Step By Step Guide for Easy Console Table Decor Ideas
Stumped with console table decor ideas for an entry space or living room? This step-by-step guide will help you confidently put together decor items with your own personal style for any time of the year! Get easy entryway console table decor ideas that you can blend with the rest of your home to welcome your family and friends with an inviting entryway or living room space!
Even though I love to decorate our home, I have found that our entryway table decor ideas can feel tricky sometimes! However, I have found some basic principles for console table decor ideas that work on a foyer table, a more traditional console table in a living room, or even a buffet table in a dining room.
I hope that this post gives you some creative inspiration and console table decor ideas that you can use in a functional way while also creating a welcoming space for your family and friends!
First of all, I want to mention one really important thing: there truly is no right or wrong in decorating a home. Personal style? Of course. However, the beauty of home is that it should be whatever home feels like to you and your family! Undoubtedly, this will look different for every family.
The point of this post is to give you a guide or framework to help you feel more confident about your console table decor ideas and implementing them in your own entry space or living room.
What can I use in place of a console table?
For starters, let’s chat quickly about the actual table. I have several cabinets and furniture situations in our home that I treat as a table top and use my favorite console table decor ideas to decorate them. However, I don’t actually own a traditional console table at all!
There are many different kinds of furniture that you can use instead of a traditional console table. For example, if storage is important to you, consider a cabinet with closed doors or even a vintage dresser.
If you have a really small area, a simple bench or simple round table (the size of a side table) might be the perfect fit for your space. A small table can have gorgeous visual interest and small entryways can be very charming and welcoming. Don’t let the size of your space keep you from creating a beautiful entry space for your home!
Here is a list of fun furniture pieces you can consider using for a console table:
- Bench
- Cabinet with closed doors
- Small dresser
- Buffet style cabinet
- Low bookshelf
- Drop leaf table
- Antique apothecary
- Vintage theater chairs
- Gardening table/potting table
- Small round pedestal table
- Side table
- Night stand
- Vintage Hoosier cabinet or step back cabinet
….just to name a few! Think outside the box and have fun being creative with your “table” choice!
Step By Step Guide for Easy Console Table Decor Ideas
Console Table Decor Ideas: Consider the location
Your console table decor ideas will first depend upon the location of your table. The first thing you need to think about is where your console table will be located. If it is an entry console table, is it located in a small space? Is there a separate entryway or do you need entryway console table decor ideas that help to designate an area that is an entry space from the living room?
If your console table is in a regular living space, such as a living room, is it floating in the room or is it up against a wall?
First, we are going to chat about console table decor ideas specifically for entryway consoles that are up against a wall. I say entryway consoles, but these really could be console tables located throughout the rest of your home as well.
In general, a console table is designed to look pretty. Often, it does not need to serve a significant functional need. However, you can use an entry console table to a very couple of distinct advantages for your home.
For example, in our teeny tiny foyer, I use an old pine dresser as the entry console table.
In our family room, though, I found an wonderful antique apothecary cabinet that floats in the room, backed up to our sectional. It does help create a bit of designated a passageway space between the living areas of our home and the “kids” wing, where their bedrooms and bathroom are located.
Even though I absolutely love every chippy, vintage detail about both of these pieces, they also are really great storage for our home. That is the second way that entryway consoles or other console-style tables can serve your home is by doubling as great storage spaces!
Console Table Decor Ideas: Consider the function and storage options
Any type of table or cabinet that have console table decor ideas PLUS storage is a win win. Cabinets with doors or drawers can be a great option for storing small home decor extras, mudroom supplies, pet supplies, extra table linens, bed linens, or out of season items, just to name a few fresh ideas!
Console tables that have an open shelf are a perfect place to house baskets for cozy throw blankets, outdoor shoes, jackets, or even extra throw pillows.
Again, these are just a few simple ideas but the sky is really the limit when it comes to all of the functional ways you can have your console table decor ideas really work for your family as well as looking pretty!
How to Decorate a Console Table That is Against the Wall
How do you style a console table against a wall?
We are going to use my entryway as an example today. However, you can take these general ideas and apply them to any kind of tabletop surface with an open wall space over it!
