What is a console table used for?

Console tables serve a variety of functions. They can be used as buffets, storage units and display tables. Because they vary in size, you can use them for just about anything.

Why is it called a console table?

Why it is called a console table comes down to the history of this type of furnishing. The very first consoles produced in France during the 16th and 17th centuries were not freestanding. Instead, owners anchored them to walls. This anchoring method strengthened the console top, allowing it to support heavy loads. The name “console” comes from the French word "consolide," which means to reinforce or strengthen. It was likely chosen because of the anchoring system that lends strength to and reinforces consoles. Shop a diverse assortment of console tables on 1stDibs.

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

The difference between a buffet table and a console table comes down to size and storage features. Console tables are usually less deep than buffet tables, so they take up less space behind sofas and along walls. In addition, consoles are less likely to have cabinets and drawers than buffet tables, which are designed to store dinnerware and serveware in dining rooms. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of buffets and console tables.

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

The difference between a coffee table and a console table is in the design. A coffee table is a low table that comes in many shapes, such as surfaces that are rectangles, squares, ovals or circles. Console tables are taller and usually have elongated shapes, such as ovals, rectangles or semicircles. Placement is another differentiator between the two types of tables. Coffee tables usually go in front of sofas and loveseats, while console tables may be placed behind a sofa or loveseat or along a wall. Find a large collection of coffee tables and console tables on 1stDibs.

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

The difference between a sideboard and a console table comes down to usage and storage features. Sideboards are usually found in dining rooms and have shelving concealed behind cabinet doors for storing dinnerware, glassware and serveware. Normally positioned in entryways, hallways and living rooms, console tables may have no storage features or include drawers, open shelves or cabinet doors, depending on their design. Find a large selection of console tables and sideboards on 1stDibs.

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

The main difference between a console and a sofa table is that a console can be placed anywhere in the home (against a wall in a hallway or under a television in the living room) and a sofa table is limited to being behind a sofa.

Should a console table be taller than a couch?

A console table should not be taller than a couch . Much like a sofa table, a console table is placed against the back of a sofa and should be the same height as the sofa.

How wide should a console table be in an entryway?

In an entryway, a console table should typically be around 10 to 16 inches wide. Tables of this width should still allow plenty of clearance so people can easily walk by the table. You may see manufacturers refer to the width of consoles as depth. On 1stDibs, shop a range of console tables.

Can you use a console table as a desk?

Because of their variety of sizes and range in function, console tables can easily work as a desk. Given their size and ease of mobility, a console table can be used in almost any sort of room.

How tall should a lamp be on a console table?

A lamp for a console table should be between 25 and 32 inches tall. The table lamp ’s shade shouldn’t exceed half the width of the console table.You’ll find that when it comes to arranging wall art , a decorator might suggest that the space on the wall above a console table is a great place for a large painting or a wall sculpture . In that case, you may wish to use a taller lamp for the table. If your table is smaller in scale or if you have a small mirror hanging on the wall above the console, you may wish to opt for a shorter lamp.Find vintage table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

Architectural Console Table

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Fine Pair of Antique 19th Century Victorian Torchère Planter Jardiniere Stands

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Their matching design makes them particularly effective when positioned symmetrically, perhaps either side of a doorway, fireplace, console table or architectural feature. Equally, t...

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19th Century Italian Neoclassical Wooden Urns/Finials, A Pair

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Italian Murano Glass Turquoise and Clear Vase, 1960s — Cenedese

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Elevate any luxury dining room credenza vignette, architectural coffee table arrangement, executive console display, or vintage sixties Italian fine art glass collection with this au...

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By Mckinnon and Harris

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Discover the architectural elegance of the "Spotswood" console table by McKinnon and Harris, a paramount example of enduring American craftsmanship.

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Pair Russian-Style Neoclassical Silverplated Bronze & Leather Paw Feet Cachepots

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Pair Russian-Style Neoclassical Silverplated Bronze & Leather Paw Feet Cachepots

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

The overall dimensions of each cachepot are 7.25 inches square by 6 inches high, making them ideal for use as cachepots, jardinières, or refined architectural accents on console tabl...

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Pair of Italian Murano Glass Bowls, Multicolor Striped, Cenedese, 1970s

By Cenedese

Located in Villaverla, IT

Elevate any luxury credenza vignette, architectural console, modern coffee table, or vintage seventies Italian art glass collection with this authentic signed pair of Cenedese Murano...

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Architectural Console Table For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the architectural console table you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, metal and glass, every architectural console table was constructed with great care. If you’re shopping for an architectural console table, we have 54 options in-stock, while there are 9 modern editions to choose from as well. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect architectural console table — we have versions that date back to the 19th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 21st Century are available. An architectural console table is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in Mid-Century Modern, Industrial and Modern styles are sought with frequency. You’ll likely find more than one architectural console table that is appealing in its simplicity, but Chapter-101, Shima Samaei and Dunbar produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a Architectural Console Table?

The average selling price for an architectural console table at 1stDibs is $4,200, while they’re typically $650 on the low end and $18,500 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Console-tables for You

Few pieces of furniture are celebrated for their functionality as much as their decorative attributes in the way that console tables are. While these furnishings are not as common in today’s interiors as their coffee-table and side-table counterparts, console tables are stylish home accents and have become more prevalent over the years.

