5 Ways to use console tables

The console table is one of the most versatile pieces of furniture around. We look at five clever ways of using them

1. Add depth to your living room

To create a display surface and add depth place a narrow console table against a wall behind a sofa as seen above. It makes good use of the space, adds interest to the decor and is also a great spot to place a lamp if there is no room for side tables. [Design: Francois du Plessis].

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2. Create an interesting dressing table

A small console table with an elegant, classic shape makes an attractive dressing table when paired with a mirror and a pretty chair. [Design: Francois du Plessis].

3. Separate rooms and create a focal point

Create a focal point and separate the entrance hall from the living room in an open-plan home. “The back of a sofa is always quite hard and solid, and a console table breaks that line and gives interest,” says decorator Amanda Jane Walters. When choosing a console for behind a sofa, look for one with a decorative leg detail and an open design to avoid adding another solid block.

4. Add interest to your entrance hall

The simple, minimalist lines of this console create the illusion of space in this entrance hall, while the intricate inlaid mirror and voluptuous lamp add a welcome contrast. [Design: Bruce Fyfe Interiors].

5. Make your own

If you can’t find a console table suited to your space, create your own. As this narrow passage serves as an entrance hall, a slender table was a necessity. Unable to find a suitable one, the homeowner bought a piece of wood from Timbercity and used a router to get a perfect finish on the scalloped edge. Ready-made legs and a coat of paint added the final touches.