Here are some general principles to guide your console table decor ideas:
- A large mirror can fill the wall space and reflect light to give the illusion of more space while being a great focal point.
- A neutral color scheme can help the space blend with the rest of your home while being a peaceful and calm entry space.
- Ambient lighting, such as a table lamp or flameless candle, can create a warm welcome.
- Simple decorative accessories can add a pop of color for the different seasons.
- In general, it is a good idea to decorate in with groupings of odd numbers for balance.
- While a lived-in feel is appropriate for a home, try keeping the entryway space clutter-free for a more inviting welcome.
Console Table Decor Ideas (Against a Wall) #1: Use a large mirror as an anchor
If you have to choose just one piece to use with your console table that never changes, no matter the season or decor theme, a large mirror is the way to go! Not only is a large mirror a popular choice because it looks beautiful, it is also great piece to reflect natural light to give the illusion of more space in your entryway or any room of your home, for that matter. At the same time, a large mirror is a great focal point to anchor the rest of your wall decor.
Depending on your design style and the size and shape of your room, you can consider different styles of mirrors:
- I love this large round mirror, especially with a long, rectangular table. The round shape breaks up the horizontal lines.
- A taller, arched mirror adds an elegant look.
- For a narrow space, try a longer horizontal mirror to reflect more light.
Once you have your anchor piece, you can start to consider other wall decor. If you have a small space, you may choose (like I did) to keep the style more simple and not add more wall decor. However, if you have a larger wall space, you could add vintage art or family portraits on each side of the mirror to give the space some personal style.
Or, for a symmetrical look, you could flank the mirror with beautiful sconces. I love THESE wireless brass sconces and use similar ones in my bedroom!
How high should a mirror be above a console table?
Typically, the space between the bottom of the mirror and the top of your furniture should be approximately 4” – 8”. However, you want the mirror to be fairly close to eye level. So, for taller furniture leave a smaller gap in order to keep the mirror as close to eye level as possible.
Console Table Decor Ideas (Against a Wall) #2: Add ambient lighting
Speaking of sconces, ambient lighting is a great idea to help make your space feel cozy and welcoming. At the end of a long day, it just feels nice to come home to a cozy room! There are a lot of ways to add ambient lighting to an entryway space. Here are a few simple ideas that you can easily add:
- THESE wireless sconces work with a battery and remote.
- THIS table lamp is timeless and beautiful, plus it is also wireless.
- Try cozy flameless candles, like THESE, that flicker on each evening for several hours.
Console Table Decor Ideas (Against a Wall) #3: Keep a simple color palette
If your foyer table is visible from more than one area of your home, you may want to consider a simple color palette that doesn’t take away from the colors used in the rest of your home. Since I love a neutral color scheme for most rooms in our home, my console table decor ideas for my own home are a neutral color palette anyway.
However, if you use more colors in the rest of your home, that’s wonderful! Just consider the viewpoint to the other rooms of your home from the entryway space.
Pro Tip: You’ll want a color scheme in this entryway that harmonizes with the other rooms of your home.
Console Table Decor Ideas (Against a Wall) #4: Decorate with odd numbers of accessories
Next, it’s time to start adding decorative items with your console table decor ideas. In general, decorating with an odd number of decorative objects is a good rule of thumb for visual appeal. However, it is also important that your decorative items are different sizes.
Whether on a foyer table or coffee table, I like to think of a vignette as having a tall item, a medium-sized item, and a small seasonal accent.
If you add three small items, the odd number is great but the small items could look cluttered or seem unintentional, kind of like they were just set there for lack of a better place! Instead, by using decor pieces with different heights, you can create a curated vignette that has visual appeal.
Here are a few combinations that I use often throughout my home:
- Tall vase with tall faux branches, matching medium vase (leave it empty), small seasonal item like a pumpkin or brass figure
- Planter with fresh greenery, tall brass candlestick, medium brass candlestick, both with my favorite flameless taper candles
- Vase of flowers, 2-3 old books leaning against it, seasonal decor accessory, like a bunny for spring or deer for winter
For more vignette combination ideas, check out THIS blog post. It’s all about ways to decorate coffee tables and there are many vignettes you could tweak and easily use for a console table or entryway table too!
