Create a gorgeous entry space to greet your guests with a warm welcome!  Use this simple step-by-step guide to decorate an entryway console table with ease and confidence!

Do you struggle with ideas to decorate an entryway console table in your home?  Or perhaps you have a unique entry space in your home and need beautiful entry table decor solutions?  You are not alone!  Today, we are going to tackle this important space, however small it may be, with some console table decor ideas.  You will also be able to tweak these ideas to use for any type of console, sofa, or buffet table throughout your living room or dining room too.

Our home has a really small entryway.  When I say small, I mean a 6 X 6 square that is called an entry space.  However, it is one of my favorite places for home decor.  At the same time, I sometimes get stumped in my own home!  Can anyone relate?!

I decided to help myself out by simplifying the decor process with some easy steps to help me get going when I want to decorate an entryway console table.  Hopefully this simple idea will inspire you, no matter the size of your space.  Whether you have a large entryway or a small space, the same overall design principles still apply to decorate an entryway console table.

Before we get started, let’s address one of MY first questions:

What to do when you have no entryway?

I can relate to this because I, too, have lived in homes that had no entryway at all.  It is not uncommon to have a front door that opens directly into a living room space.  Here are a few simple solutions you can try:

1. Position the living room furniture to create the idea of a narrow hallway between the furniture and side wall.
2. Try facing the sofa into the living room and add a sofa table, which then acts like an entryway table.
3. Add a small table just inside the door.
4. Turn an entryway coat closet into a small alcove for a hutch or table.
5. Amp up the outdoor entrance with a great piece of furniture that can give the illusion of an entryway.

You may have to play around with several creative ideas to make your space feel like it has a specific place to give guests a warm welcome and make that good first impression.  However, even if you just have a little space, you can create a spot that is beautiful, functional, and welcoming for your friends and family!

​

Ideas to Decorate an Entryway Console Table: 4 Simple Steps

A Step-By-Step Guide to Decorate a Console Table for Flawless Entryway Style

​

Step One to Decorate an Entryway Console Table: Choose the right table

If you are a frequent reader of Robyn’s French Nest, you’ve heard me say this so many times.  Function trumps decor, every single time.  However, I am a big fan of pretty spaces and with some creativity, there is almost always a way to combine function and beauty in your home decor.

At the same time, your entryway is the first thing guests see and you want to make a good first impression!  With all of those factors at play, it is no wonder that we can feel really stuck as we try to decorate an entryway console table in our home, especially if there is limited space.  There is a lot at stake here!

The first step to decorate an entryway console table is to thoughtfully choose the right table.  Whenever I am contemplating a piece of furniture and trying to decide which direction to go, here are a few questions I ask myself:

1. Who is using this space?
2. What do we need to do in this space?
3. Where does the piece of furniture need to go?  (Often in the entryway of your home, there is a spot that is a natural choice for furniture placement.)
4. What are the measurements of the ideal furniture location?  (Put these measurements in a note in your phone so you always have it handy when you’re out and about!)
5. What is the general style and color scheme of the space to keep it cohesive with the rest of my home?
6. What is my budget?
7. What do I want the space to feel like?

If you can answer these questions for yourself, you’ve got a GREAT starting point for creating an amazing space in your home.

Step Two to Decorate an Entryway Console Table: Determine functional and practical needs

Next, you are ready to fine tune the function and practical needs your entryway table will serve for your home.  Don’t worry!  We are going to make it look beautiful too!!!

Perhaps you have an entryway that is separate from where your family comes and goes on a daily basis.  However, often the main entryway is not only to be a warm welcome to guests but also is the drop zone for the entire family.  In that case, some extra planning and creative solutions may be helpful to create an entry space that is beautiful and welcoming, both for guests and also for your family each and every day.  If you need an entry space that is more of a mudroom, check out THIS blog post.  We created a drop zone for our kids in an underused closet space.  It has been a game changer for us!

However, if you have a separate front entryway, you may have the option of using entryway table decor ideas that are purely decorative.  Even if a space if decorative, it may still have a great opportunity for valuable storage space.  Drawers, shelves within a cabinet, a lower console shelf with a large basket, or large wicker baskets with lids are all decor pieces that can add functional storage space to a beautiful entryway.

There are other functional elements that can be really beneficial in an entryway space, depending on where the entry is located in your home and how it is used by your family.  Regardless, a table lamp or even a pair of lamps and a wall mirror by the front door can be really helpful.  At the same time, a table lamp and wall mirror are classic home decor that can go with any design style!

