Tray Side Tables
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Teak
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
Wood
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Tray Tables
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
21st Century and Contemporary American Campaign Tray Tables
Brass
1990s American Tray Tables
Faux Bamboo, Wood
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Metal, Silver Plate
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s Danish Modern Tray Tables
Oak
Antique Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Tray Tables
Rosewood
Early 20th Century Asian Moorish Metalwork
Metal
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Wood
20th Century Tray Tables
Bamboo
Vintage 1960s Italian Neoclassical Tray Tables
Metal
Vintage 1960s Italian Neoclassical Tray Tables
Metal
Antique Late 18th Century Danish Rococo Tray Tables
Brass
Late 20th Century English Tray Tables
Brass
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Rattan
20th Century Italian Tray Tables
Brass
20th Century Tray Tables
Silver Plate
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Teak
20th Century Chinoiserie Tray Tables
Metal
Vintage 1950s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Wood, Teak
Mid-20th Century English Victorian Tray Tables
Brass
Antique 19th Century English Tray Tables
Faux Bamboo, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Tray Tables
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Moroccan Moorish Tray Tables
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Chinoiserie Tray Tables
Bamboo, Wood
Vintage 1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Tray Tables
Brass
Early 20th Century Indian Tray Tables
Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Faux Bamboo
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century British Chippendale Tray Tables
Wood, Paint
20th Century Egyptian Egyptian Tray Tables
Brass
Vintage 1920s Tray Tables
Pewter
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Tray Tables
Bamboo, Lacquer
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Brass
Antique 1770s English Chippendale Tray Tables
20th Century British Georgian Tray Tables
Hardwood
Antique 19th Century Gustavian Tray Tables
Pine, Paint
Vintage 1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Metal
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Tray Tables
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Danish Modern Tray Tables
Steel
Early 20th Century English Chippendale Tray Tables
Wood, Oak
Vintage 1960s Industrial Tray Tables
Antique Early 19th Century English Georgian Tray Tables
Iron
Antique 18th Century British Neoclassical Tray Tables
Mahogany
20th Century Moroccan Moorish Tray Tables
Copper
Late 20th Century American Neoclassical Tray Tables
Leather, Wood
2010s American Other Tray Tables
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s American Other Tray Tables
Metal, Sheet Metal
Mid-20th Century Indian Anglo-Indian Tray Tables
Wood
Antique 1810s English George III Tray Tables
Brass
Antique Late 19th Century Swedish Rustic Tray Tables
Pine, Paint
Antique 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Tray Tables
Metal, Brass
Vintage 1970s French Hollywood Regency Tray Tables
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite
2010s American Other Tray Tables
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s American Other Tray Tables
Metal, Sheet Metal
2010s American Other Tray Tables
Metal, Sheet Metal
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Tray Side Tables For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Tray Side Tables?
Finding the Right Tray Tables for You
The popularity of antique and vintage tray tables owes mostly to the 1950s, when the first TV dinners made their way into the freezers of American kitchens.
At a time when televisions were increasingly becoming fixtures in the living rooms of most homes in the United States, the tray table was impossibly convenient. With a deft merging of function and style, the table, positioned in front of your sofa or plush armchair, was a place to rest your Swanson-brand TV dinner, a compartmentalized supper issued on a disposable tray that required minimal preparation. The technological advances of the mid-century kitchen included programmable ovens, so TV dinners were quick and easy, particularly when home-cooked meals were out of the question.
When one had finished the last bite of this square meal, which was packed into sections that assumed various geometric shapes in their own partitioned aluminum tray, the tray table could be easily folded up and tucked away until needed again.
Eventually, designers took to exploring iterations of the widely loved tray table that would better suit household needs. Once a simple, foldable furnishing that was confined to use at mealtime, tray tables are now somewhat of a budget-friendly design staple for many households. Today, tray tables are as versatile as ever, and such a wide range has been manufactured over the years that you’re likely to find a good fit no matter what your furniture style preferences might be.
Tray tables are used as side tables, nightstands, a bar tray when your space won’t accommodate that handsome vintage bar cart you’ve been looking for and desks, particularly as many of us are working from home and especially when a modest-sized apartment won’t allow for larger tables.
Tray tables vary in style, shape and size. When looking for a tray table, you should measure accordingly and ensure that wherever it will land in your space there will be room around the table to allow for easy movement.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of antique and vintage tray tables that includes mid-century modern tray tables, Art Deco versions and more.
- What is a butler’s tray table?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022A butler's tray table is an accent table typically used for serving. It includes a removable tray top that can transport food and drinks from room to room. Normally, the base features folding criss-crossing legs. Shop a range of butler's tray tables on 1stDibs.
- What is a tray top coffee table?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertOctober 26, 2021Tray top coffee tables are coffee tables with long, flat rectangular surfaces that are supported by an x-frame base. Low tables that were initially used as tea or coffee tables have been around since at least the mid- to late-1800s. After coffee drinking and “coffee breaks” became popular, it didn’t take long for coffee and cocktail tables to become a design staple and for consumers to recognize their role in entertaining no matter what beverages were being served. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary tray top coffee tables from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- What are side tables used for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Side tables are used next to furniture like beds and couches to provide an accessible place for keeping essential items at hand. In the living room, side tables are often used to display flower arrangements, photos or books as well as to set down a drink. In the bedroom, a side table is typically populated with items like a lamp, bedtime reading material, and a charging device for a phone. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary side tables from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- What are nesting side tables?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A nesting table is a set of tables designed to be stored one inside or under the other, giving them a layered or stacked appearance. A side table is a table that’s placed beside a piece of furniture. A nesting side table would be a series of side tables in graduated heights that can be stacked or nested together. Shop a collection of nesting tables from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 25, 2019
A side table should stand one to three inches below the arm of the sofa or chair it is placed next to.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023There are two differences between end tables and side tables: function and size. Typically, end tables go beside a chair or at opposite ends of a sofa and have smaller tabletops, while side tables go toward the sides of seating areas or against walls and feature a larger surface area. However, many people use the words side and end tables interchangeably, so these differences may not always apply. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of end and side tables.
- 1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023To determine whether a side table is an antique, closely examine its details. Older pieces will typically have telltale features like wood pegs, hand-cut dovetails with some slight imperfections and mortise-and-tenon construction. Tables that are a consistent color throughout or have machine-cut moldings or carvings are unlikely to be antiques. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can be a helpful resource when dating tables. Shop a collection of antique, vintage and modern side tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024No, a side table shouldn't always be lower than a sofa. To make it easy to access items on a table, a sofa's arms should generally be no more than 2 to 3 inches above or below the tabletop. This rule of thumb differs from the one for coffee tables, which should be as tall or 1 to 2 inches shorter than the seat height of the sofa to ensure a balanced look. Explore a large selection of side tables on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 28, 2021A tall side table may also be called a console table. While these furnishings are not as common in today’s interiors as their coffee-table and side-table counterparts, console tables are stylish home accents and have become more prevalent over the years. The popularity of wood console tables took shape during the 17th and 18th centuries in French and Italian culture, and were exclusively featured in the palatial homes of the upper class. Find console tables today on 1stDibs.
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