What size travertine tray or bowl should you choose?
Short answer: Choose by the surface, not the object. On a coffee table, a tray should cover about one third of the tabletop. On a dining table, go large and low. For small surfaces — the hallway, the nightstand, the bathroom shelf — choose the smallest format and let the space around it do the work.
Start with the surface — not the object
The most common mistake is falling for an object first and finding a place for it second. Do the opposite: measure the surface, then choose the format. Natural stone carries weight and calm — it needs room around it to work.
For the coffee table: one third of the surface
A tray or dish works best when it covers roughly a third of the tabletop. On a round table of 80-90 cm, the round dish Arc Tray (Ø35 cm) follows the table’s geometry and carries candles, a small vase and a book without crowding. For smaller tables, Ripple Tray (23 × 23 cm) is the quiet choice. Choosing the table itself? Read our travertine coffee table guide.
For the dining table: large and low
The centre of a dining table can take volume, but not height. A low, rounded bowl like Contour Bowl (Ø25 cm, 8 cm tall) is drawn for exactly that spot — present enough to carry the table alone, low enough for conversation to pass over it. Halo Bowl (Ø26 cm) is the more sculptural alternative — beautiful with fruit, or entirely empty.
For small surfaces: smallest format + air
The hallway console, the nightstand and the bathroom shelf are small stages. Here Ripple Tray becomes the fixed home of keys and jewellery — and the small disc of the Orbit coasters (Ø9 cm) earns its place under a soap bar or a ring. The rule is the same everywhere: the smaller the surface, the more air the object needs.
When you want more than one size: staggered formats
Two objects in different sizes create a depth that one large object cannot. That is the idea behind Dune Duo — two trays (24 × 24 and 30 × 33 cm) that can rest layered together or work apart, each in its own corner of the home.
Frequently asked questions
How much of a coffee table should a tray cover?
About one third of the surface. Less looks accidental; more looks crowded.
Can a large bowl sit on a small table?
Yes — if it sits alone. One large bowl on a small surface is a deliberate choice; a large bowl among many small things is clutter.
What if I am torn between two sizes?
Choose the smaller one. Natural stone takes up more presence than its measurements suggest — the weight and calm of the material give even small formats gravity. Learn more in our travertine guide.
