How to Style a Console Table

Do you have a plain, blank wall in your home that you just don’t know what to do with? Your answer? A console table is the perfect piece to include in a variety of spaces throughout your home, including those pesky plain, blank walls. Console tables not only elevate a space, but can be a functional too. Today, we’re talking about how to style a console table and where you can put them throughout your home.

If you’re interested in tips to style a coffee table, you’ll love this post HERE.

Console Table Roundup

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Where to Incorporate a Console Table

Entryway or Foyer

The most popular place you see a console table placed in a home is in an entryway or foyer. Typically you have a blank wall that needs a little something, but can’t take up too much space because it’s where guests walk in and out. A console table is the first thing people see when they enter your home. So it’s fun to include decor items that represent your style and personality. It’s also a great place to include functional pieces like a mirror, bowl (for keys) and baskets. But more on that later!

End of a Hallway

Another place to incorporate a console table is at the end of a hallway. For instance, we have one at the end of the hallway next to where our bedrooms are located in our home.

Behind a Sofa

If you have a sofa that’s not up against a wall, a console table is a great piece to put against it. It not only allows the space to look more complete, it also helps separate the living room from the rest of the house if you have an open floor plan.

Large Empty Wall

If you have a large empty hall that you just don’t know what to do with, try adding a long console table. Whether this space is in a bedroom, living room, dining room or another room in your home, a console table can be included anywhere.

Step 1: Measure the Space

The first step in styling a console table is finding the RIGHT size console table for your space. Is the wall short or long? Console tables come in varying heights and lengths, so you want to be sure it’s going to fit in the space your placing it in. Or on the flip side, you want to make sure it’s substantial enough to cover the space you’re wanting to incorporate it.

If you’re planning to include a table behind a sofa, measure the height of the sofa. You want the console table to be as close to the height of the sofa as possible, so the table doesn’t look awkward next to it.

Step 2: Add Storage Baskets to Create a Base

There’s a caveat to adding baskets, I should start off by saying. If you have a console table that looks like the black and white one I have in my entryway (see the above picture), then there’s no need for baskets because of the bars on the bottom. However, if it’s an open-concept bottom, then I would suggest adding storage baskets or stools underneath to balance out the bottom. Since you’re going to include decor on the table and above the table (more on that in a second), you need to balance the overall look with a large piece or two of decor like stools or baskets on the bottom.

Baskets are great because they store items like throw blankets or extra shoes. The stools are great because you can pull those out, if you need additional seating or want to use them to prop your feet up while you’re sitting in a chair in the living room.

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Step 3: Arrange One or Two Large Home Decor Pieces

Next, it’s time to add bold, large home decor pieces on top of your console table. These can be items like a lamp, vase with faux florals or greenery or a large sculpture. These pieces should have some height to them. If your table is short length wise, you really only need one large piece and then sprinkle in a few smaller decor pieces. But typically you need two large pieces. Place the larger decor pieces on each end of the table with the smaller home decor pieces in the middle. You could do a large lamp on one side and a vase with in-season florals or greenery on the other.

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Step 4: Sprinkle in Other Smaller Decor Pieces

Once you have your large items placed, sprinkle in other home decor pieces on the table. It could be a shallow basket with a candle and a picture frame sitting inside it. Or another idea would be a small clock and a bowl to hold car keys or other small items that are being brought in and out of the house on a daily basis.

You can also stack your favorite books on the table too, alone or have them prop other home decor pieces up higher, like I did below.

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Step 5: Add a Picture or Mirror Above the Console Table

To finish the whole look of the console table, you can add a piece of artwork or a mirror above the console table. Now that’s of course if it’s against the wall. If it’s against something like your sofa, you can skip this step. 🙂 A mirror is great to have next to the door to do one last once over before you head out the door. A mirror also helps a space seem bigger.

However, if you have already incorporated a mirror somewhere else in the room, then maybe a piece of art that reflects your own personal design style would work better.

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Do you have a console table? If so, what are some of your favorite things to include in the decor of the table? Let me know in the comments below!