Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: 17 Cozy Setups That Look Straight Out of a Farmhouse Boutique
Tiered tray Christmas decor is the small styling trick that makes a kitchen feel like a cozy little shop the moment you walk in. One tray, two or three levels, and a handful of tiny treasures, and suddenly the whole counter says the holidays are here. It is cheap, it is fast, and you can change the theme any time you like. Many of the pieces come from the dollar store, the thrift shop or your own craft drawer, and the rest you can make in an evening. Below are 17 tiered tray Christmas decor setups, from hot cocoa and gingerbread to buffalo check, nutcrackers and a calm all white winter look. Each one comes with a simple supply list and easy steps, so you can copy it exactly or mix your favorite pieces. Pour a warm drink and pick the look that fits your home..
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor for a Farmhouse Kitchen
This is the look that started it all: a white wooden tray on a marble counter with little bottle brush trees, shiny red ornaments, a tiny gingerbread house and a jar of peppermints. It feels like something you would spot in a boutique window, yet almost every piece costs a few dollars. The secret is mixing heights, repeating one color and leaving a little space so each piece can shine. Once you see how easy it is, you will want a tray in every room..
You will need: A two or three tier tray, 3 mini bottle brush trees, small red ornaments, a mini gingerbread house, a small jar of peppermint candies, evergreen sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Put the tallest pieces, like the trees, on the bottom tier at the back. 2. Add a middle sized star such as the gingerbread house on the top tier. 3. Fill small gaps with ornaments, candy and greenery so the tray looks full but not crowded.
A DIY Tiered Tray From Plates and Candlesticks
No tray for your tiered tray Christmas decor? Make one in ten minutes. Two thrift store plates of different sizes and a short glass candlestick are all you need. Glue the candlestick between the plates with strong glass glue, let it cure overnight, and you have a stand that looks like it came from a home decor store. Style it with pine cones, red berries and silver ornaments for a calm, classic feel. You can make a matching pair for a buffet or a dinner table. What plates are hiding in your cupboard right now?
You will need: One large and one small plate, a short glass candlestick, strong glass and ceramic glue, rubbing alcohol, pine cones, berries and ornaments.
How to make it: 1. Clean the plates and candlestick with rubbing alcohol so the glue grips. 2. Glue the candlestick to the center of the big plate, then glue the small plate on top. 3. Let it cure for 24 hours before you add your decor.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: A Mini Bottle Brush Forest
Bottle brush trees are made for small trays. Group them in different sizes and soft colors like sage, white and blush pink, and they turn into a tiny snowy forest. A galvanized metal stand gives a farmhouse touch, while a white one feels fresh and bright. Sprinkle a little faux snow and tuck tiny gold ornaments between the trees. You can even dye and flock plain trees at home to match your colors. Would you go classic green or pastel?
You will need: A metal two tier stand, 10 to 15 mini bottle brush trees in mixed sizes, faux snow, tiny gold ornaments, small wooden spools or blocks to raise some trees.
How to make it: 1. Place the tallest trees in the middle of each tier. 2. Raise a few smaller trees on wooden spools so the heights vary. 3. Dust everything lightly with faux snow and add the gold ornaments last.
A Hot Cocoa Tray
A hot cocoa tray is the tiered tray Christmas decor idea that doubles as a treat. Put two striped mugs on the bottom tier, a glass jar of mini marshmallows and a cup of peppermint sticks on top, and add a tiny snowy tree for charm. Guests can help themselves on a cold evening, and kids love it on movie night. Refill the jars all season and it never looks tired. It is one of the most loved holiday counter ideas online. What would you add to your cocoa: marshmallows or peppermint?
You will need: A wooden two tier tray, 2 mugs, small glass jars, mini marshmallows, peppermint sticks, candy canes, a mini snowy tree.
How to make it: 1. Set the mugs on the lower tier where they are easy to grab. 2. Fill the jars and place them on the top tier. 3. Tuck candy canes and the little tree around the edges.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: A Gingerbread Village
Gingerbread smells and looks like Christmas, and it makes a sweet theme for a small tray. Mix a couple of little gingerbread houses with gingerbread man ornaments or real cookies in a clear jar. Red and white peppermints and a beaded white garland tie it all together. If you want it to last, use felt or resin gingerbread pieces instead of real cookies. It is a warm, happy look for a kitchen island or a coffee nook. Would you bake the pieces or buy them ready made?
You will need: A white tiered tray, 2 small gingerbread houses, gingerbread man cookies or ornaments, peppermint candies, mini green trees, white bead garland.
How to make it: 1. Put the houses on separate tiers so each one is seen. 2. Lean the gingerbread men against the houses or stand them in a jar. 3. Drape the bead garland around the tiers and scatter peppermints.