It is worth taking your time and consideration as to how your entryway space can best serve your family on a daily basis.  Most of us don’t have the luxury of ample square footage in our homes, right?!  Combining practical function and pretty decor is a win win!

Here are a few kinds or styles of entryway console tables to consider:

• Simple table top, possibly with ottomans or large wicker baskets tucked underneath for extra seating or storage
• Console table with open shelves for display and decor, also add closed baskets and decorative boxes for small storage
• Cabinet with doors and shelves for closed storage
• Table with drawers for easy storage
• Bench with a shelf or baskets underneath for storage
• Hall tree for practical use and add decorative elements also

Step Three to Decorate an Entryway Console Table: Create a focal point

How do I style my entryway table?

Once you have settled on the right piece of furniture for your space, it’s time to think about how to decorate an entryway console table!  First, I like to create a focal point.

If your console table is against a wall, it is a great opportunity for a beautiful wall display to set the tone of your home for family and friends.

Even though my entryway is a small space, I’ve used different styles of focal points in the past.  Usually, a large piece of art, architectural salvage, or a large mirror are my go-to decor pieces.  A large round mirror is another great place to add a soft shape and more dimension to an entryway wall.

However, if your entryway console table is doubling as a sofa table, you can still be creative with ways to create a stunning focal point.  A large floral arrangement, tall lanterns with flameless candles, or a beautiful sculpture are just a few decorative accessories that would make a great focal point.

Pro Tip:  For your focal point, try to make sure your decorative item isn’t undersized.  Too many small items can make a table feel cluttered.  On the other hand, even in a small space, a large item can make a statement and fill the visual space without feeling messy.

​Step Four to Decorate an Entryway Console Table: Add Decorative Accessories

What do you put on a table by the front door?

After creating a focal point to decorate an entryway console table, you are ready to add some decorative accessories!

Next, you get to put the “icing on the cake”, so to speak, by adding beautiful elements and a personal touch to this space in your home.  To me, this is the part that is equally fun and confusing sometimes.

First, I like to gather a variety of decorative pieces that I love.  I curate these pieces with the color palette of the space in mind.  At the same time, you’ll want to think about adding a variety of texture and pattern while keeping the overall look cohesive with the rest of your home.

In our home, the entryway opens to the music room on one side and the living room on the other.  With that in mind, I really pay attention to keeping a cohesive look with the color palette and design style.

Next, I start playing around with the decorative accessories I’ve gathered.  The first thing I try to determine is whether I want to go with a symmetrical look or an asymmetrical style.

For example, I could start with a large round mirror hanging over the table and a pair of lamps for ambient lighting, one on each end of the table.  Then, I would have the perfect place for a symmetrical look.  In this case, I would add a simple vignette in the middle of the console table.

Here are a few great options:

• Large vase with faux branches for organic elements
• Vase of flowers, a stack of vintage books, and a favorite candle
• A small pot with a plant for fresh greenery and a pair of pretty candlesticks with flameless taper candles on a timer

Both the second and third options are great examples of using groups of 3 to create the decor triangle you may see interior designers sharing about.

Check out these examples below to see an easy way to combine 3 favorite elements with great style by focusing on the decor triangle!  Even though these examples are from my music room coffee table, the design principle applies and any of these vignettes are a great option to decorate an entryway console table also.

Pro Tip: Consider adding a table runner to a long console table to add more texture and pattern.  

THIS is one of my favorites to use for a table runner because it has a pretty cottage vibe and is so inexpensive!

Lastly, understand that when you decorate an entry console table, it is a good idea to avoid clutter.  Empty space is perfectly fine.  In fact, when you leave some empty space, it allows for your favorite decorative pieces to really make a statement.

I am not a minimalist, by any means.  However, after I decorate a space, I often go back later and edit the living space to make sure I’ve allowed enough empty spaces for the room to “breathe.”

Decorative Items for Console Table Style

How do you accessorize a console table?

I love home decor and collecting favorite decorative pieces that I can switch and rotate around our home is so fun.  Entryway consoles are often a great way to express your personal style and display some favorite home decor items.

While many entryway consoles have great functional use and storage, the entrance table top is often mostly decorative.  Even in a small area, you can still have fun adding some simple decorative pieces.  A stylish entryway table can have many different styles.

