Today, I am absolutely thrilled to be sharing my tips on how to style a vintage printers tray with all of you.
So, let’s talk styling printers trays. I love vintage printers trays but I have to admit, I have scratched my head a few times, puzzled on what to exactly do with them.
Have you felt the same way?
Oh, and while we’re at it, I have a confession to make…I do get all weak in the knees for vintage cubbies! It is kind of an addiction for me. Perhaps this is why I love printers trays so much. All those little square spaces to put treasures in. I love that…the potential to display your collections. (Yes, I am a hoarder collector.) I also love that they are a piece of history; an architectural salvage piece to incorporate into displays in my home.
Who’s with me on this?
(Affiliate links are provided below for your convienence. For more information, see my full disclosure here.)
Supplies used to style a vintage printers tray:
- Printers tray or reproduction printers tray.
- Jute rope/string
- Boxwood wreath
- Scrabble tiles
How to style a vintage printers tray (or reproduction):
Step 1:
Find a printers tray, vintage or reproduction.
I found this great printers tray awhile back and had the perfect spot in our kitchen for it. I just added some hanging hooks to the back and hung it horizontally.
I knew I wanted to create a small vignette on the wall with a few treasures that I have found at flea markets and antique stores. Other personal mementos would work well too, like a family recipe card, an old spoon, etc.
Step 2:
Add a piece at the top. This piece was from an old crate that was previously dovetailed. I love the typography and the dovetail details on each end. You could add any piece that inspires you in the kitchen. A handmade sign might be fun.
Step 3:
On to balance. I like symmetry, so the weight of the top needed to be at the bottom too. The old rolling pin gives the vignette some added interest with its curves and texture.
How do you hang a rolling pin you ask?
Simply tie some jute onto each end and hang on a nail under the printers tray.
Step 4:
The greenery. Nothing brings a piece to life more than adding a bit of fresh green color.
This boxwood wreath centers everything thus far and gives the contrast that is needed with a wood tone vignette. Boxwood wreaths are so easy to take care of too…just a few simple spritzes of water a few times a week and they will stay green for a long time.
Step 5:
Details and personal touches.
I then wanted to incorporate the metal details from the left side of the printers tray to the right side.
So, I added a few metal door plates with the great key hole details. They have a really cool patina to them.
I love coffee. So, when I found this metal stamped coffee scoop, I knew it would be perfect for our kitchen vignette.
My eye was drawn to the stamping on the scoop. Typography junkie here.
Step 6:
Whimsy.
I used the scrabble tiles to create words. It is fun to add your favorite quote or change out the words seasonally for something unexpected.
Are you ready to style a vintage printers tray (or reproduction)?
I hope so!
Once I found the elements I wanted to incorporate into the vignette the styling went pretty easy.
Just find a few elements that you love and lay them out to see how they look with the printers tray.
Here is the fully finished vignette that you can pin to a board on Pinterest to refer to when styling your own printers tray.
Other decor and styling posts you may enjoy:
Have an amazing day,
I am sharing this project with all my lovely friends @
Remodelaholic Between Naps on the Porch and….
Your scrabble tiles are so cute! They add a special twist to your item. It can be customized depending on the occasion, too.
Absolutely! Thank you so much.
This is so [pretty and I like it turned on it’s side! What is that rolling pin for? Bread sticks? pasta. It is so interesting. Great Vignette! Thank you so much for sharing this pin on the P3 party Board! We loved your pin and it will be featured this Friday on Made in a Day! So expect a little traffic from me on Social Media tomorrow.
Kim
Super gorgeous. The scrabble letters are adorable.
Michelle, I just passed one of those up last week because I didn’t know what I could do with it. Dang, love how you styled yours, especially with the scrabble tiles. It would be fun changing up the words for the seasons. I just might go back and see if it is still there. Love it!
Thank you Marie! Got back and get it. 🙂
I never would have thought to use one in the kitchen — LOVE how you styled yours — pinned! (So jealous of your coffee spoon!) 😀
This is so fabulous! I love balance and so I appreciate the way you pulled it all together. I finally found a large printers tray for myself and it was only $4! It has been propped up against the wall in my dining room on a bench. I have wood cutting boards, oil cans, and other wooden pieces around it. I so wish I had a wall large enough in my kitchen to hang it and style it more, but I don’t.