The popularity of wood console tables took shape during the 17th and 18th centuries in French and Italian culture, and were exclusively featured in the palatial homes of the upper class. The era’s outwardly sculptural examples of these small structures were paired with mirrors or matching stools and had tabletops of marble. They were most often half-moon-shaped and stood on two scrolled giltwood legs, and because they weren’t wholly supported on their two legs rather than the traditional four, their flat-backed supports were intended to hug the wall behind them and were commonly joined by an ornate stretcher. The legs were affixed or bolted to the wall with architectural brackets called console brackets — hence, the name we know them by today — which gave the impression that they were freestanding furnishings. While console tables introduced a dose of drama in the foyer of any given aristocrat — an embodiment of Rococo-style furniture — the table actually occupied minimal floor space (an attractive feature in home furniture). As demand grew and console tables made their way to other countries, they gained recognition as versatile additions to any home.

Contemporary console tables comprise many different materials and are characterized today by varying shapes and design styles. It is typical to find them made of marble, walnut or oak and metal. While modern console tables commonly feature four legs, you can still find the two-legged variety, which is ideal for nestling behind the sofa. A narrow console table is a practical option if you need to save space — having outgrown their origins as purely ornamental, today’s console tables are home to treasured decorative objects, help fill empty foyers and, outfitted with drawers or a shelf, can provide a modest amount of storage as needed.

The rich collection of antique, new and vintage console tables on 1stDibs includes everything from 19th-century gems designed in the Empire style to unique rattan pieces and more.

Questions About Architectural Console Table

What is a console table used for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
Console tables serve a variety of functions. They can be used as buffets, storage units and display tables. Because they vary in size, you can use them for just about anything.
Why are console tables so low?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
Console tables are not low. Typically, consoles are about the height of a desk but are much narrower. As a result, they work well against walls and can be used to hold lamps and decorative objects. While modern console tables commonly feature four legs, you can still find the two-legged variety, which is ideal for nestling behind the sofa. Some also feature shelves for display and storage space or cabinet doors and drawers for hiding clutter. Find vintage console tables on 1stDibs.
Why is it called a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
Why it is called a console table comes down to the history of this type of furnishing. The very first consoles produced in France during the 16th and 17th centuries were not freestanding. Instead, owners anchored them to walls. This anchoring method strengthened the console top, allowing it to support heavy loads. The name “console” comes from the French word "consolide," which means to reinforce or strengthen. It was likely chosen because of the anchoring system that lends strength to and reinforces consoles. Shop a diverse assortment of console tables on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a buffet table and a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
The difference between a buffet table and a console table comes down to size and storage features. Console tables are usually less deep than buffet tables, so they take up less space behind sofas and along walls. In addition, consoles are less likely to have cabinets and drawers than buffet tables, which are designed to store dinnerware and serveware in dining rooms. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of buffets and console tables.
What is the difference between a coffee table and a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
The difference between a coffee table and a console table is in the design. A coffee table is a low table that comes in many shapes, such as surfaces that are rectangles, squares, ovals or circles. Console tables are taller and usually have elongated shapes, such as ovals, rectangles or semicircles. Placement is another differentiator between the two types of tables. Coffee tables usually go in front of sofas and loveseats, while console tables may be placed behind a sofa or loveseat or along a wall. Find a large collection of coffee tables and console tables on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a sideboard and a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
The difference between a sideboard and a console table comes down to usage and storage features. Sideboards are usually found in dining rooms and have shelving concealed behind cabinet doors for storing dinnerware, glassware and serveware. Normally positioned in entryways, hallways and living rooms, console tables may have no storage features or include drawers, open shelves or cabinet doors, depending on their design. Find a large selection of console tables and sideboards on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a console and a sofa table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019
The main difference between a console and a sofa table is that a console can be placed anywhere in the home (against a wall in a hallway or under a television in the living room) and a sofa table is limited to being behind a sofa.
Should a console table be taller than a couch?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019
A console table should not be taller than a couch. Much like a sofa table, a console table is placed against the back of a sofa and should be the same height as the sofa.
How wide should a console table be in an entryway?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
In an entryway, a console table should typically be around 10 to 16 inches wide. Tables of this width should still allow plenty of clearance so people can easily walk by the table. You may see manufacturers refer to the width of consoles as depth. On 1stDibs, shop a range of console tables.
Can you use a console table as a desk?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
Because of their variety of sizes and range in function, console tables can easily work as a desk. Given their size and ease of mobility, a console table can be used in almost any sort of room.
How tall should a lamp be on a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024

A lamp for a console table should be between 25 and 32 inches tall. The table lamp’s shade shouldn’t exceed half the width of the console table.

You’ll find that when it comes to arranging wall art, a decorator might suggest that the space on the wall above a console table is a great place for a large painting or a wall sculpture. In that case, you may wish to use a taller lamp for the table. If your table is smaller in scale or if you have a small mirror hanging on the wall above the console, you may wish to opt for a shorter lamp.

Find vintage table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

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