Stop Bringing Wine or Flowers to Parties — Give This Thrifted Swap Instead

One of the most challenging gift-giving scenarios for me is host and hostess gifts. I don’t want to show up to a party empty-handed, but I also don’t want to add even more stuff for the host or hostess to clean up and find a place for at the end of the night. 

Typically, I like to give people gifts that can be consumed — coffee, chocolate, candy, wine, or flowers. But recently, I’ve found one gift that has been almost universally beloved: vintage trays from the thrift store. 

Vintage trays are an affordable, unique gift that can easily be included in a gift package. You can assemble other small thoughtful items with the tray as a part of your gift, like mini soaps, chocolates, key rings, spices, or anything else your friend might want. Personally, I have lots of little trinket trays all over my house that were either handmade or purchased at a secondhand shop. I use them for my remotes, cosmetics, napkins, keys, or as catch-alls in the kitchen or the bathroom. 

They even work as gifts for loved ones who, like me, don’t love clutter. It may seem counterintuitive, but trays actually corral clutter. When you have a lot of items that need to be out in the open, a tray grounds them. Add a tray beneath your perfume bottles and suddenly they look more put together and intentional. Thrift store trays immediately add a touch of charm or whimsy to a space. Plus, a tray makes cleaning a surface much easier. Instead of picking up lots of little things to clean beneath them, you can just move the tray out of the way, and keep all of your items together.

Trays are almost always available at your local thrift store, and they’re usually only a few dollars. You may also stumble upon them at yard sales, estate sales, swap meets, consignment shops, or on Facebook Marketplace. Basically, almost every secondhand store will have some sort of tray available. If you find a tray that looks a little worse for wear, don’t disregard it completely. If it’s made of metal, you might be able to spruce it up with a little Bar Keepers Friend. And if it’s silver, you can clean it using just aluminum foil, baking soda, and salt. 

And you don’t have to look for a standard “tray” either, especially if you’re unable to secure one in time for the party. There are a few things you can look out for when you’re at the thrift store to satisfy the same, or similar, purpose. Funky bowls also work, as do ashtrays, abalone shells, and soap dishes. Basically, be on the lookout for anything that can hold a small collection of items. Packaged nicely, a tray, bowl, or dish is a very simple, affordable, and totally one-of-a-kind gift that your loved ones will appreciate.