Buffalo Check Farmhouse Charm
Red and black buffalo check is the heart of farmhouse Christmas, and it looks great in small doses. A couple of fabric bows, a tiny gift box wrapped in check fabric and a mini tree in a galvanized bucket do all the work. Add a white ceramic star and some pine cones for texture. This look pairs perfectly with the rest of our farmhouse Christmas decor ideas. Cut fabric scraps from an old flannel shirt to keep the cost close to zero. Do you already own something in buffalo check?
You will need: A wooden tiered tray, buffalo check ribbon or fabric scraps, a small box, a mini tree in a bucket, a white ceramic star, pine cones, a glue gun (adult help).
How to make it: 1. Wrap the small box in check fabric and tie a bow. 2. Tie two more bows and clip them to the tray handle and tier edge. 3. Arrange the bucket tree, star and pine cones around the gift.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: The Vintage Red Truck
The little red truck carrying a Christmas tree is one of the most loved farmhouse symbols, and it fits a tray perfectly. Set a small toy pickup on the top tier with a mini tree tied in the back, then add white houses and bottle brush trees below so it looks like a tiny village. A bit of red plaid ribbon repeats the color. You can find small metal or wooden trucks at craft stores and thrift shops. Kids love moving the truck around. Where is your truck headed this year?
You will need: A white tiered tray, a small red toy pickup, a tiny tree, small white houses, mini bottle brush trees, red plaid ribbon.
How to make it: 1. Tie the tiny tree into the truck bed with thin twine. 2. Place the truck on the top tier facing out. 3. Build a small village on the lower tier with houses and trees and wrap the ribbon around the handle.
Sweet Sock Snowmen
Sock snowmen are a no sew craft that kids and adults both love. Fill a white sock with rice, tie it off in two places to make the body and head, then add buttons, a scrap of knit for a scarf and a tiny hat cut from the sock cuff. Make three in different sizes and they look like a little family on your tray. White trees and silver ornaments keep the look soft and wintry. They cost almost nothing to make. What will you name your snowmen?
You will need: White crew socks, uncooked rice, rubber bands, small buttons, fabric or knit scraps, fabric glue, a few colored socks for hats.
How to make it: 1. Fill the sock with rice and close it with a rubber band. 2. Add a second band to form the head and glue on buttons and eyes. 3. Tie a scarf around the neck and pull a cut sock cuff on top as a hat.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: Cookies for Santa
Turn the Christmas Eve tradition into decor. A plate of frosted star and tree cookies, a little milk bottle, a blank wooden tag you can write a note on, and a few carrots for the reindeer make the cutest display. Use fake cookies or clay cookies for the weeks before Christmas, then swap in real ones on the big night. Children love checking the tray each morning. It is a sweet memory maker for the whole family. Will Santa get sugar cookies or gingerbread at your house?
You will need: A wooden tiered tray, a small plate, frosted cookies or clay cookies, a small glass milk bottle, a blank wooden tag, faux or real carrots, red ornaments.
How to make it: 1. Set the plate of cookies on the top tier. 2. Put the milk bottle and the blank tag on the lower tier. 3. Add carrots and ornaments around them and write a note on the tag on Christmas Eve.
A Trio of Mini Wood Signs
Little wood signs give a tray height and personality. Cut three small boards, paint them white, red and green, and add tiny snowflakes with a dotting tool. Leave them plain or write a short word of your own like joy or noel with a paint pen. Stand them up with small blocks of wood glued on the back. They are a great beginner project and also sell well at craft fairs. One idea came from this dollar store tiered tray video on MSN, which shows how cheap a full setup can be. What word would you paint?
You will need: Small wood scraps or dollar store wood plaques, acrylic paint, a dotting tool, a paint pen, small wood blocks, wood glue, sandpaper.
How to make it: 1. Sand the boards and paint each one a different color. 2. Add snowflakes and an optional word with the dotting tool or paint pen. 3. Glue a small block on the back of each sign so it stands.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: Little Nutcracker Soldiers
Nutcrackers bring a little old world magic to any shelf. Small wooden soldiers in red and gold look grand even on a modest tray. Mix two or three sizes, add gold ornaments and fresh evergreen, and the whole thing feels like a scene from a holiday ballet. You can find plain wooden soldiers and paint them yourself to match your colors. This setup looks amazing on a mantel or a piano. Would you choose classic red or a modern white and gold?
You will need: A tiered tray, 3 to 5 small wooden nutcracker style soldiers (or plain ones to paint), acrylic paint, gold ornaments, evergreen sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Paint plain soldiers in your chosen colors and let them dry. 2. Stand the tallest soldier on the bottom tier and smaller ones above. 3. Fill around them with evergreen and gold ornaments.
