Console Table Decor: My 10 Favorite Styling Ideas

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, is stunning on top of this high-end raffia console table with a grid of four framed art prints and a few accessories:

24 Entryway Table Decor Ideas That Create the Perfect Welcome

Create a warm welcome and stunning first impression with a stylish and functional entryway table.

Abby Wolner is a freelance writer trained in journalism through Drake University. She is a former food writer and contributor to Better Homes and Gardens.

The entryway is one of the most important spaces in your house. It’s the room that welcomes you home after a long day, creates the first impression for guests, and gives you an opportunity to express your personal style. While it’s a great place to experiment with fun wallpaper or an eclectic gallery wall, the space needs to be functional and practical. Enter the entryway table—a versatile piece of furniture that provides storage and serves as a display area for artwork, a mirror, or decorative accessories.

Styling an entryway table is a rewarding project, as it can be fast, and it can drastically improve the function and feeling of your space. Start with how you need the entryway table to work for you: Can it be just pretty, or do you need storage solutions, functional lighting, and a mirror? What size table can your space hold? Use these boundaries to start shopping for pieces that are ideal for your space.

Whether you have a spacious entryway that can accommodate a large console with plenty of shelves or you’re working with a tiny space, these entryway table decor ideas will help you successfully style your entryway.

Entry Table Decor

This table is a masterclass in how to style your entryway table. First, limit your color scheme to ensure everything matches without too much thought on your part. Anchor the table decor with two taller pieces on the sides (the lamp and vase of flowers used here), then layer in art, books, or storage pieces.

Traditional Style Entryway

An antique table and mirror anchor this entryway and offer a traditional look that can easily be dressed up or made more casual depending on the accessories used. The key to a functional entryway that matches your design style, find a base piece you love and build from there.

Entryway Art Inspiration

Hanging large art over your entryway table is an easy way to create presence without a lot of effort. Choose a piece that’s as wide or almost as wide as your entry table to avoid it looking too small. This piece is likely the first introduction guests will have to your home, so choose art that matches your design style.

Statement-Making Entryway Table

A sculptural wood entryway table makes a bold design statement and provides a base for modern artwork, eclectic accessories, and a ceramic table lamp. Hang a large piece of art above your table to create a sense of height, then lean another picture frame against it on your table for a casual, layered look. Style the surface with a vase propped up on a stack of books, a lamp for ambient lighting, and objects of various shapes and heights such as small bowls or boxes to add a personal touch that introduces color and pattern.

Repurposed Furniture

A standing planter box makes a clever entryway table, as you can minimize the look of any clutter while keeping it handy. Here, the focus goes toward the stunning art and foliage, rather than the items on the table.

Small-Scale Foyer

For a grand look, choose a pedestal table for your entryway. This is a classic look for large foyers, but can be recreated in a smaller space with a table of a proportional size. This choice creates a real moment when guests walk in, however, it’s not the best spot for day-to-day key and mail storage. For that, try hanging smaller storage right by the door.

Midcentury Modern Entryway Table

When it comes to entryway table decor, take cues from the design style and era of your furniture piece. In this entryway, minimalist decorative accents in the form of geometric sculptures, a simple handmade bowl, and a rectangular vase complement this sleek ’50s-style credenza. Continuing the midcentury theme, a triptych of framed abstract prints balances out the warmth of the wood.

Radiator Cover Turned Entryway Table

This entryway makes the most of limited space by cleverly transforming a large radiator into a functional console. The entryway table decor includes a wall mirror and hats that visually heighten the tight space. A piece of art layered in front of the mirror creates an effortlessly elegant, layered look. A vase holds seasonal flowers, and a small bowl collects car keys.

Small Entryway Nook

If you need to increase storage, choose a chest of drawers for your entryway, rather than a table. This small chest can hold keys, sunglasses, winter accessories, and more, without contributing to clutter. Plus, it fits in with the vintage eclectic decor in the rest of the space.

Traditional Meets Modern

This antique entryway table checks all the boxes—it adds a stunning decorative element to the space while serving a practical purpose. It holds a table lamp that can be turned on upon walking in the door, a tray for keys and sunglasses, and decorative accents that add color and character. Varying heights, colors, and patterns add contrast and visual interest, and a geometric gold mirror (similar to this Better Homes and Gardens Round Metal Decorative Mirror, $50, Walmart) modernizes the traditional furniture piece.

Formal Entryway Table

This table uses symmetry and a limited color palette to create a formal, classic style. The combination of abstract and graphic patterns used make the space feel more modern than traditional. When decorating a small space, using furniture that blends in with the wall color can help the space from feeling cramped.

Bright and Cheery Entryway Table

Continue your front door color in your entryway for a cohesive look. Here, a simple marble-topped wood desk doubles as an entryway table and provides enough space for decorative items, such as a potted plant or vase, and a tray to corral necessities. A large woven basket underneath stores seasonal accessories or shoes and fills the empty space. An industrial-style metal stool ties in with the wallpaper, wall sconces, and tabletop, and adds a spot to sit while you tie your shoes.

French Country Entryway Table

Curvy lines, rustic antiques, and touches of glamor are key elements of French country style, and they’re on display in this small but practical entryway. To copy this style, look for a desk or vanity table, and accent it with rustic, delicate antiques that support your storage needs.

