What is a console and what is its place in the interior?

The console seems to some to belong to historical styles in the interior or an echo of an era of sophistication and grace.

However, interior designers are returning to two-legged pieces of furniture - the console table is getting a new meaning. This is a convenient element of furniture that requires very little space, but it can decorate any room.

Types of consoles

A small decorative piece of furniture is sometimes called a "half-table", and it was once so. A small plane attached to the wall rested on two graceful legs.

Today, a long console in a hallway or corridor is often used as a shelf on which you can put gloves, an umbrella and a handbag at the threshold, and put shoes underneath.

A couple of centuries ago, it was a kind of analogue of a dressing or cosmetic table, which was placed against the mirror in the luxurious boudoir of the favorites of the French kings. Soon the white console table became a common piece of furniture among European aristocrats.

In design variations today you can find “legless” consoles that are mounted directly into the wall. This is convenient in a small room decorated in the spirit of minimalism.

Today this item is not so often found in a traditional setting, but the console table in the interior successfully replaces:

bedside table;
folding tabletop;
cosmetic table;
panel for equipment;
dressing table with mirror;
mantel;
bookshelf;
stand for small accessories in the interior.

Modern modifications, for example, the IKEA console table, are often equipped with end sides instead of legs.

In addition to two-legged and “legless” consoles, which have only triangular supports for attaching to the wall, there are also ordinary narrow shelves with supports.

Sometimes they have all 4 legs like a regular table, but they still have a long, narrow top that makes them look better along the wall.

CONSOLE TABLE DECOR. 6 INTERESTING SOLUTIONS

Today I want to talk about how you can beautifully decorate a console table. Recently I had a story related to the decor of a console, or rather, I advised my friend, told her and showed her examples of decor, explained the basics of composition. And then I realized that such material would be useful on the pages of the “On the Wave of Decor” website.

The other day a friend came to visit, admired the decor of the window sill in our living room, complimented the beautiful yellow table lamps and complained: “You know, I tried to repeat this decor and did everything like you. But it turned out to be complete nonsense for me. And I arranged the lamps and the bouquet and the books in a stack, but it’s ugly and not pleasing to the eye at all.”

I thought about it very seriously. How can it not work? After all, it seems like you can put anything on the console and it will still be beautiful. Lamp, candles, painting or mirror. One, two, three - that's it.

But my friend didn’t succeed. She sincerely came for help and advice, knowing that if I came to visit her, I would not say a word, since I never express an opinion unless asked. However, I can quietly myself, while waiting for dinner, for example, move something on friends’ tables. That's why they like to invite me to visit.

WINDOW SILL DECOR. BEAUTY FORMULA

So what was wrong with my friend?

Globally - a violation of the composition, which led to the fact that everything is ugly, inharmonious and does not look good in the interior.

On the massive console table there were very tiny 2 table lamps and in the middle there were modest three Mezzanine magazines, and on top of the wall there was a small IKEA mirror hung. And all this looked so tiny against the background of a three-meter high wall and a long console. And the console table itself was completely inappropriate for a friend’s living room, while in another room there was a beautiful one, with carvings, ideal in shape and size for the interior.

I picked up my iPad and quickly created a composition using the Neybers app that was perfect.

And then I came home and drew illustrations with formulas for beautiful compositions for decorating the console table. Save to your Pinterest boards and share on Instagram with your friends. Just don’t erase my authorship, please, and mention my name on social networks. This is the best thank you for my work on the “On the Wave of Decor” website.

On the one hand, there is nothing complicated in the decor of a console table. On the other hand, there are very few beautiful compositions in photographs, even in fashion magazines.

I have prepared for you 6 interesting solutions for decorating the console in the interior. Each solution is universal and at the same time easy to transform. Each solution will fit into absolutely any interior style, with skillful selection and combination of items.

Option 1. Symmetrical decor of the console table.

Everything is neat, symmetrical and nothing superfluous. The most common composition. Above the console we hang a larger picture or mirror exactly in the center. We place two identical table lamps symmetrically to each other. Let's put a stack of books in the middle and add something pretty on top.

by Pinterest

Under the console you can place two chairs (barrels or ottomans), which will balance the lower part and emphasize symmetry along with table lamps. Due to the fact that all the objects are different in scale and are positioned correctly, the result is a visually pleasing picture.

by DecorPad Pinterest If you completely move away from symmetry a little and complicate the composition by introducing additional shape and color, it will turn out more interesting.

Option 2. Symmetrical composition with a high center.

illustration by Oksana Panteleeva
Unlike the previous composition, we create a very high center here. Table lamps should be lower than the vase with the bouquet. Remember that a bouquet in a vase should always be fresh and beautiful.

DelightFULL Unique Lamps USA/Pinterest You can put one tall flower instead of a bouquet, for example, an orchid in a pot. Or a large dry branch with an interesting shape.

If the console table is large, you can add small decorative items between the lamps and the vase. But, most importantly, do not overdo it with small items. Fighting visual garbage is always a difficult job.

The tall bouquet can be replaced with wall decor, which will serve the same role as the top of the triangle.

Miles Redd. Symmetrical decoration of the console table and wall.

Option 3. Non-symmetrical composition with central wall decor.

A very common, beautiful and quite simple composition for console decoration. Here I showed how to create a kind of triangle with a wall mirror, a lamp and small decor.

illustration by Oksana Panteleeva

CB2 MILL CONSOLE TABLE

If you don't fill the space between the table lamp and the stack of books with nonsense, the cleanliness of the line will attract attention. If you place objects in such a way that they slightly overlap each other, the composition will not visually fall apart. Everything will be balanced.

Option 4. Growing composition of the console decor.

illustration by Oksana Panteleeva
One of the most difficult compositions from my point of view. Here you need to select items that will be different in height, but perfectly combined in shape, texture and color. The composition will emphasize the balance of all items together.

by Pinterest Complex compositional solutions are not always successful even for professionals the first time. Therefore, do not despair if something does not work out in five minutes.

Option 5. Complex wall design as a background for the console decor.

illustration by Oksana Panteleeva
Another difficult option. There is a pronounced asymmetry here, which lives very well with paintings placed chaotically on the wall.

by Pinterest

And the whole trick is that you first need to hang paintings or photographs organically and beautifully, and then create a composition on the console table.

by Pinterest

Option 6. Asymmetrical composition for console decoration.

illustration by Oksana Panteleeva

by Pinterest My favorite composition.
Asymmetrical. Easy to change. And, most importantly, very pleasant for any interior. The basis is a large painting (poster, photograph) on the wall or just standing on the console, or you can put two paintings that will overlap each other to complicate the composition and give it rhythm. The decor against the backdrop of large posters is simple - one tall lamp and something small, low, but definitely noticeable. Let there even be a stack of books and something interesting on top.

by Pinterest

Or you can just put a tall vase with a bouquet and a beautiful low sculpture. It is imperative to combine objects in shape and color.

The main mistakes in decorating a console table from my point of view:

Disproportion of objects or everything is small or everything is huge...
The composition falls apart due to the fact that the colors in the composition are not chosen correctly
Too many items. If you are collecting a collection, then it is a slightly different story. It's not for the console. Or rather, there is no need to put the entire collection of cats on a small narrow table at once.
We don’t take into account that bouquets wither and flowers fade.
We are afraid to “block” objects from each other. We arrange everything as if in a line.
It's obvious that they worked hard. I don't know how to say it in other words. Contrived compositions are immediately visible.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE REPAIR!

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