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    Updated: Apr 17, 2025 by Kris Jarrett

    Console Table Decor: My 10 Favorite Styling Ideas!

    Ready for some inspiring console table decor ideas? I share my ten favorite ideas for adding style to any console table, sideboard, or buffet!

    I’ve had several requests for a console table decorating post, so today I’m sharing my favorite console table decor ideas with you! They’re all ideas that should work for you whether you’re decorating a console table, buffet, sideboard, entryway table, or any other similar piece.

    Before we jump in, as an FYI the best images I could find to give you a visual of several of my console table decor ideas come from higher end retailers (who have great stylists!) so the consoles themselves and the decor on them is often pricey. But you can absolutely get a similar look using pieces from HomeGoods, Amazon, Wayfair, and other more budget-friendly stores. And with that, let’s get to it… (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})

    1. Give Greenery a Spot to Shine

    I love the look of large scale greenery on one side of a console table or sideboard. It adds a punch of color and the organic shape of greenery is a nice contrast to the straight lined silhouette of most consoles. A few examples include these leafy branches in a flare neck glass vase that make a statement on this rattan console:

    Large scale greenery as console table decor

    Sources: Console – no longer available  |  Rattan side chair

    and these more wispy branches in a footed glass vase on this pretty linen console table:

    Console table decor - lamp, mirror, and greenery

    Sources:  Wallpaper  |  Linen console |  Rattan stools  |  Bamboo mirror

    It’s definitely a win when you have trees or bushes in your yard to clip fresh greenery from but faux branches can work well too. For example, {these faux greenery branches} that I have in a low vase on our kitchen island have that same billowy, organic feel:

    Faux greenery that would make beautiful console table decor

    Sources: Round woven tray  |  White ceramic vase (similar)  | Faux greenery branches  |  Marble wine cooler  | Glass oil bottle  |  Tall pepper mill  |  Short pepper mill (filled with sea salt)

    Find more of what I think are the best faux flowers {here} where I share the ones that I have and love.

    2. Slide Seating Underneath

    For open console tables, I love the look of a pair of stools or ottomans tucked underneath and it can be a really practical solution too! In our previous home, I would pull out one of {these cube ottomans} from under our console to take my shoes on or off before heading out the door:

    So happy with how my entryway came together with wallpaper, console table, and accessories

    Sources: Wallpaper  |  Linen console  (also see {this similar console})  |  White table lamp  |  30″ x 40″ Framed art print  |  Decorative snail  | Wave coral – HomeGoods  |  Shallow wood bowl  |  Glass beads  |  Cube ottomans

    Similarly, a pair of {these rattan stools} is tucked under a console that does double duty as a bedroom nightstand:

    A pair of rattan stools tucked under a console table

    Sources: Indigo console table  |  Rattan stools  |  Braided rug

    and these cute skirted stools were used in the same way too:

    A pair of skirted stools tucked under a console table

    Sources:  Bed  |  Palm wallpaper  |  Console table  |  Rattan mirror  |  Table lamp

    I also love the look of a pair of X-base stools tucked under a console table.

    3. Reflect Light With a Large Mirror

    Large mirrors can make a room feel bigger and brighter by reflecting sunlight into the room and are a great choice for hanging above a console. Both rectangular mirrors like {this bone inlay mirror}:

    Rectangular mirror over console table

    Sources: Console table  |  Bone inlay mirror

    and circular mirrors like this large woven mirror can work:

    Circular mirror over console table

    Sources: Patterned grasscloth wallpaper  |  Console table  |  Woven armchair

    But I personally prefer choosing a mirror in a shape that contrasts that of the console: a round mirror above a rectangular console or a rectangular mirror above a curved edge console.

    4. Layer in Light

    Using lighting on or above a console or sideboard is a great way to layer light in a room. While I have a single lamp on my console and sideboard, a pair of lamps is also a beautiful look (especially if you’re a lover of symmetry)! For example, {this pair of white temple jar lamps} is stunning on top of this high-end raffia console table with a grid of four framed art prints and a few accessories:

    A pair of white temple jar lamps as console table decor

    And have you ever thought of layering in light with wall sconces above a console? A pair of sconces such as {these brass wall sconces} is perfect for framing a piece of art or a mirror over a console:

    Sconces flanking a mirror as console table decor

    Sources: Console  |  Wall sconces  |  Mirror  |  Rug

    5. Stack Up Some Books

    You might have noticed in several of the images I’ve already shown that stacked books are commonly used for console table decor. Consoles are a great place to display special books you might have about your favorite interests, vacation destinations, or family photo books. And they can also serve a purpose of raising up decorative pieces resting on top of them to a height that’s more pleasing to the eye, as was done with the candle holders elevated by two books on this beautiful console:

    Console table decor including books, lamps, and a bowl

    Sources: Blue lamps  |  Mini vases  |  Watercolor bowl  |  Gold mirror

    You can also use books to add more color or pattern to a console table by adding a simple fabric book cover to them such as these that I used on the entryway chest in our previous home one spring:

    Love the idea of using fabric book covers in decorating!

