How to decorate a DIY tiered tray through the seasons and important festivities
I have always been a fan of tiered stands, so I thought it was time to create my own DIY tiered tray.
Below is an easy-to-follow step-by-step tutorial in case you want to recreate the same tray or something similar.
It’s a great idea to build your own decorated multi-tiered tray to give any room in your home a personalized touch.
I like to decorate the tray according to the seasons of the year or special dates.
You will find below ideas on how to decorate a themed tiered tray for the 4th of July, Easter, coffee station, spring/summer, fall, Halloween, Christmas, and St. Valentine’s day.
Kitchen counter tray decor ideas
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How to Build a Farmhouse-Style Tiered Tray
To build your own three-tier tray, you will need the following materials:
- 3 or 4 metal trays (I have used cake pans)
- Three salt/pepper shakers (see image), candles, or wooden candle holders
- White paint spray
- Hot glue gun or glue suitable for metal/wood
- You could also use sandpaper or varnish to give it a rustic or distressed look
IMPORTANT: If the spray paint you are using is not food safe, make sure that the food doesn’t come in direct contact with the paint in the tray, instead place all food items in containers. Alternatively, you could place cardboard or something similar between the tray and the food.
I’m a big fan of spray paint but you could use acrylic paint or white chalk paint.
Directions
- Start by spraying all your cake pans and whatever you are using as holders to link the trays with white paint.
- In this case, I’m using 2 salt shakers and one thick candle to join the trays. I know is a strange choice, but it works!
- One coat of paint is enough for me but maybe you need several coats of paint.
4. Then, add glue to the middle of the bottom tray and glue the salt shaker or candle holder.
5. Now, add glue to the top of the salt shaker and place the next cake pan on top.
6. Keep doing the same until you have stuck all the trays and holders, finishing with the top tray.
7. This is how it looks once you have finished gluing your DIY tiered tray. I have done it with 4 trays, but you can do only 2 or 3, depending on your particular taste.
It is worth noting that I have used a candle to add the top-tier tray as I couldn’t find the same salt shaker. Be creative and use what you have on hand.
Now is the time to decorate the tray. This is the fun part, in my opinion.
Again, be creative and have some fun. I have used mostly items from a thrift store to decorate the tray, so you can say it was pretty inexpensive.
DIY Tiered Tray Seasonal Decor Ideas
I often update this post when I add new themed decorations to give you ideas about styling your own tiered tray throughout the year. I hope you like them.
4th Of July Tiered Tray Decor Ideas
4th of July tiered tray decor
DIY Tiered Tray Easter Decor
A fun way to decorate DIY-tiered trays.
Coffee Tiered Tray Decor
San Valentine’s Tray Decor
Tiered Tray Summer Decor
Fall Tiered Tray Decor Ideas
Halloween Tray Decor Ideas
Christmas Tiered Tray Decor
Other Ways To Make Your DIY Tiered Tray
When choosing the trays, you can use things you have at home: box lids or trays. If you buy it in the store, you can choose the ones that best suit you. A pizza pan or pie pan will make a great serving tiered tray.
They do not have to be the same three, they can have different patterns, different colors, and textures or all be the same in size and design.
Before mounting the three-tier tray, you can file and varnish the wood. You can also paint or decorate it with glitter or other decorative elements.
Also, on the sides, you can use the hot silicone to create raised patterns and then paint or varnish on top to make it look like part of the tray.
You can place the metal discs on the bottom of the widest tray (the one you will use as the base).
This way it will be elevated, although this is optional, you can leave it directly resting on the surface of the tray.
Use the candle holders as a log to link the trays together.
Tips to Decorate The 3/4 Tier Tray or Kitchen Stand
Whether you build your own tray from scratch or buy one to decorate at home, you can use hot silicone to decorate the trays.
You can draw relief patterns with silicone and paint them with glitter or Christmas motifs.
If you make stars you can use gold colors and if you make snowflakes you can paint them white, for example.
When you go to choose the decoration, choose a unique theme.
Even if you know that you want to do it for Christmas, you can do it with flowers, Mason jars, sweets, tree decorations, lights, wooden figures, or pine cones to give it a rustic look.
Choose among all a central element to highlight it.
You can decide to use the three levels to tell a story, you can use them to organize the levels or for each member of the family to put their personal stamp on the decoration of each level.
For example, parents use the bottom one and children decorate the top ones. It will give a very familiar style to the room.
Use the conical composition to place Christmas tree branches, balls, or typical tree decorations for the most Christmas look.
And take advantage of the empty spaces to put frames or cards with messages for the family to read each morning when they wake up.
RELATED READING: Simple DIY decor crafts for your home
Finally
There are a thousand ways to customize a 3 or 4-DIY tiered tray.
Taking advantage of the pyramidal shape of the structure will allow it to resemble a tree, but you can always opt for the traditional functionality: it keeps chocolates or cookies in jars, and it is elegant as well as useful.
Have a fun time with this beautiful craft!
