little feet. The trays are made from bamboo — which is resistant to moisture and scratches — and steel with a black powder coating for more of a chic, minimalist look. It comes unassembled, but putting it together is super easy. It comes in three pieces, and you simply place the trays on each tier of the metal part. There are little edges built into the bottom of each tray so they stay in place. 

Each of the trays is 11 inches long and 8 inches wide, and the whole thing stands just under a foot tall. I’ve found that this is an ideal size for my hosting needs. It has just enough room to place a variety of food and even extra little dishes for dips or flight-risk items like berries, pickles, or nuts. But the tray is not so big that it feels obnoxious or becomes too heavy to carry from room to room.

Of course, this IKEA find is billed as a serving tray so it’s not that surprising that I use it when I’m hosting friends. But the tiered tray has handles, which means that it’s easy for me to carry it from inside to outside — or from kitchen to living room — without a problem. That’s honestly the primary reason I purchased it. The neutral-chic look and its medium size were also appealing. Since purchasing this little cutie, I’ve used it for all sorts of hosting moments. It’s been perfect at a brunch spread — it easily can hold an assortment of muffins and scones, coffee creamers, napkins, and other cutlery.

It’s also a nice vertical addition to my tablescape when I’m laying out a charcuterie spread. I might have a flat cheese plate next to it on the table, but this tray is great for holding nuts, crackers, olives, and bread. I also have used it to display a variety of sweets together as dessert — chocolate-covered strawberries, little meringues, and cookies. One thing I’m looking forward to trying with it is an afternoon-tea situation, complete with finger sandwiches, clotted cream, jam, and pastries. It’s truly the little tray that keeps on giving!

Buy: IKEA FALLSPACKAD Serving Tray, $24.99