Good evening. Tonight we’re sharing five stunning trinket trays — and what to put in them. Plus:
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| Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter; illustration by Con McHugh for NYT Wirecutter |
5 very gorgeous, very giftable trinket trays |
 | By Brittney Ho Brittney is a newsletters editor at Wirecutter. She has seven trinket trays around her apartment — most of which were gifts. |
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Trinket trays live in the lovely space between beauty and utility, which is precisely what makes them an excellent gift. They’re one of the rare treasures that you can give again and again (the types, and the places to display them, are endless) to just about anyone in your life. A great one can instantly transform clutter — rings, keys, a pile of loose change — into chic, tidy bliss nestled inside a pretty dish. And who do you know who doesn’t have a bit of clutter to corral?
Of course, just as the best way to give a bouquet is with a beautiful vase, a trinket tray is best bestowed alongside a tiny delight that fits inside. Below, five trinket dishes we think will please almost anyone — and a recommended pairing for each. How cute.
- Hefty and bright, this trinket tray is embedded with jumbo marbles for a pretty, almost disco-y vibe.
Pair with: Custom printed match boxes featuring a little illustration of your giftee’s home would make a great host or housewarming gift. And they would fan out perfectly in the shallow-yet-wide dish.
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- We can’t think of a more fitting and fun way to store soap than in this bathing lady dish. She’s made of hand-pressed glass and comes in a range of gorgeous colors (we’re partial to the cobalt), and blessedly doesn’t wobble on slippery countertops. A leisurely lady indeed!
Pair with: This luxurious bar of soap, the star ingredient of which is skin-soothing goats milk.
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- This sleek, striking catchall has a classic, old world glamour that would match just about any aesthetic. The sloped sides and generous size make it an especially nice home for keys.
Pair with: This unassuming $5 carabiner that editor Katie Okamoto calls “the perfect keychain” — utilitarian, handsome, and very secure. - Each of these handmade jewel-toned stoneware dishes looks like an exposed geode — glossy and smooth on the outside, while crackled glass creates textured, translucent colors in the center. Because there’s a different design for each birthstone, they make a particularly lovely birthday gift.
Pair with: One more birth month nod à la these solid gold, Victorian-esque rings, which are shaped like dainty flowers and finished with a fleck of a birthstone in the center.
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12 more trinket trays that make great gifts→
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What to give: A lifelong bestie? |  |
I’m in need of a 60th birthday gift for my best friend of 35 years! She’s a gadget girl, with a gardener’s spirit. Please help! — A.W.
From gifting expert Samantha Schoech:
Hurray for long-term female friendship! The combination of her love for technology and the natural world is such an interesting one. I thought first of this solar-powered smart birdfeeder, one of Wirecutter’s perennial favorites. It would allow her to watch birds at her feeder from her phone, identify them using the app, and join an active online community of avian enthusiasts.
For something a little less techy, I love this flame-throwing weed killer. A little weird, I know, but it really makes you feel like some sort of gardening warrior. Or she could bring the outside indoors with this motion-activated soundbox, which looks like a mini modern birdhouse, but plays nature sounds when triggered.
For non-garden-related tech gifts, I love this digital frame — the image is crisp, and it’s super easy to add photos.
Have someone who’s impossible to shop for? Submit your question here.
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 | Gift of the week: A lovely bowl for popcorn (or anything, really)This big ol’ ceramic bowl is ideal for slurping noodles, tossing dense salads, and noshing popcorn. Consider it an upgrade for dregs-of-winter snacking. |
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One last gift (for you): These maraschino cherries are the perfect garnish for a fancy beverage — and they’re on sale right now.
You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.
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