An All White Winter Tray
If you love a calm, elegant look, try all white tiered tray Christmas decor. White ceramic houses, white bottle brush trees, silver beads and a little faux fur feel like fresh snow. This style looks expensive and it stays pretty from December into February. Mix textures so it does not look flat: glossy ceramic, soft fur, sparkly beads. Thrift stores are full of white dishes and small houses you can use. It is the perfect choice for a modern or neutral home. Would you add a hint of silver or keep it pure white?
You will need: A white tiered tray, white ceramic houses, white mini trees, a faux fur scrap, silver bead garland, white and silver ornaments, faux snow.
How to make it: 1. Lay a scrap of faux fur on each tier as a base. 2. Add houses and trees in mixed heights. 3. Drape silver beads and dust with faux snow to finish.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: An Ornament Bowl Tier
Sometimes the simplest idea is the most striking. Fill the top tier, or a glass bowl set on top, with shiny ornaments in two or three colors and let them do all the work. Spill a few more onto the lower tier with sprigs of evergreen. It takes five minutes, uses ornaments you already own and catches the light beautifully. It is also a smart way to use spare ornaments that did not fit on the tree. Which colors would you pick for your bowl?
You will need: A tiered tray or a two tier stand with a glass bowl, 20 to 30 shatterproof ornaments in 2 or 3 colors, evergreen sprigs.
How to make it: 1. Choose two or three ornament colors that match your room. 2. Fill the bowl, placing bigger ornaments first and small ones in the gaps. 3. Add a few ornaments and greenery to the lower tier.
Mini Wreaths on Every Tier
For tiered tray Christmas decor with a handmade touch, tiny wreaths look adorable hanging from the handle of a tray or leaning against each tier. Make them with small embroidery hoops or wire rings, faux boxwood and a little red bow. They are quick, cheap and look very high end. Make extras to hang on cabinet knobs or tie onto gifts. This is a lovely craft night project with friends. Would you make them all the same or each one a little different?
You will need: Small embroidery hoops or 3 inch wire rings, faux boxwood or evergreen picks, floral wire, thin red ribbon, a glue gun (adult help).
How to make it: 1. Wrap small pieces of greenery around each ring with floral wire. 2. Fill bare spots with dots of glue and extra sprigs. 3. Tie on a tiny red bow and hang the wreaths from the tray handle.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: A Holiday Coffee Bar
A coffee bar tray makes every morning feel festive. Set mugs on the bottom tier and jars of coffee beans, cinnamon sticks and sugar on top. Add plain syrup bottles with your own handmade tags and a small evergreen tree for the holiday touch. It keeps the counter tidy and looks like a little cafe. Guests who stay over will feel right at home. Would you serve peppermint mocha or gingerbread latte on Christmas morning?
You will need: A tiered tray, 2 to 4 mugs, glass jars, coffee beans, cinnamon sticks, plain syrup bottles, kraft tags, a mini tree, red ornaments.
How to make it: 1. Put the mugs on the lowest tier near the coffee maker. 2. Fill the jars and set them on the top tier. 3. Add handmade tags to the bottles and finish with the tree and ornaments.
A Kids Countdown Tray
Kids love counting down to Christmas, and tiered tray Christmas decor filled with tiny wrapped boxes makes it extra fun. Wrap 24 small boxes in kraft paper, tie each with red and white twine and number the bottoms. Fill them with a small treat, a note or an activity like bake cookies or watch a holiday movie. Each morning they open one box and the tray slowly empties. It becomes a tradition they will remember. What surprise would you put in box number one?
You will need: 24 small boxes, kraft paper, tape, red and white baker’s twine, a marker, small treats or activity notes, mini trees and pom poms.
How to make it: 1. Fill each box with a treat or a note. 2. Wrap the boxes in kraft paper and number the bottom of each. 3. Stack them on the tiers and tie with twine, adding trees and pom poms in the gaps.
Tiered Tray Christmas Decor: The After Christmas Winter Swap
When the Christmas pieces go back in the box, your tray does not have to look empty. Swap in mini knit mittens, birch slices, pine cones, frosted trees and a jar of battery fairy lights for a cozy winter look that lasts until spring. It keeps the warm feeling going through the long cold weeks. Most of these pieces can come from a nature walk. Store the Christmas items in a labeled box so next year is even easier. What will your winter tray look like?
You will need: Mini knit mittens or felt mittens, birch slices, pine cones, frosted mini trees, white ceramic snowflakes, a small jar with battery fairy lights.
How to make it: 1. Remove the red and Christmas themed pieces. 2. Add birch slices as risers and set the mittens and pine cones on them. 3. Put the fairy light jar on the top tier and switch it on in the evenings.
