5 Vintage Vanity Mirror Tray Uses

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When I received my mother's vanity tray after her passing, I knew I wanted to use it for something other than its intended use. That idea gave way to many more and now I have several of these trays around our house, mostly used for organizational purposes. See below my five unique uses for a vintage vanity mirror tray. 

Not only am I sharing these fun uses for vanity trays, it's also Thrifty Style Team day. I've teamed up with some of my favorite bloggers to bring you all kinds of thrifty ideas to use in your own home or workplace. Check out all of the fun below.

Above is a sampling of the Thrifty Style Team goodness. I've linked everyone's projects towards the end of this post. 

Vintage Vanity Mirror Tray Uses

Above is my growing collection of vanity trays. While not all are technically mirrored, they're definitely all vintage. The tray that started it all, my mother's tray, is the rectangular one, pictured on the bottom right. I remember it sitting on her dresser for as far back as my mind can go. I also remember when my dad gave it to her for Christmas one year, in the early eighties. She kept all of her perfumes neatly displayed on the tray. The one that stands out in my mind the most was the classic Oscar from Oscar de la Renta. She actually didn't wear a lot of perfume, but when she did, that was the one she loved most. To this day, when I smell it, I think of her. 

I already had a newer vanity tray of my own, so I decided I wanted to find another use for my mom's. And that led to a collection of vanity trays over the years after I realized how versatile they are to use. I actually find these at estate sales all the time. It's almost rare to not find them there. They are so budget-friendly, and honestly, not exactly a hot commodity, so the pickin's are always good. Below are my five uses for a vintage vanity mirror tray (or non-mirrored!).

1. Office Organization

Above, my mother's tray sits on the corner of my desk in my office. It's a great way to help me keep things neat and tidy, rather than have lots of things strewn about. 

You're catching me at a fabulous floral time, too, y'all. Those zinnias are straight out of my cutting garden, which is really putting on a great show for the end of the season.  

In the little blue and white box (which was from a thrift store a few years ago), I keep all of my push pins for my cork boards. My kids use these on their bulletin boards in their rooms, too, so they're easy to access.

And the vintage brass letter holder (again, thrifted eons ago), holds my stationery supplies and envelopes at the ready. 

The above pictured monogrammed stationery designs are free printables here on the blog. I have all of the letters of the alphabet ready to be downloaded. 

2. Powder Room Essentials

I was giddy when I found the above "mini" vintage vanity mirror tray at an estate sale. I mean, isn't it just the cutest thing, y'all? Before I even purchased it, I pictured it here in my powder room.

Since there is such a limited amount of space in this little half bath, having all of the essentials corralled neatly together by the sink keeps things tidy. I like to provide guests with a nice hand soap, lotion, and then I have an unscented candle going, as well. I like keeping the candle on in here when we have company since this room has no windows or natural light. It gives folks a chance to find the light switch before closing the door behind them. Since it's such a small room, I opt for an unscented tea light, so it's not overwhelming.

Also, have you tried this lotion? It's kind of everything. This is not a sponsored post, either, I just love this stuff...really anything from L'Occitane. I've been a believer in their products for several years now. This, Lavande (or, lavender lotion), is just dreamy. I pair it with their lavender hand soap in here to have the scents coordinate.

• You can purchase this cute little tube of lavender lotion here on Amazon.
• Or, try their almond scent, or (here on Amazon), which is seriously one of the most amazing scents. When I use it, everyone asks me what I'm wearing. 
• The L'Occitane Lavender Hand Soap (also pictured above) is available here on Amazon. It *is* a bit on the spendy side, so I limit it to only live in the guest bathroom. 

3. Coffee Table Corralling 

One of my favorite trays is pictured above. I got it at an estate sale for ten bucks (and have since seen it on eBay for $80!). It's a brass faux bamboo Hollywood Regency tray. This is the larger version of this tray, but I've seen one about half the size. I have also seen a round version, as well. But, this one keeps the goodies on our coffee table in order. It is super versatile, and even though I've seen it listed at estate sales and online as a vanity tray, I've also seen it listed as a kitchen accessory, as well.

It's the perfect piece for this space. I like to keep fresh flowers, my sweet fishnet-patterned dog given to me by a good friend, and my matchbook collection on the table. The tray kind of unifies everything. Those are boxes of puzzles you see stacked up under the table, by the way. 

Our round glass coffee table was from Amazon here. 

Does anyone else collect matchbooks? They're a rare breed these days, but I inherited a bunch from my parents and love having them on display (my mom always displayed hers in a fish bowl). That Crystal Baking Company matchbook holds a special place in my heart. That was my family's favorite restaurant down in San Antonio when I was growing up. It was such a special place and we went there quite a bit with my aunt. It's no longer there, but gosh, the memories of it are so special to me. 

4. Candle Holder

This one is kind of sheer luck, but this particular vanity tray (one of the non-traditional sort) fits a three-wick Bath and Body Works candle perfectly. It's almost like it was designed for it. 

I love that it also protects the surface from the heat of the candle. I had never seen a vanity tray like this, but it's specifically for jewelry. When I purchased it at an estate sale, it had earrings in the outer brass work, dangling beautifully.

The inside of it, pictured above, contains a fabric pad, to hold things like beads and pearls, to protect them from getting nicked or beaten up against metal. It's a pretty clever jewelry holder, but I really love it for my candles.

5. Coffee Service

One other use for a vintage vanity mirror tray is coffee or tea service. These are perfect for your sideboard, or even guest room, where a cuppa might be appreciated. 

Incidentally, my sunflowers stood up after I took this photo (of course). They were a bit too freshly cut from the yard here. But, I love adding just a small vase of something living to a tray like this...to give it some life and color. 

When not in use for coffee or tea service, I keep the salt and pepper shakers from the adjacent dining table on display on this particular tray. It's a tidy spot for them to be housed. Again, this tray was another estate sale find (I'm telling you, these trays are at every estate sale...you won't be able to not spot them now!).

Don't forget, it's another installment of everyone's favorite day: the Thrifty Style Team series. Below, all of my friends have shared so many lovely (and definitely thrifty) projects for you. Tell them I sent ya!

• Redhead Can Decorate - Mini DIY Pumpkin Patch
• The Painted Hinge - Upcycled Fall Wreath
• DIY Beautify - The Easiest Fall Centerpiece Ever
• 2 Bees In A Pod - Revamped Vintage Clorox Bottle
• Postcards From The Ridge - DIY Pedestals From Thrifted Candleholders
• The How To Home - DIY Pretty File Folders
• The Tattered Pew - DIY Cane Armoire Makeover
• Sweet Pea - DIY Gold Trimmed Painted Wooden Tray
• What Meegan Makes - Vintage Bicycle Wreath for Fall
• Cottage At The Crossroads - Paint a White Pumpkin
• The Creek Line House - Inexpensive Faux Board and Batten Wall

What would you do with a vintage vanity mirror tray?