Console Table Decor Ideas (Against a Wall) #5: Add simple seasonal accents
Swapping out seasonal accents for your small item in the decorative vignette is a great way to keep your home decor looking and feeling fresh! At the same time, you can make the whole console table decor look different just by switching one or two easy decor items.
For example, for the small items, trade a pretty coral piece from summer decor to a fresh pumpkin from the farmer’s market. Then, for the tall faux branches, swap out pretty greenery branches for THESE fall leaves! Without any major redecorating or storing away large decor pieces, you’ll have a completely new vignette for your console table decor ideas that brings the feeling of the season into your home!
Pro Tip: Over on THIS blog post, you can get more ideas and specific examples of how to decorate a stylish entryway table in your home!
Console Table Decor Ideas (Against a Wall) #6: Keep your entryway space clutter-free
This may not sound very “decorative” but keeping your entry console table and entry space free of clutter makes all the difference in the aesthetics of the space. Even a small area with very simple and minimal console table decor ideas can be welcoming and feel cozy as long as it is kept tidy from all of the “stuff” that inevitably seems to land in an entry space!
I don’t know about your house, but backpacks, shoes, umbrellas, Amazon boxes, bags to go to the thrift store, birthday presents to take to a party, and at least 37 other random things can fill our drop zone so fast that I don’t even know how it happened. Can anyone relate?!
In addition to being intentional, myself, about keeping our small area tidy and clutter-free, I have to encourage the rest of the family to do their part to keep things put away where they belong. I wish I had a really great magic trick to share as a solution. However, the real magic is having a place for everything and everyone working together to put everything in its place.
If you notice that controlling the clutter in your entry space is just impossible, you may want to consider if you have the right piece of furniture that offers the best way to keep the space organized. Fortunately, there are beautiful entry table decor solutions that offer great storage and organization options.
Whenever I am contemplating a piece of furniture and trying to decide which direction to go, here are a few questions I ask myself:
- Who is using this space?
- What do we need to do in this space?
- 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.)
- 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!)
- What is the general style and color scheme of the space to keep it cohesive with the rest of my home?
- What is my budget?
- What do I want the space to feel like?
If you can answer these questions for yourself, you’ve got a GREAT place to start for creating an amazing space in your home.
How to style the bottom shelf of a console table?
If you have a console table with empty space underneath, whether it’s a shelf or just an open space, you can definitely utilize that empty space for function and decor. First of all, figure out what makes the most sense to store or organize under the table. Throw blankets, shoes, umbrellas, and even backpacks can work great in the right storage baskets.
For example, you could even have a storage basket for each member of the family to put their own things in when they come in for the day.
Pro Tip: Large storage baskets can work better for some things than drawers or cabinets, so don’t discount the console table option with empty space underneath!
When you choose your storage baskets, make sure to invest in baskets (I especially love wicker baskets for decorative pieces!) that fit the aesthetic of the rest of your home. Then, the storage baskets become beautiful decorative pieces that function great for your family and help control the clutter!
Not only is the organized space an easy way to make a good first impression for guests, but most importantly, it serves your family well on a daily basis. That is the BEST kind of decor and overall design for your home!
How to Decorate a Console Table That is Floating in the Room
Console Table Decor Ideas (Floating) #1: Create a hallway
If you are trying to come up with console table decor ideas with a console table that is not up against a wall, there are a lot of great options and creative ways you can set up your table.
One way that I use a cabinet as a console table is in our family room. The antique apothecary backs up to our sectional. This helps designate the family room space as well as create a passageway area that moves from the family room and kitchen area of our home to the “kids'” wing of our home.
Pro Tip: Position the living room furniture to create the idea of a narrow hallway between the furniture and side wall.
You can use your console table to help create a good flow to your home by acting as a passageway or hallway space.
Console Table Decor Ideas (Floating) #2: Create a designated space where the table acts as a wall
Another favorite way that I’ve used console table decor ideas in our home that are NOT against a wall is to set up the entry console table with the idea of a wall that separates two different rooms.
