Why You Need a Universal Tray in Every Room
I usually recommend storing everything you have in containers out of sight, but even I can admit that this has some limitations. First, putting things away may not suit your unique cleaning style . Secondly, life is much more complex; you probably have various items that you find difficult to store according to these rules. That’s why you need some kind of tray in every room to collect small items that don’t quite fit anywhere else or are used too often to justify putting them away.
Universal tray rules
When I say “versatile tray,” I mean something small, decorative, that can sit flat in any room and hold frequently touched items or random items that you pick up and drop. The simplest example is a small tray by the door to hold your keys and AirPods for when you get home, but you could put a larger tray in the kitchen to hold mail you need to sort or answer, and another in the living room. for storing mail. Keep cables or remote controls: one in the bathroom for jewelry that you take off to wash your hands or put on every morning, and one by the nightstand for a sleep mask, retainer, etc. Consider having one dedicated only to for trash and miscellaneous things, things that you know you need to really clean up at some point but just don’t have time for. One of these in each room can make all the difference. A key component of many cleaning and organizing techniques is working in small spaces and categorizing your items as you go. You don’t want to clean your living room and take each item into a separate room to put away one at a time; It is clear that it is better to collect all the kitchen or bathroom items located in the living room and then immediately take them to their place. A multi-purpose tray will help you do this over time, eliminating the need to walk around the room looking for something that is out of place. All this is in the tray.
With that in mind, here are some general rules to consider before using a tray system:
-
Keep it on the smaller side so you can refill it regularly, reminding you that you actually need to empty it and put everything away. If it is too big, it will turn into a trash container and cleaning it will be tedious.
-
Set a schedule for regular cleaning and putting everything in its place. This shouldn’t be a hard and fast rule. You don’t have to set an alert on your phone for a specific time every week (although you definitely can). As a general rule, though, try to remember to set out the tray about once a week, sticking to a day or time that makes sense.
Versatile ideas for trays
To effectively catch everything, the trays must be accessible, which means they must be located where you can easily reach them. For this reason, they should look beautiful. For general storage, I recommend a lot of plastic and industrial-looking containers, but those won’t work for that either. You don’t want an ugly plastic box on your side table. Luckily, there are beautiful models available in a variety of styles, colors, and themes, so you can find one to suit the ambiance of any room.
Something like this rattan serving tray with slightly raised edges is nice enough to look at but still functional for storing things like paper and larger items.
Having a slightly larger bowl or dish in a larger room like the dining room or living room can also be a big help, especially for items kids bring around the house or things you use in multiple rooms. Look for something like this:
You also need smaller ones for small areas throughout the house. Search for “ring platter” or “decorative platter” and you’ll get some great options, like this one: