Your Nightstand Needs This $10 Glam Thrifted Find

If there’s one decor item I can never have enough of, it’s a tray. Have a candle that feels as if it’s randomly floating on a coffee table? Set it on a tray. Need somewhere to set your keys and wallets in your entry? Get a tray. Want to elevate your salt, pepper, and oil on the dining table? Yup, you need a tray. 

That’s why, if you give me a few minutes in any antique store, I guarantee I’ll walk out with a tray of some sort. That’s exactly what I did when I picked up a $10 silver and mirrored tray at an estate sale. Did I need it? Not exactly. But I knew there would be a spot somewhere in my home where this would corral all my necessities. 

It landed on my nightstand, where its subtly glimmering surface adds a bit of glam that every bedroom should have. And in the process of incorporating it into my home, I found out that there’s actually a specific name for this type of mirror tray: a vanity tray.

Here’s exactly what I’ve learned makes a tray a vanity tray and why you should style one in your own home.

A vanity tray is just as it sounds: a tray that goes on a vanity — or more likely in this day and age, on any bedroom or bathroom surface that’s used for gathering items like lotion, a hairbrush, perfume, or any of the accoutrements used in primping and pampering.

But, even more specifically, there’s a certain type of vintage vanity tray that’s mirrored on the interior with delicately shaped filigree metal edges in silver or gold. They often have a felt bottom that lets them rest on top of a table without leaving a scratch (a small detail that makes them feel so chic!). These are the type of trays you can imagine sitting in a fancy vintage bedroom surrounded by furniture with a Hollywood regency vibe.

This particular type of vanity tray had its heyday during the middle of the last century, and many of the trays you’ll find date to roughly the 1950s to the 1970s. It’s not difficult to find one still in good shape, though its felt bottom might be in need of repair. If you’re lucky, you’ll stumble across one like I did at a thrift store, estate sale, or antique shop, listed for a song. But, even if you need to turn to the internet, they can often be found on Etsy for $20 to $50. 

Case in point? This pretty gold oval version that’s available on Etsy right now. At just over 13 inches wide and about 10 inches long, it’s a decent size for the price.

I’ve styled my vanity tray on my nightstand, where it holds a glass of water (you won’t find me leaving a condensation ring on my bedside again!), an overnight lip mask, face oil, and a relaxing linen spray. Previously, a couple of these items sat on a small, simple tray, while my water and my face oil just rested loose on my nightstand. With each item neatly corralled within one tray, the entire setup feels more intentional and luxurious.

Plus, the glam moment from the mirror surface and the ornately filigreed edges of the tray adds a bit of shimmering whimsy that every bedroom, regardless of style, could use.