    It’s really simple to do (no sewing required) – you can find the step by step of how to make fabric book covers {here}.

    6. Let Art Take Center Stage

    Do you have one or more art pieces that you’d like to display in your home? Let art take center stage over your console! You can use a single large statement-making art piece such as {this moody cloud art} that’s hung over a white oak sideboard:

    Oversized art above a sideboard

    Tip! When hanging a single piece of art over a console table or sideboard, art that’s between ⅔ and ¾ the width of the furniture piece below it is a good size to shoot for.

    Another option (especially when you have a long console) is to layer several pieces of art over one another. I absolutely love how Studio McGee hung a large piece of art on the wall and then layered small and medium art pieces over it:

    Layered art on sideboard

    Sources: Oak sideboard  | Fluted marble bowl  |  Channel ottoman

    If you like a more coastal vibe, matted prints in {these layered chunky oak frames} might be more up your alley. Again, the large print is mounted to the wall and smaller print is layered over it:

    Wood framed art layered on a console table

    Sources: Black console table  |  Oak frames

    Other options are to hang several identically sized framed prints in a grid or create an eclectic gallery wall. My favorite online shops for reasonably priced art prints are Minted, Artfully Walls, Etsy, and Juniper Print Shop which is a new favorite. I ordered {this Montauk canvas print} from their shop for our dining room:

    Gorgeous landscape art print for over our console table

    7. Add Storage With Baskets

    Want hidden storage for shoes by your front door or for stashing reusable bags that you can grab as you head to the grocery store? Adding decorative baskets such as {this pair of woven baskets} to open consoles can give you exactly that:

    Narrow baskets under a console table

    Sources: Black console table  |  Console baskets

    If the baskets look familiar, it’s because they’re the same ones that I’ve used for storage at the base of this shallow closet:

    These tall, shallow console baskets work perfectly for storing our grocery and shopping bags!

    Another beautiful example of decorating with baskets is the trio of round woven baskets on the bottom shelf of this gorgeous console:

    Arched mirror over a console table

    Sources: Arched mirror  |  Round table lamp  |  Grid patterned box

    8. Decorate With Bowls & Boxes

    Two of the console table decor pieces that I use time and time again are decorative bowls & boxes. For example I used {this shallow wood bowl} filled with a strand of glass beads similar to {these} on the shelf of our entryway console:

    Shallow wood bowl as console table decor

    And during the holidays, I’ve added a large decorative wood bowl filled with ornaments & jingle bells to the top of my console:

    Wood bowl filled with ornaments as console table decor

    Decorative boxes on a console table can be both pretty and practical – you can use them to stash anything with style including extra keys, stamps, coasters, etc. They’re also useful for elevating the height of other decor pieces to create a more aesthetically pleasing design:

    Lamp, candlesticks, art, and other console table decor

    9. Add A Bit of Quirk

    As with every space you decorate, it’s fun to add a piece with a bit of quirk that reflects your unique interests or personality. I’ve long had a love for small brass animals so it’s no surprise that I think {this brass snail} is the cutest thing ever – he still makes me smile when I walk by him hanging out on my console:

    This decorative brass snail on my entryway console is one of my favorite accessories!

    10. Doll It Up When You Entertain

    One of the things I love most about console table and sideboards is that they are super functional pieces for entertaining. You can use them like a bar cart to hold and serve drinks or, if you have a long console, you can set up a gorgeous buffet. The way they set up this champagne and dessert station is stunning:

    Buffet laid out on console table

    Sources: Marble top console table  |  Antiqued glass mirror  |  Seagrass baskets

    I hope these console table decor ideas sparked an idea of how you could decorate your own console or sideboard! What if you’re starting from scratch and first need to find a console table you love? If one of the consoles in this post doesn’t do the trick, check out my post on behind-the-couch tables for my other favorite consoles.

    XO,

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