You are so sweet Ann Marie. Thank you for your lovely comments and $4 was a steal on a printers tray. Nice job!
You really have a knack for this stuff Michelle! Once again, this piece looks great 🙂
Aw, thank you Trish. Have a great weekend.
LOVE! and pinning! I think I need one of these in my life : )
Thank you Deb! Have a great weekend.
Love, love this!! I have one of these trays and it has been sitting in the basement waiting on me to come up with a style idea for it:) Thanks to your post, I am going to use mine to fill in the space between the top of some open kitchen shelves and the ceiling! Thank you so much for sharing!! Have a wonderful weekend! – Christine
Awesome Christine! I would love to see your vignette when you are finished! So fun.
I love this idea! The wreath, rolling pin, Scrabble tiles, everything! Thank you for sharing at Vintage Inspiration Party.
So glad you liked this post! Thank you so much Betsy.
This is such a great idea it a has an awesome Americana feel. I always see these and am never sure how to use them.
Thank you Nichole! So glad you liked the vignette.
I love this styling Michelle! I am obsessed with vintage printers trays also I have a large one I use as a photoshoot prop.
Great idea Gilly! Thanks for stopping by.
I love how you put this together. I have a printer’s tray as well. Have had for years, but sitting in a closet. I like the scrabble tile idea! they would fit perfectly in there. Visiting from Amaze me Monday.
Thank you Diane. I hope you have been inspired and will pull that tray out of your closet.
This is so awesome! I love the vintage/rustic look and the wreath is amazing!
Visiting from the Inspiration Monday link party!
Kate | TheOrganizedDream.com
Thank you so much Kate!
Oh, my goodness, I just love this! So many of my favorite things. I have a printer’s tray but haven’t used it in years. I am going to dig it out and get it up somewhere. Thank you for such an inspiring post!
Barb, so glad I inspired you! Have a great week.
This is such a neat idea. Thank you for linking up on the #HomeMattersParty this week. Hope you will come back and share again
Thank you Melissa!
Love it!! It’s a great use for such a fun piece, without it being too cluttered with tiny stuff. The wreath is perfect.
So glad you like the piece! Thank you Denise.
This is beautiful. I’ve seen trays and crates with little cubbies like this when meandering through my favorite antique stores, but I’ll admit, I’ve always wondered how I would decorate them. This gives me so many ideas. I love the addition of the Scrabble tiles, and that boxwood wreath just pops. Gorgeous! Thank you for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in this week’s issue and on Instagram tomorrow.
Fantastic! Thank you so much for the feature. I love wandering through antique stores, which reminds me, I haven’t been to our local one in a few weeks.
I am pinning this for when I find a printers shelf! Yours looks great Michelle:). Thanks so much for sharing this at Dream. Create. Inspire. Link:) I hope you will join us again tonight at 8 EST. Take care, Tara
Thank you Tara!
I love these trays. Great look! Thanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
Thank you Sherry!
This is just lovely. The rustic look combined with the wreath is so pretty. Thanks for sharing on Snickerdoodle Sunday. Pinned and Tweeted.
Thank you so much Beverly!
Love this idea! It is such a great display for a large empty wall. Thanks for sharing at Inspiration Thursday! I’m so glad you stopped by! Have a great week.
SO much fun- I just love it! So glad you linked up at Snickerdoodle Sunday and hope to see your latest & greatest this weekend!
Sarah (Sadie Seasongoods)
Thank you Sarah!
How awesome is this? I am getting one of these from my mother in law and I love the Scrabble tiles to spell out words!
Thank you Jennifer!
I think your project turned out great, such a nice way to re-purpose the printer tray!!
I thought it was so cute I have it Featured on Friday Features on Oh My Heartsie Girl!!
Now I would like to invite you to stop by and share links on my Friday Feature-Linky-Party
Have a beautiful week, Karren
Thank you so much Karren!