Dressing Up Your Dresser

Over the winter holidays, I channel-surfed my way to my newest obsession: HGTV. The combination of house porn (see: "House Hunters International") and DIY inspiration (I'm in love with "The Property Brothers") invigorated my inner wannabe interior designer, and I haven't stopped brainstorming new projects since. Once the decor itch strikes, it can never be fully scratched...

One day recently, my dresser top struck me as boring and naked-looking, and I decided that a tray would add nicely to both the design and function of the space. It needed to happen. Immediately. (Seriously, once I decide to tackle something design-related, I obsess over it until it's done.) After I posted pictures of the finished look, a lot of family and friends asked me questions about it, so I thought I'd share the project here.

Dresser Top Before: Blah

1) Find your tray: Step one is finding a tray that suits your style and the space. A painted, mirrored or lacquer tray (like this West Elm one in my living room) could be a great option, but I knew I wanted a clear one. Trendy lucite trays sell for an upwards of $60 online and sourcing a more budget-friendly version proved far tricker than I'd anticipated. After a day-long search of home goods stores, craft stores and even office supply stores, I was tray-less and frustrated. The next day, however, The Container Store came to my rescue with this acrylic 12x8 tray, which totally fit the bill (but did need to be special ordered for me).

2) Find containers for odds and ends: Smaller trays allow you to neatly organize jewelry or any other odds and ends. These two ceramic trays from West Elm are actually bathroom accessories, but I thought they'd make perfect jewelry holders.

The piece that really tied this project together for me was this lovely vintage teacup that I found at an antique shop.

3) Gather other miscellaneous items to round out the tray: Once I had sourced all of the new items, I gathered a few bottles of perfume, a candle, and my most frequently worn jewelry. Depending on the size of the tray, you can also toss in items like sunglasses or larger decorative pieces.

4) Style the tray: Organize everything in the tray and play around with it until you find an arrangement you like.

Dresser Top After: Ta-Da!

This inexpensive and (relatively) easy project makes a great visual impact and transformed my dresser top into a chic and colorful space. You could also do the same to your nightstand or a table in a sitting area. Have fun!