Home Decor
We’re Obsessed With This New Design Trend—& This Easy Way to Get In On It
Hint, hint: It makes breakfast in bed very easy.
In case you haven’t been on the internet in the past, oh, three months, allow us to update you: Caning is in, just about everywhere. The open lattice pattern, made of woven rattan, makes a textural (but neutral) addition to chairs, chests, and even light fixtures. But if you’re not ready to commit to a caned sideboard or headboard, we have some good news. Caned serving trays are having a moment, so you can add a bit of woven texture to your space without shelling out for a whole piece of furniture (or finding room for a rattan hutch in your house).
Here are a few charming woven trays I’m eyeing, from steals to splurges. Prop one on the kitchen counter with your favorite ceramics, or style it with a candle and a book or two on a living room ottoman. Personally, I’d like to load one up with coffee, pastries, and the crossword for a morning in bed. Just in time for hunkering-down season.
1. Rattan Round Tray, $29.99 (West Elm)
This round version from West Elm has easy-tote handles for carrying. Keep it in the kitchen, and use it to ferry plates and flatware to the dining room to make table-setting much easier come dinnertime.
2. Rattan And Acrylic Bath Tray, $120 (Williams Sonoma Home)
At just six and a half inches across, this tray is made for storing bath essentials (think hand soap, lotions, and toothbrushes) on a narrow counter, but its petite size makes it perfect for anywhere. Might we suggest placing it on the bedside table to hold chargers and a paperback, or by the front door to corral keys?
3. Decorative Rattan Cane Tray, $8.99 (Target)
At $8.99, this tray is the least pricey on our list, but at 20 inches across, it’s also one of the largest. Place this in the center of the dining table with a carafe of flowers and tall taper candles.
4. Natural Rattan Cane Serving Tray, $34.99 (World Market)
World Market’s version is hand-made by local artisans in Indonesia. Try it in the guest bath, filled with a few hand towels, soap, and a little bottle of essential oils.
5. Bedford Tray, starting at $198 (Serena & Lily)
This one’s a splurge, but we can’t resist the square shape, plus that elaborate detailing on the sides. Its sturdy handles make it an excellent way to carry a pot of tea and cookies to your favorite reading chair.
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