Coffee tables are magnets for chaos: remotes, cups, chargers, random receipts. When everything is placed separately, it feels messy even if there aren’t many items.
A tray groups a few things intentionally—a candle, a small plant or decor object, maybe a book or two. That cluster reads as “decor,” not “dumped stuff.” The rest of the table surface stays open for daily use.
You still live normally—put your cup down, use the remote—but the base look of the table stays styled, not accidental.
