Console Tables

How to choose a console table for your space

Slim console tables for narrow hallways

Depth matters more than width in a hallway. Measure from the wall to the point where the table would start to block the door swing or the walkway, and leave a clear path of around 90cm where possible. A slim console table of around 26cm to 35cm deep keeps the hall open while still giving you a useful surface.

Half moon tables

Half moon tables have a curved front and a flat back, so there are no sharp corners to catch as you walk past. They are a good fit for small hallways, landings and the wall at the bottom of the stairs.

Console tables behind a sofa

Behind a sofa, choose a console table no taller than the sofa back, or only slightly taller, and close to the sofa's length. It gives you a place for lamps and books without needing side tables.

How long should a console table be?

As a guide, a console table looks balanced when it is about two-thirds to three-quarters of the length of the wall or the sofa it sits against. A 120cm to 160cm console suits a long living room wall, while 71cm to 90cm works in most hallways.

Drawers, shelves or doors?

• Console tables with drawers keep keys, chargers, letters and dog leads out of sight. Choose two or more drawers if several people use the hall every day.
• Console tables with a shelf give you somewhere to put baskets for shoes, hats and gloves, or larger decorative pieces.
• Designs with drawers and doors combine hidden storage with a display top, which makes them work almost like a slim sideboard.
• Three-tier tables offer the most open display space for plants, books and ornaments.

Styling a console table

A console table and mirror is the classic pairing: hang the mirror so its bottom edge sits a short distance above the table top, and choose a mirror narrower than the table. Add height at one end with a table lamp or tall vase, and something lower at the other, such as a bowl, a stack of books or a small plant.

Find the finishing touches in our mirrors, table lamps and vases collections.

Looking after your console table

Wipe wooden and painted surfaces with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth, and use coasters or a tray under keys, plants and drinks. Clean glass tops with glass cleaner on a soft cloth. Use felt pads under the legs on hard floors.

Console tables: your questions answered

What is a console table used for?

A console table is a narrow table that stands against a wall or behind a sofa. It is used as a hall table for keys and post, as a display surface for lamps, plants and ornaments, and as extra storage when it has drawers or a shelf.

What is the difference between a console table and a hall table?

They are the same type of furniture. A hall table is simply a console table used in a hallway. Hall tables tend to be slimmer and often have drawers, while console tables for living rooms can be longer and deeper.

How deep should a hallway console table be?

For most hallways a depth of around 26cm to 35cm works well, leaving room to walk past comfortably. Measure the space between the wall and the edge of the walkway or door swing, and aim to keep a clear path of around 90cm.

What is the difference between a console table and a sideboard?

A console table is taller, narrower and lighter, usually with legs and a small amount of storage. A sideboard is lower, deeper and more enclosed, with cupboards and drawers for larger items such as tableware. Consoles suit hallways, while sideboards suit dining and living rooms.

How high should a mirror be above a console table?

Hang the mirror so its bottom edge sits roughly 15cm to 25cm above the table top, close enough that the two read as one arrangement. Choose a mirror narrower than the table, ideally around two-thirds of its width.

For more storage, browse our sideboards and cabinets, or see side tables and coffee tables for the living room.