It’s been a long time since we’ve heard the phrase “TV tray” in design conversations. Commonly thought of as flimsy foldable trays—probably still speckled with last night’s leftovers—these makeshift meal stations have long been exiled from modern interiors. Popularized in the 1950s just as television sets and frozen dinners became fixtures in American homes, the former living room-staple often featured bold, kitschy motifs on a plastic tray top on a folding metal base. Though they had morphed into heavier wood sets marketed as semi-permanent pieces in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the evolution of and overall demand for the TV tray has been slow, if not nonexistent. Until now.
As a culture heavily into streaming and scrolling, reporting indicates that the dining room and the dining room table are quickly falling out of favor in home layouts and planning. In fact, a recent study found that approximately 52 percent of Americans currently don’t eat at the dining table. Nowadays, people are looking for a place to eat that’s convenient, space-efficient, and multifunctional. But what does that look like in 2025? Well, certainly not the chunky wood or wobbly big-box iterations of yesteryear. Cue Jamie Lenore McKillop of the popular homewares line Lazy Jamie, who had the foresight in 2022 to design her brand’s first product: a beautifully designed, modern interpretation of the TV tray.
“In my early twenties, I had this lightbulb moment while living with roommates. Whether we were alone or together, we would eat in front of the TV using the coffee table or sitting on the floor,” shares McKillop. “After work, it felt like such a luxuriously restful moment. I realized TV trays were the perfect solution, but all of the available options were ugly or completely non-functional. My goal was to reimagine the TV tray for the next generation and make a real statement piece,” McKillop says about her new 15-pound, mirrored chrome and high-gloss wood tray.
But McKillop isn’t alone here. Designers share they’re seeing an uptick in requests for TV trays and more multi-use tables in general. “Clients want homes that reflect how they actually live—watching the newest TV series with a bowl of popcorn, working from a laptop in the living room,” shares interior designer Lauren Carlucci of Lauren Carlucci Studio. “The TV tray has always been about convenience and ease, and today people want comfort without compromising style. The comeback is about reclaiming that idea: a beautiful, versatile piece that serves function while elevating everyday living.”
Theresa Ory of Theresa Ory Interiors has also seen a rise in requests. “About 50% of our luxury residential clientele actually eat weeknight dinners on the sofa in the living room, rather than at their dining table,” Ory shares. “I found this to be shocking on one hand, and completely understandable on the other. Shocking because it may not seem as ‘elegant’ of a lifestyle choice, but reasonable because of the ease it offers.”
But what makes a good TV tray? McKillop says it’s a combination of versatility and aesthetics. The butler tray of her design detaches and works as a standalone piece on an ottoman, coffee table, or kitchen island. “I intentionally designed the edge with a low profile so it doubles as a work-from-couch desk to write or take calls,” she shares. “Traditional TV trays were foldable because they were usually ugly. Mine is a piece of furniture you ll want to display,” she adds.
For Carlucci, the key is selecting a TV tray with materials that age well—like oak, walnut, leather, or brass—paired with cleaner, sculptural lines. “This gives a tray table a sense of permanence. It feels designed to live with, rather than something to fold away,” she shares. Both Carlucci and McKillop recommend that around 24-inches tall is ideal, just above sofa-seat height, but low enough to comfortably perch a laptop, drink, or plate.
It’s about more than convenience however; the piece also ushers in a sense of heritage. “Growing up, my grandmother had a set of TV trays in her house,” shares McKillop. “It was always such a treat every time I got to use them—sometimes I would even fake sick just to get out of school and go over to her house to eat snacks on them in front of the TV.” Ory sees a similar sentiment in her clients: “For some, eating dinner on a TV tray is pure nostalgia. For others, it’s the most relaxed form of a gathering. For all, it holds a sense of ease—and for us, that equals luxury,” she says.
Carlucci adds that there is a certain English charm and coziness that comes with them, too. “In English heritage interiors, a tray table was often part of the furniture plan for years, repurposed endlessly for different uses,” she adds. If you want to test out how it would work in your space before you bring one into your home, Carlucci suggests moving a tray to a small side table or ottoman. “It instantly channels the charm of a traditional English tea tray, with the practicality of a modern TV dinner,” shares Carlucci.
So whether you’re working from the sofa, plating your takeout, or just want a unique living room accent—it appears the TV tray is ready to make itself at home.