Console tables come in a wide range of varieties. First there is the two basic materials that are used in its construction. Console tables are primarily made of wood. You will rarely see a console table made of plastic basically because plastic furniture is reserved for outdoors or children’s rooms. Secondly a console table can also be made of wrought iron. Whilst not as popular as wood wrought iron is nonetheless is loved and appreciated by many people and looks fantastic in the right setting. Glass is also used as a top in a glass console table and adds an elegant class to any table although its functionality may be reduced if utilised in a home filled with boisterous children!
photo credit nic joly
There also a multiplicity of styles when it comes to a console table. In a bedroom a small oak console table with an attached mirror makes an ideal place for applying makeup. In a hallway a two legged mission console table becomes a holding place for car keys, mail, magazines, phones and more. Alternatively this style of console table can be purely decorative with a vase of fresh flowers brightening up the hallway. On the other hand it can be used as a display place for family photos. Of course a two legged console table will need to be fixed to the wall for stability. Also these types of hallway console tables do lend themselves to having a mirror placed above them. This becomes very handy for checking your appearance before running out the door or for just creating a bigger sense of space in a narrow hallway. Mirrors are certainly ideal for giving the illusion of wider spaces.
A console table can also be used very effectively in a dining room. Again it can be entirely for decorative purposes complementing the dominate dining table and chairs. However it can easily double as a serving table when you have a large dinner party or for when the extended family gathers for a meal. Likewise in the lounge room a console table can serve the very practical purpose of being a room divider. When a sofa serves this purpose a console table can be placed behind it and used with great effect to enhance the sense of division in the room. For instance, a lamp with an exquisite lamp shade can be placed on the console table and act as a visual divider. This also serves to enhance the ambience of the room.
In our next post we’ll consider other ways in which a console table can be used to add to the beauty and functionality of your home.