An example of this is our back living room. We have arranged it several different ways over the years and this was one way that worked really well. Not only did the cabinet provide storage space but it also helped the back living room feel like its own space.
To get this look, try facing your sofa into the living room. Then, add a foyer table or entry console table against the sofa, facing the opposite way to create the look of two different rooms.
You can also do this in a living room with the front door. By facing the sofa into the living room and away from the front door, you automatically create the feeling of a different space.
To tie it together and make it not awkward that the sofa is facing away from the door, add your traditional console table up against the sofa, facing the front door. Then, the console table acts as your entryway or foyer table, defining that space as the entry space and making it feel separate from the living room.
Console Table Decor Ideas (Floating) #3: Tips for decorative items
When your console table decor ideas are going to be visible from both sides, it definitely changes the way you decorate. Plus, without a wall behind the console and a large piece to anchor the decor, how should you decorate a console table that is not against a wall?
Here are a few simple tips to get you started:
- Make sure decorative items are pretty from all sides.
- Try adding a pair of lamps at each end, with one pretty vignette in the middle.
- Or, try adding a pretty vignette with height at one end (a large vase can work perfectly) and a tray with a candle and small seasonal object at the other end.
- Layer a pretty picture frame into a vignette where the back of the frame is partially or mostly covered by the planter or basket behind it. That way you can still use picture frames in your console table decor ideas, even though the back of the picture frames aren’t necessarily beautiful.
- Add a table lamp at the end that is closest to the wall and include it as part of a vignette: lamp is the tallest item, add a medium item (container with a plant or faux stems), then a seasonal accent for the small item (pumpkin, cute bunny rabbit, brass deer, etc.)
- Center a statement piece, such as a collection of books with pretty bookends and keep the ends of the table open.
- A large wooden bowl filled with seasonal accents can be a great statement piece on the console table as well!
- You don’t have to cover every spot on the console table!
- Include some kind of plant or greenery that can soften the hard lines of the table, sofa, and wall.
Here are a few picture examples from my own home. As you can see, there are so many ways to style your console table decor ideas for any season!
FAQ’s to Decorate an Entryway Console Table:
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.
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. Then, you can add your personal touch with 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 guide!
- Consider how the entryway space can best serve your family.
- Determine practical and functional needs
- Choose the right piece of furniture
- Create a focal point.
- Add decorative accessories.
- Include cozy, welcoming elements.
How to decorate a console table in entryway?
You can get more examples and ideas to decorate a console table in an entryway over on THIS blog post as part of my Simple Decor Series!
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!
As we wrap these console decor ideas, here is a recap of my step-by-step process to decorate my own console tables and entryway cabinets:
- Determine the function needed.
- Choose the right piece of furniture.
- Make the space tidy with the right storage and organizers.
- Choose an anchor piece or focal point for the wall behind the console table.
- Add ambient lighting, such as sconces or a lamp.
- Add decorative items in one of three different ways:
- Center a statement piece that is long and fills 2/3 of the table.
- Add a vignette with height on the left side and a tray with a candle and seasonal object on the right side.
- Add a pair of lamps to anchor the ends. Then, add a simple vignette in the middle
- Include greenery, small plants, or faux branches to soften the straight lines of the table, wall, and sofa.
I hope you have found this post helpful as you create your own stunning piece of entryway decor. Remember, the most beautiful decor for your own home is decor that has your personal touch! That will feel the most welcoming and cozy for your home!
You may also enjoy these decorating guides with simple decor tips and ideas for your home:
- Coffee Table Ideas for Small Spaces + How to Decorate
- How to Decorate a Coffee Table in 4 Easy, Budget-Friendly Steps
- How to Decorate a Bathroom Countertop: Functional Ideas
- How to Decorate Kitchen Countertops; Easy Tips and Ideas: Simple Decor Series
- Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Decorate a Mantel Year Round
- Five Ways to Turn Your Bedroom Into a Restful Retreat
- 9 Easy Tips to Mix New and Vintage Home Decor Pieces
Blessings,
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