Decorative Ottoman Tray

Caroline Patterson Interior Design Expert

Caroline is a young, New York-based interior designer and home decor writer, obsessed with textiles and designer furniture. Backed with rigorous training from a prestigious design school, as well as a profound understanding of material quality and fabric care, she offers spot-on advice on how to furnish your place with reliable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing pieces.

Updated 02/06/2022

Although decorative trays aren’t new on the scene, they seem to be showing up more and more in design magazines and on Pinterest boards. They’re a simple design that adds so much to your styling — both practically and decoratively. Trays come in different sizes, colors and materials and, when placed on an upholstered ottoman, give you a hard surface on which to set drinks that won’t tip over. Whether you use them for corralling your remotes, setting out drinks and snacks or as a base to create a pretty vignette. Here are six tray ideas that are sure to suit a wide variety of ottoman styles and sizes!

Our Picks

Glamorous Decorative Ottoman Tray

Willa Arlo™ Interiors

Crafted from manufactured wood, this decorative tray has a high gloss finish and polished metal handles. It is sturdy enough to support stemmed glasses without them tipping over and measures 24” long by 10” wide. This tray comes with pads added to the bottom to protect your wood or fabric ottoman.

$68.99 ~~$72.99~~

Designer Advice:

This decorative ottoman tray's narrow and long shape is unusual enough to spark some interesting vignette design ideas. It comes in 11 different color options with either gold or silver handles. We especially love the gold tray with gold handles for a Hollywood glam look, and the blush pink tray with gold handles for a light and fresh look.

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Decorative French Country Ottoman Tray

Kelly Clarkson Home

This ottoman tray features a square silhouette with cutout handles that make it easy to move from room to room. It is 20.1'' square with a lip that sits almost two inches from the bottom of the tray. The two handles are cut into opposite sides of the two tray lips.

Designer Advice:

Made from mirrored glass, this square tray is perfect for holding your decorative accessories. The glass has a silver patterned finish with a weathered, chinoiserie-inspired pattern embossed onto the bottom of the tray. This gives it the look of something you picked up the last time you were in France at a local flea market. Keep the tray relatively uncluttered to let the pretty pattern show through your decor items.

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Decorative Country Style Ottoman Tray

Gracie Oaks

This decorative ottoman tray is a handy 12” wide by 15.5” long and sports a helpful 2.25” high lip. It weighs just over one pound and is made with manufactured wood. Lightweight and easy to carry between rooms.

Designer Advice:

We totally agree with the sentiment scripted on the bottom of this decorative ottoman tray! The lower-case cursive text is black and, along with two black iron handles, contrasts perfectly with the warm tones of this wood tray. If your decor style is country casual or modern farmhouse or any other similar style, this tray will fit right into your decor and be useful whether you use it as a serving tray or to gather and display accessories.

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Made to Order Decorative Ottoman Tray

Square Feathers

Perfect for setting on top of an upholstered ottoman or footstool, this decorative tray features a flat bottom to ensure it can be placed on even a padded surface without wobbling. The tray measures 20” wide by 30” long and has a 2” high side lip.

Designer Advice:

This acrylic tray features a fun green and navy striped pattern on its vinyl bottom. Each tray is handmade, made to order and weighs a sturdy 8.2 lbs. The clear acrylic and vinyl can be cleaned by wiping with a soft cloth. Layer your decorating with more of the same colors and stripe patterns in accent cushions or throws that sit over the edge of your sofa.

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Oval Decorative Ottoman Tray

Maitland-Smith

The natural finished walnut on this veneered decorative ottoman tray has a marquetry motif embossed on the bottom. The tray lip is made with an intricate brass rim on decorative posts, while the brass handles are curved for comfort. This tray measures 23” long by 14'' wide and weighs a solid 12 lbs. Rated food safe.

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Nadja Courtland Carved Coffee Table Tray

Carved Decorative Ottoman Tray

Bungalow Rose

Intricately carved, this large decorative tray is perfect for use on any padded and upholstered ottoman or footstool. It measures 28” round and has two carrying handles cut into the 2.25” high tray lip. The tray weighs 10 pounds and is carved from mango wood that’s been sealed to protect it from scratches.

$134.99 ~~$219.99~~

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Buying Guide

What can I put on my ottoman tray?

Ottoman trays for home decor are a creative way to elevate the look of your living room. There are plenty of items you can put on your ottoman tray, from your morning coffee mug and newspaper to your work laptop, daily journal, and cell phone. Try to pick a tray with a gloss finish as this type of surface is easy to wipe down and clean. You should also pick a model that has built-in handles. This design feature allows you to move the tray off your ottoman whenever you want to put your feet up or use the cushion as an extra seat for a guest.

Style your ottoman tray so that it becomes a focal point of your living room. If you’re adding books to the tray, choose 3 or 5 and stack them from largest to smallest because an odd number generates visual interest.

Try to mix smaller accessories like mason jars, miniature picture frames, or fancy calligraphic pens with larger items like house plants or hardback travel books. Varying the size, material, and shape of the elements on your tray creates a diverse, stimulating, and attractive aesthetic.

What shape should an ottoman tray be?

Your ottoman tray should be square or rectangular. These two shapes for ottoman trays as home decor offer a larger display surface plus more functionality. Oval or round trays are fashionable but fit fewer items.

A square or rectangular shape also allows you to use the four-quadrant rule to display items easily. For this, you divide the tray into four equal quadrants, add a natural, practical, scented, and structural item to create a unified look.

If your ottoman is round, however, you may want to consider using a round tray. Less can be added to a round or oval tray, so keep it uncluttered by adding a stylish vase with flowers in the center.

Can you have 2 ottomans in a living room?

Absolutely! Having two of them is a great way of using ottoman trays for home decor, making your living room truly unique.

For example, a practical option would be to place two identical ones next to your coffee table instead of adding more chairs. This will result in a stylish but more casual vibe, preventing two backrests from inspiring a busier or cluttered feel.

In fact, having two ottomans is a clever space-saving choice, especially in smaller living rooms!