Here are a few of my favorite kinds of decor items to use on my own entrance table!

What do you display on a console table?

• Wooden bowl, change filler for seasonal decor
• Vintage books: I like to look for favorite hardcover titles that can tie in with my decor or add an accent color.  See THIS post for details on how to incorporate thrifted book titles into your decorating scheme
• Family photos: add a personal touch and decorative element with pretty picture frames (I love THIS one and THIS one!)
• Large vase or vintage vessel to switch out seasonal greenery and faux flowers
• Candlesticks with flameless taper candles for a cozy, welcoming glow
• Pretty marble dish stacked on large, pretty books
• Favorite candle: THIS extra large “colossal” size looks amazing and will last for years!

FAQ’s to Decorate an Entryway Console Table:

Let’s chat about some commonly asked questions!

What do you put on bottom shelf of a console table?

The bottom shelf of a console table is great place to add storage space to a small entryway.  Whether the console table is doubling as a sofa table in a living space or set along a wall by the front door, it is a perfect place to add a large basket for storage.

I like THESE baskets with lids for closed storage.  At the same time, they add texture and interest with the fun shape.

However, if you have a small living space, you may want to consider using the bottom shelf of your console table to hold ottoman or poufs that can double as extra seating!  They will add fun texture and pattern to the entryway while also being functional for the rest of your home!

​What do you store in an entryway table?

I consider storage space in an entryway console table to be bonus storage!  This can be a great place to store extra home decor or seasonal tableware or table linens.

I have used my entryway storage for a variety of things over the years.  Extra candles, throw blankets to pull out for a cozy movie night, mudroom essentials like shoes or umbrellas, family board games, and seasonal decor have all rotated through my entryway spaces in our different homes.

Currently, I use the cabinet storage in our small entryway to tuck away projects I am working on.  For example, I have items I am collecting for Easter baskets and also birthday party supplies for two of my kiddos stacked in sections on the shelves.  These are things I need immediate access to but definitely don’t want sitting out!

Your console table storage can really be for whatever you need.  Speaking of board games, this storage is like free parking in Monopoly!  Haha!

How can I decorate my table cheaply?

One of the best ways to decorate on a budget is to use organic elements from outside.  At the same time, it adds gorgeous, natural style to your home!

An easy way to do this is to invest in a large vase that you love.  Then, you can add branches, dried grasses, flowers, or other natural elements that you find outside for free!

​Another great idea is to invest in a beautiful wooden bowl.  Then, you can keep it filled with natural elements like fruit or seasonal items.  Pine cones, mini pumpkins, sea shells, or Christmas ornaments are all easy elements that are either free or very inexpensive!

If you like to go thrifting, watch for large coffee table style books that will blend with the color palette of the rest of your home.  Stack them together and rest a favorite candle on top.  Then, you have interesting vintage character, a pop of accent color, and a cozy glow to welcome friends and family!

For more FREE decor ideas, check out THIS blog post!

How do you style a front entrance table?

​To recap this blog post, you can easily follow this step-by-step formula!

1. Consider how the entryway space can best serve your family.
2. Determine practical and functional needs 
3. Choose the right piece of furniture
4. Create a focal point.
5. Add decorative accessories.
6. Include cozy, welcoming elements.

​

​How to decorate a console table in entryway?

I hope you’ve gotten some fresh ideas or creative inspiration from this post!  I’ve had a lot of fun curating some of my own favorite ways to decorate.

Now, I hope you have a great time getting creative in your own home!

No matter the decor style or size of your entry space, it is the perfect place to express your decor style while creating a warm welcome for your family and friends!

​

You may also enjoy these home decor blog posts:

• How to Decorate a Coffee Table in 4 Easy, Budget-Friendly Steps
• How to Decorate a Kitchen Shelf: Tips for Open Shelving
• Best Tips for How to Decorate Side and Accent Table Ideas
• How to Decorate Kitchen Countertops Easy Tips and Ideas: Simple Decor Series
• How to Decorate a Bathroom Countertop: Functional Ideas
• 27 Easy Ways Use Old Vintage Books in Home Decor
• How to Use 10 Common Thrift Store Finds for Spring Home Decor

​

I’d love for you to follow me on social media!  You can find my home decor inspiration on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook!  

Blessings,

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.  Posts on Robyn’s French Nest may contain affiliate links. You can see our full disclosure details here.)