I don’t know that there isn’t a problem that a good accent tray can’t fix.
Got a jumble of crap on your nightstand? Put it in a tray.
Crap on your dining table makes your place look perpetually messy? Let a tray take care of it.
Conflict in the Middle East got you scared? Nope. Trays can’t help with that.
But they try real hard!
Things is, even for hard-core thrifters like me, trays can get limited and/or pricey. Sometimes you gotta get creative. Duct tape goes a long way, especially now that it comes in every color and pattern under the sun.
Here I used a cardboard cat food tray, but you can use the lid from a file box, show box…just about anything. Heck, you could make your own. Custom size. After all, it’s duct tape!
Tip 1: Stick to patterned duct tape. I love mixing solid color stripes on other projects, but wrinkles and lumps are pretty inevitable on this particular project, and the patterns will cover the flaws beautifully.
Tip 2: Duck brand duct tape is my favorite, but there are some other good generic brands. There also some bad ones (read: I’m not a fan of Scotch brand duct tape. No offense Scotch, you make amazing colored masking tape, but your duct tape formula is no good). Anyway. Just make sure, whatever you choose, it’s super sticky. Usually I can tell by rolling back a piece slowly and you can see the adhesive fibers stretching and pulling, that’s a good sign. It should take effort. If it comes off the roll too easily, you can bet it’ll fall off your box in a few weeks.
They come together real quick. Last August I was using my friend’s house to photograph these paint chip art pieces for the Queen Latifah show. Their place looks great, but the coffee table was lacking something…something, like…a tray!
Doesn’t that look better? Yeah. Told you. It’s all about the tray.
So that is what I know about that. It’s take you five minutes and cost the roll of tape. Are you on it yet? Get going!
Feel inspired? Here are some other terrific and inexpensive ideas I have found around the web this week…
Apple votives (perfect for Thanksgiving!)
Leaf garland from plastic bags