Whether you’re looking to create a focal point in your living room, fill an empty hallway nook, or make a stylish statement right at your home’s entryway, the console table offers endless possibilities. Often overlooked, this versatile piece of furniture can effortlessly transform any space from mundane to magazine-worthy. However, the magic lies not just in the table itself, but in how you style it.
Whether you’re looking to update the foyer of a pueblo revival home in Scottsdale, Arizona or the living room in a quintessential Boston, Massachusetts apartment, this Redfin article has everything you need to know about styling a console table. Let’s get started.
1. Location is essential
Whether your console table’s purpose is for functionality, aesthetics, or both, considering its placement is the first step. A foyer location creates a valuable first impression, whereas styling a console table behind a living room couch adds depth and layers to a unified space.
2. Decorate wall space
Placing a console table in a foyer against a grand wall creates the perfect opportunity to hang a mirror above it. With natural light to fill the space and reflect from your mirror, an entryway will feel even more spacious.
Jill Metzler Wiese, owner and head creative with Just Jill! Interiors shares how a mirror can also offer a last-chance glimpse at your look before heading out to “conquer the world.”
3. Build layers of décor
When styling your console table, think of it as composing a visual story. Start with larger foundational items like lamps or vases as your ‘base layer’. Then, add a ‘middle layer’ with medium-sized items like books or decorative boxes. Finally, sprinkle in smaller accent pieces, trinkets, or floral arrangements as your ‘top layer’. This tiered approach creates depth and ensures your table looks thoughtfully curated rather than cluttered.
Miriam Verga, partner and principal for Mimi and Hill, suggests placing functional bowls (such as for keys and loose change) within a tray. She adds that, “doing so will create a look that grounds the bowl and adds visual interest.”
4. Incorporate varying sized décor
A well-styled console table is a dance of dimensions. Avoid a monotonous look by steering clear of uniformly sized décor. Intermingle taller pieces like vases of foliage with medium and smaller elements such as picture frames or artistic sculptures. This dynamic play on sizes not only adds depth but also showcases your sophisticated design skills.
Audrey Scheck, founder and principal designer of Audrey Scheck Design, shares how her team stacks “coffee table books horizontally to add height and serve as a base layer for other decorative objects.”
5. Incorporate ambient lights
Styling a console table with layers of memorable photography, prized books, or faux olive branches should be peacefully illuminated for all to see. Dimly lit table lamps are a great way to elevate the ambiance and set a stunning nighttime mood for proper rest and relaxation.
Final thoughts on how to style a console table
From location to personality these five tips from industry professionals will help transform your console table into an expertly crafted focal point.
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