A console table is one of the most versatile pieces in the house. The same basic form -- a long, narrow table roughly sofa-height -- works behind a sofa, in an entryway, in a hallway, and along a wall with no other obvious use. The fact that it does so many jobs is part of what makes it easy to buy the wrong one. Getting the size and style right requires knowing which job it is actually doing in your room.
Console Table vs. Sofa Table: Is There a Difference?
Not really, in practice. A "sofa table" is a console table positioned behind a sofa. A "console table" is the same form used in an entryway, hallway, or along a wall. The dimensions and construction are identical; the marketing label just describes where the manufacturer expects you to put it. You can use any console table as a sofa table, and any sofa table as an entryway piece.
Sizing a Console Table Behind a Sofa
When a console table goes behind a sofa, it needs to match the sofa in height and length:
- Height: the table should be the same height as or slightly lower than the back of the sofa -- typically 28 to 32 inches. A table significantly taller than the sofa back looks visually awkward and blocks sightlines in the room. A table much shorter than the sofa back disappears.
- Length: the table should be roughly the same length as the sofa, or up to a few inches shorter on each side. A table significantly shorter than the sofa looks undersized. One that extends beyond the sofa ends can become a hazard where people walk.
- Depth: the table needs to be narrow enough to leave clearance between the sofa and the wall. Standard console table depth is 12 to 18 inches. Measure the gap between your sofa back and the wall -- you need the table depth, plus at least 3 to 4 inches of clearance behind it.
Sizing a Console Table in an Entryway
Entryway console tables typically stand on their own against a wall rather than fitting between a sofa and the wall. The main constraints here are:
- Wall width: the table should be narrower than the wall it occupies -- typically leaving 6 to 12 inches on each side so it does not feel like it fills the entire entry
- Traffic clearance: in a hallway application, the table depth (front-to-back measurement) must leave enough clearance for comfortable walking -- plan for a minimum of 36 inches between the front of the table and any opposite wall or obstacle
- Height: standard console table height (28 to 34 inches) is appropriate for most entries; very tall tables (36 inches plus) work for entries with high ceilings
Storage vs. Open Design
Console tables come in two broad configurations:
Open design (no storage): legs with a flat top surface; may include one or two lower shelves for display; light and airy; lets you see through the piece, which keeps the room visually open; the standard choice for behind a sofa where visual weight matters
Storage console: includes drawers, cabinets, or both; adds functional storage; heavier visual weight; more appropriate in an entryway where you actually want to store things (keys, mail, accessories) than behind a sofa where visual lightness is usually the better choice
Materials and Style
Wood console tables in traditional and transitional styles are the most flexible -- they work in almost any interior. Metal frame consoles with wood or glass tops read more modern or industrial. Mixed-material consoles (metal frame, wood top) suit contemporary and transitional rooms.
If the console is going behind a sofa, match its finish loosely to the sofa's wood elements or metal hardware rather than to the floor. If it is going in an entryway, it can be more of a statement piece with a finish or style that stands alone.
What Goes on a Console Table
Behind a sofa, a console table typically holds a lamp, small decorative objects, and things that make the back of the sofa more functional -- a narrow table lamp, a tray for remotes, possibly a small mirror against the wall above it. It is not typically a storage surface; it is a finishing element.
In an entryway, a console table usually holds a lamp, a decorative object or two, and whatever practical items the entry needs: a key tray, mail, a small bowl. If you want it to do real work, choose a version with at least one drawer.
We carry console tables and sofa tables at our Mesquite showroom at 227 US HWY 80 E. If you want to see how different depths look in a typical behind-sofa configuration, come in -- it is one of those things where the in-person scale tells you more than any measurement.
Quality Home Furniture has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area from our Mesquite showroom since 1975. We're a family-owned business at 227 US HWY 80 E, Mesquite TX -- open Monday through Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 1pm to 6pm. Call (972) 288-9322.