Seven principles (and one hard truth) for an entry that looks finished
Your console table is the first spot guests see, and usually the last place anyone thinks to style. It collects keys, mail, and the candle you've been meaning to light since spring. The good news is that it takes about seven decisions to turn it into the prettiest corner of your home. Here's how I approach every one I style.
The short version
Anchor the table with art or a mirror about two-thirds its width, hung 6 to 10 inches above the surface. Arrange tall, medium and low pieces in a triangle, layer your materials, and leave about a third of the surface empty. Finish the space underneath with woven baskets, a low bench or one oversized vessel.
1. Look up first.
Art or a mirror is your anchor, so start there. Choose a piece about two-thirds the width of the table, and hang it so the bottom edge sits 6 to 10 inches above the surface. Any higher and it starts drifting away from the table like it's trying to leave the party. For a more relaxed feel, lean a large piece against the wall instead. Bonus: no nail holes.
2. Think in triangles.
Put something tall on one end, medium in the middle, and low on the other. That might be a lamp or branches, then a vase or sculpture, then a small dish or a stack of books. Your eye travels across the surface instead of stopping cold. This one principle does more heavy lifting than anything you'll ever buy.
3. Pick a lane.
Matching lamps on both ends are classic, polished and a little formal. Everything gathered to one side is easy and modern. Both are beautiful. Somewhere in between just looks like you ran out of lamps.
4. Go deep, not wide.
Don't line everything up against the wall like it's waiting for a bus. Stack two or three books and set a small object on top. Nudge a bowl slightly forward of something taller. Layers are what make a surface look styled instead of stored.
5. Mix your materials.
Put stone next to wood, ceramic next to brass, something matte beside something with a little shine. Then add one organic element, like branches or a few sculptural stems. Texture is the reason a neutral room looks rich instead of beige.
6. Leave some breathing room.
Let about a third of the surface stay empty. I know, it feels wrong. Do it anyway. Empty space is what lets your favorite pieces get noticed.
7. Mind the floor.
The space under your console counts too. A pair of woven baskets, a low bench, or one oversized vessel grounds the arrangement and finishes the look from floor to frame. And yes, a basket is a very good place to hide the mail.
The hard truth
When you think you're done, walk back to the front door and look again. Then take one piece away. You'll miss it for about a minute.
Console table FAQ
How high should art hang above a console table?
Hang it so the bottom edge sits 6 to 10 inches above the surface. Any higher and it starts drifting away from the table. For a more relaxed feel, lean a large piece against the wall instead.
How wide should a mirror or art be over a console table?
Choose a piece about two-thirds the width of the table. Art or a mirror is your anchor, so start there.
What should go under a console table?
A pair of woven baskets, a low bench, or one oversized vessel. It grounds the arrangement and finishes the look from floor to frame, and a basket is a very good place to hide the mail.
How much should I put on a console table?
Less than you think. Let about a third of the surface stay empty so your favorite pieces get noticed. When you think you're done, take one piece away.
Have fun with it. When you're ready for a few new pieces to play with, our collections are curated with exactly this approach in mind.
— Mel