Cottage Style Entryway

If you’re more cottage than country, take inspiration from this charming entryway table filled with antiques and handmade items. Despite its size, this area still manages function, with enough room to set down keys and a small lamp to provide welcoming evening light.

Combine Modern and Traditional

This entryway table decor warms up a modern space with handmade and antique furnishings. While chosen modern and sleek decor would have also fit with the aesthetic of this space, the more eclectic decorating scheme softens the area and provides a warm welcome.

Eclectic Art Statement

Use an entryway table as a base for an eclectic gallery wall that makes a striking statement. A mix of photographs, paintings, and drawings create depth and a collected feel for a lived-in style. A set of lamps add symmetry to the otherwise organic look, while decorative white vases echo the lighting and picture frames. A large piece of driftwood adds a natural element to the entryway table decor and nods to the wide wood-planked wall and warm wood table. A colorful runner adds a pop of color and fills the narrow space.

Maximalist Entryway

Give your space a glamorous feel by pairing sculptural furniture with bold artwork and a large metallic mirror. High-gloss teal walls and oversized pop art provide a dramatic backdrop for this curved entryway table. A mirror prevents a room with dark walls from feeling cramped by bouncing light around and reflecting surrounding wall decor.

Eclectic Farmhouse Entryway

Since the entryway acts as an introduction to your home, make sure the space reflects the style used in the rest of your interior spaces. This entryway has clear farmhouse style, with its heavy worktable and metal antiques. The look is elevated by refined accessories, such as framed art and a delicate pitcher.

Seasonal Entryway Table Decor

Incorporate seasonal color into your entryway table decor in the form of flowers in the spring or vibrant leaves in the fall. A table with both open and closed storage provides both hidden organization and display space for accessories. Consider adding a table runner (Better Homes and Gardens Fringe Cotton-Rich Table Runner, $16, Walmart). In this entryway, large canvas artwork emphasizes fall colors, while brass candlesticks, a wood bowl, a woven wicker basket, and a large ceramic vase lend warmth through a mix of textures and materials.

Painted Blue Entryway Table

A vintage-style blue entryway table adds a splash of color and charm to this otherwise neutral space. Painting your entryway furniture is a quick and inexpensive way to transform the space and give it personality. To give your entryway a cozy, welcoming feel, add plenty of texture, like the wicker storage baskets (similar to these Better Homes and Gardens Round Seagrass Baskets, set of 2, $44, Walmart), woven runner, and rustic wood chalkboard in this space. Use the board to write down a quick shopping list, hang up fun family photos, or hold bills that need to be paid.

Traditional Pedestal Table

With a large foyer like this, try a pedestal table instead of relegating your entryway table to a spot against the wall. This style speaks to the era of the home, and it grounds what can otherwise feel like an empty pass-through space. Fresh flowers add height and ensure a pretty view from any angle.

Modern Entryway Decor

This modern pedestal table provides contrast amidst the decorative woodwork of this Victorian-style entryway. Artful objects in the same color scheme as the room and a tall greenery arrangement decorate the table for a cohesive but modern look.

Monochromatic Entryway

For a calm entryway, consider a monochromatic look on your entry table. While this table is covered with items, the all-neutral palette has an overall calming effect. Vary the size and texture of the decor objects to provide rhythm and interest without creating visual clutter.

Regency Style Decor

While full of traditional pieces, this entry table decor has serious personality, courtesy of the high-contrast color scheme and furniture choices. From the regency-style faux bamboo mirror to the turned leg side table, each of these pieces adds visual interest. Because of the unified color scheme, none of it feels overwhelming.

Console Table Decor: My 10 Favorite Styling Ideas!

One of the many house projects that I’m juggling right now is decorating our dining room. I finally ordered some dining room side chairs that arrive this week (fingers crossed that they’re winners) and then went to work on what to put on the walls and the top of our sideboard. The only thing that I have there so far is that I ordered on sale a few weeks back (and love!). I’ve also ordered a large canvas art print that should be here soon – this is the paper template that I taped up to make sure the size I was looking at would work:

Now I’ve moved on to finding a few more decorative pieces to add to the top of our sideboard. I’ve had several requests for a console table decorating post in the past so thought that while I have a bunch of ideas fresh in my head, I’d share my favorite sideboard and 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 know as you read this post that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to have a beautifully decorated console table – some of my favorite decor pieces have come from HomeGoods and Amazon. Every one of these ideas that I share can be done beautifully while sticking to a budget! And with that, let’s get to it… (post includes affiliate links; full disclosure statement available )

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:

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

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, that I have in a low vase on our kitchen island have that same billowy, organic feel:

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 from under our console to take my shoes on or off before heading out the door:

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

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 :

and circular mirrors like can work:

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, is stunning on top of this high-end raffia console table with a grid of four framed art prints and a few accessories:

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

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:

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:

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

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 that’s hung over a white oak 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 on the wall and then layered and over it:

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 just ordered from their shop to go over the long sideboard in our family room:

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 to open consoles can give you exactly that:

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:

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

8. Decorate With Bowls and Boxes

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

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

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:

These are a few decorative bowls and boxes I rounded up that would work beautifully as 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 is the cutest thing ever – he still makes me smile when I walk by him hanging out on my console:

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:

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.