The most common shapes for wood trays are rectangular and round, although contemporary style trays can be triangular, octagonal or even other irregular shapes. Trays are made from all sorts of different types of wood, such as alder, birch, ash, mango and burl wood. Trays made for serving usually have a nice lacquer finish so they can be wiped clean, a raised edge and some type of handles for easy transport.

Wooden trays can be used for many different purposes. You can serve hors d’oeuvres and cocktails to your dinner party guests, serve your kids after school snacks or use it on your coffee table to hold the remote control and TV guide. Smaller trays are useful for organizing small items such as keys and the mail. Wood TV trays and trays for ottomans are a must for those rooms that need a place to serve food and drinks other than a coffee table.

While there are many simple wood trays that would be fine for serving the kids, why not also find a beautiful wooden tray that adds elegance and a worldly ambience to your décor? Department stores and home decorating stores carry beautiful, hand carved wood trays that can add a classic style to any room. For a traditional look, there are nice mahogany trays with brass corners or handles. If you prefer a contemporary style, look for wood trays with mirrored bottoms, simple designs in lighter shades of wood or even painted wood.

For those who like custom, one-of-a-kind pieces in their homes, you can find wood trays that will delight you with their uniqueness. Antique stores are a great place to start looking for an unusual wood tray. Since trays have been used in homes for centuries there are all sorts of old gems from the simple farmhouse style to beautifully carved, craftsman type variety.

Other ways to get a unique tray are to have one made for you or to refinish an old tray yourself. There are crafters that will create a wooden piece to your specifications and specialty shops that will take your photos and create a personalized tray for you. Other shops will create a wooden tray with a custom tile bottom. Maybe you can find an old tray at a flea market or tag sale that just needs a little love, attention and a coat of paint to resurrect it. If you are the crafty type, you could start with a wood tray from an art supply store and paint and or decoupage your own creation.

If you end up with a wood tray that is an amazing piece of art, you may be inclined to hang in on your wall; but make sure you take it down once in a while and get some use out of it!