We believe home design should be stylish and distinctive. From the sculptural edge of a modern sofa table to the rustic warmth of a rough-hewn wood design, a console table is a practical and elevating addition to your edit. At Lulu and Georgia, our thoughtfully curated console furniture collection has something perfect for your home, beautifully blending form and function.
Not sure what design best fits your space when shopping console tables? Don't worry; we have got you covered. Check out the tips below for ideas and inspiration as you choose the best piece to buy for your space.
What A Console Table Can Do For Your Design
Maybe a helpful starting point is, ‘What exactly is a console table?’ It’s often used interchangeably with other terms like entryway table, sofa table, or even hallway table. In short, it’s surface space with style. Console table is the blanket term for all these elements; the only difference is where you place it. The versatility and practical edge they provide are exactly why we love them. Perhaps the best way to think about shopping console tables is not to look at the pieces themselves but to go space by space and see how one can fold into your design.
Entryway or Hall Console Table
One of the more common uses of a console table is in the entryway, where it can serve as both a statement piece and a functional place for storing other items. When choosing an entry console table, consider the size of your space. If you’re working with a small area or hallway, find one that is smaller in length but curved, giving you more space to display accent pieces and lighting elements. If your entryway is larger, opt for an entryway console table that is bigger in scale. If the table is too small, it can feel lost in the room, creating a sense of too much empty white space. This can make your entrance feel uninspired or too open and blank.
Living Room Console Table
In a living room, you can anchor your console furniture against a wall or behind a sofa. Be sure to measure to ensure that your sofa is longer than the couch table. A sofa console table can serve as an extra source for shelves and storage. We love sofa pieces that feature two or three shelves—like this Vedima Console Table—which can be a perfect place to stack books and throws. Round up several of your favorite décor pieces and found items to display on the top to bring uniqueness and character to the space. Place votives and candlesticks at varying heights to add perspective and dimension for added warmth.
Kitchen or Dining Room Console Table
A console table’s usefulness doesn’t stop in the living room. A rustic wood console table would be great in a farmhouse-style kitchen, allowing you to display glassware and ceramics. In a more open design, you can use a modern console table to section off space while keeping the space airy and light. If you are substituting a console table for a sideboard in a dining room, consider shopping styles with drawers, such as our Topia Console Table by Ginny Macdonald. This provides space for storing dining essentials such as silverware, napkins, or candlesticks.
Small-Space Console Table
A small console table’s versatility is incredibly useful in an apartment or smaller space house. As we covered, they are seamlessly adaptable to your living room, dining area, hallway, or entry. Plus, most options have a slimmer profile than a cabinet, sideboard, or bookshelf, allowing you to save space. You can even style a small console table in a guest room or home office that can double as a high desk or vanity. At under a foot and a half deep, the Arlene Console Table is a favorite. This narrow console table is constructed from reclaimed teak and features craftsman-inspired detailing that injects a ton of personality.
How To Style A Console Table
From a rustic entryway table to a modern sofa table, there are endless possibilities when it comes to the styling and placement of console tables, but there are some good rules of thumb that can help elevate the look no matter the space.
Console tables serve a functional purpose, but they’re also a great place to stage decor and curate a design moment that stands out. Remember, tabletop curations are all about creating visual interest. This means varying the height of objects and layering different materials, so there’s variety in dimension and texture. When grouping pieces, like vases, candles, or sculptures, go for odd numbers like three or five, as it’s more pleasing to the eye.
If the table serves as a focal point, hanging a mirror or large-scale wall art over the piece can help it stand out—in most cases, the piece should be narrower than the table itself. Leaning a mirror on a narrow console table can help create depth and give a small vignette more dimension.
An essential rule of livable design is that open surfaces can attract clutter. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t leave open table space—a flexible surface is one of the greatest benefits of a console table. Still, you want to be mindful of how this tabletop can get buried in the comings and goings of everyday life, especially if it’s a hallway table or entryway console table that sits in the transition between spaces.
One way to avoid clutter is to incorporate storage solutions into your curation. If the piece has an open lower shelf, as with our Cohen Console Table, baskets can provide a great place to stash things while layering artisan texture into the room. Up top, trays and decorative bowls can serve as catchalls for everything from car keys to mail.
However you style it, a console table allows you the flexibility to showcase the nuances of your design aesthetic. It will enable you to showcase your individuality with personal touches and decor, enriching your home's aesthetic while proving to be useful accent furniture.
Lulu and Georgia Console Tables + Sofa Tables
When you shop online at Lulu and Georgia, you'll find pieces that complement the style of your space but also make it feel more elevated. Whether you are looking for a modern console table to artfully elevate your living room edit or an extra surface for your kitchen or entryway, we have a selection curated by design, materials, and size. Check out our living room inspiration for more ideas on creating stylish everyday living spaces.
Show Less
