DIY Farmhouse Tiered Tray

Make this DIY farmhouse tiered tray to highlight keepsakes, add decor elements, and welcome guests. This tutorial makes a sturdy tray by using a trick to avoid wobbles.

You’ll need a few basic craft supplies, two trays, and something to raise up the bottom. I’ve also included designer tips for styling tiered trays easily.

DIY Farmhouse Tiered Tray

Friends, I love decorating for the holidays and created this farmhouse tiered tray for the counter. I love displaying my easy DIY farmhouse gnomes on it but have styled this one as an Easter farmhouse tiered tray. 

This is a ridiculously quick farmhouse project. I gathered a couple of materials, shopped my stash, and picked up two pieces. That’s it! Let’s get started. 

No Time to Make This? Pin It for Later

If you’re just scrolling before bed (I do it, too), pin this and come back to it when you’re ready to get your DIY on. 

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Tips for Making a Tiered Tray 

As I mentioned above, this is one of the quickest crafts you can do and technically, you don’t even need to get out a drill. Instead of a drill and screws, just use something very strong like E600 – do NOT use hot glue as it’s not strong enough to hold. 

• I get my favorite farmhouse pieces here (if you don’t have one in your town, you can get them sent to you). 
• Try to find materials with a lip. No one wants to style their gorgeous tray and have it all come tumbling down with a single bump. 
• Use something large to add stability to your tray. I dislike wobbly things. 
• Be sure to shop your stash when styling. It’s so much fun to use pieces you have in your craft cabinet… Mine is like a black hole. 

How Do I Make a Tiered Tray?

Gather your supplies and let’s get started. The written tutorial is below and if you’re creating a farmhouse crafts playlist on YouTube, here is our DIY farmhouse tiered tray video tutorial. 

How Do I Style a Farmhouse Tiered Tray? 

There’s no right or wrong way to style one of these. Start playing around with elements so you can decide what YOU like.

Balance a Tray’s Elements

I like to balance the styling, so that means if I have something tall on the top, I balance it out on the bottom with something tall. If something hangs over the top tray, I mirror that with the bottom. 

Layer to Add Height and Depth

Another of my favorite tips is to layer. I use cupcake stands, wood rounds, and birch pillars A LOT but don’t be afraid to use whatever you have. A few more ideas are napkins or placemats, vase filler, and cupcake stands. 

Keep Natural Elements Natural

My final tip on how to balanced and style a tiered tray is to keep things natural. Don’t turn a bird’s nest on its side – it doesn’t look right. Use layering to highlight something which is small or gets hidden by the edges of the tray. 

Tiered Tray Decorating Ideas

If you don’t know what to include on your tiered tray, don’t worry. Below are a few of the elements you probably have on hand which are perfect for decorating a tiered tray.

• Greenery, florals, and succulents. This is my favorite way to start a tray and I used both faux and live plants. 
• Galvanized ANYTHING. A small galvanized piece on a wood tray looks as styled as a small wood piece on a galvanized tray. I get a lot of good ideas for galvanized pieces on Amazon but check the craft stores and big box retailers, too. 
• Mini plant pots. From the dollar section or an artist like Rae Dunn, mini pots are perfect for tiered trays. Add air plants on rocks, herbs in a bit of soil, or faux greenery or succulents. 
• Mason jars. Because really – is it even farmhouse if there isn’t a jar on the thing? ;) 
• Gnomes! If you’ve never been to Ruffles and Rain Boots before, check out my farmhouse sock gnome tutorial. It’s no-sew and adorable gnome perfection!
• Pitchers, jugs, and cups. I love adding height with small pitchers and jugs. With removable vinyl, you can use the same pieces and change them for holidays, seasons, or events!
• Holiday accents. Look for smaller pieces to insert into the nooks of your tray and be sure to mix mediums. Grab pieces of various heights and build a scene for each tray. 
• Moss balls and other decorative balls. Stack them or use them to build up the center of a tray. 
• Farmhouse wooden beads. You can see the pearlized set I’ve used here on this farmhouse tray for Easter, but any set will do. If you have the larger bead strands (1-1.5 inch beads), consider using them on the bottom tier only. 
• Natural elements. Play with various wooden pieces, stones, driftwood, and other natural elements. Bringing nature inside is always a good idea and I love to make or buy wood blocks for this.
• Textiles and linen. From cloth napkins to burlap, bring in textiles or linen pieces to be used to fill spaces, lift pieces above the brim, or add pops of color. 
• Color palette. I like to stay within a broad palette, meaning I care less about the colors than the tone. If I plan a muted tray, I stick with those colors and parchment or off white and don’t add any brights (even white). 

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