I am a huge fan of a good console. A creatively styled console gives a foyer, wall, or sofa importance. When styling your table or console piece pull accent colors from the rugs, fabrics, or art in the room. If your console piece isn’t big enough for the space,try adding a pair of chairs to extend the length of the piece. If you have a lot of empty space under the table consider filling it in with baskets, boxes, or ottomans. Let’s take a look at How to Style a Console.
I am no expert but here is my simple formula for styling a console. Gather all interesting decor objects and place on a large table before you start.
#1 Find a piece that fits your style and Space
#2 Begin with an anchor Art, Mirror or Architectural Item
#3 Have a mixture of shapes
#4 Vary Heights of Objects
#5 Mix finishes and textures
#6 Add Something Vintage for Character
My son and daughter in law have a lot of interesting accessories and a couple of great console pieces, so I decided to use their living room as my lab.
#1 Find a Piece the fits your style and Space
They had a long wall in their living room that called out for something long and narrow. We found this piece at a shop called Habitat in San Luis Obispo. It was custom made from old flooring so it has a fabulous top. It needed to be very narrow as it is a passageway to a door leading outside.
We added these antique french chairs to extend it’s length and had them covered in white cowhide for a more modern vibe. You know how I love mixing the old and new and unexpected.
This is how we originally styled the console in their space. Sorry about the old lady photo bomber in the mirror. I really need to learn photoshop. Colin and Lauren have amazing accessories. Many of them from Perch Decor (now out of business), patine, Center Street Antigues and local antique fairs and shows. If we attend a show and find something I call them and they say get it.
#2 Begin with an anchor Art, Mirror or Architectural Item
In this case it was the mirror.
The half round mirror came from a trek we made together to the Alameda Antique Fair. The bust, bottle, and rusty obelisk are from Center Street Antiques.
The baskets are from Pottery Barn. The box was ours (we have too many boxes).
#3 Have a mixture of shapes
All of the wood items vary in shape and size. This creates interest.
I think this version was our favorite. The two large breadboards are mine everything else I sourced from their house. Don’t be afraid to shop your house and repurpose items.
#4 Vary Heights of Objects
I wanted to do a more modern version with these great Target lanterns. Note the variation in the heights of the art, breaboard and lanterns,
The inexpensive modern art (links in shop the post are inexpensive) looks more sophisticated because they are mixed with finer vintage items. Don’t be afraid to mix the old and new. We picked up the concrete vessels in Sonoma on a Christmas trip. Don’t run out and buy everything at Home Goods if you want a more collected look. Wait until you find things you love. You will always find a place for them.
#5 Mix finishes and textures
Sorry for the old lady photo bomber again. Here I mixed the Target lanterns with a painting of their dog from Pat Huber Fine Art. a great old bowl that our kids inherited from their grandparents, and a mirror no longer available but similar linked below. Lauren had these old Wisteria ottomans used elsewhere. A console like this looks better if the bottom is filled in. The glass bottle and mirror reflect other items in the room and add a bit of sparkle. More texture variation in the wood and iron.
#6 Add Something Vintage for Character
In this version, I paired the vintage bust, obelisk, and an antique box with a brass sphere from Homegoods and a vintage asian tray with another painting from Pat Huber Fine Art. It is never too hard for me to add vintage. It is always paramount in my designs.
I hope you enjoyed How to Style a Console and maybe I provided you with some helpful hints. My advice to you if you like a collected look is to take your time, buy things you love, and don’t be afraid to repurpose and move things around in your own home (I am guilty of that myself).
SHOP THE POST
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You might enjoy my post Ten Rough Luxe Styled Consoles.
For more information you might enjoy these posts:
Becky Owens How to Style a Console Table
Elle Decor 30 Creative Ways for Styling a Console Table
One Kings Lane Step by Step Guide to Decorating a Console Table
Ballard Designs How to Style a Console Table
If you are searching for vintage items you might check out:
Shop Vintage Breadboards on Ebay
Now pop over an visit my other blogging pals. This is a great group!
Sherry – Design Indulgence
Melaine – My Sweet Savannah
Ana –Modern House Vibes
Mary Ann – Classic Casual Home
Cindy – Cindy Hattersley
Annie – Most Lovely Things
Fantastic ideas—love the variety and explanations. Using vintage speaks to my heart too and you do it well. Great objects to work with.
Hi Bobbie
I always love a little vintage! We definitely agree on that. Thank you so much for weighing in!
Last week, a beloved hand-painted Chelsea House console table found a new spot in my living room as the sole piece on the room’s entry wall. My Chocolate Lab insists his portrait added to the table is THE focal point of the entire room and chided me for not having this design epiphany sooner! Such visual appeal in all of the console vignettes you created!
Funny eBay story… in revamping my entire wardrobe to accent my newly grey hair, I sold a formerly favorite David Yurman Albion stunning large champagne citrine and diamond ring to a lovely buyer in Santa Cruz, CA recently. I failed to notice while editing the photos for the listing, my bare feet were peeking out below one shot I was trying to capture the ring’s sparkle in sunlight PLUS veins bulging blue on my hand below the ring! YIKES! Your mirror photo bombs add to the personal charm of your project!
You’re hired. I’ll take anything you put together. Clothes included!
I can’t decide which one I like best! OMG….all those awesome wood pieces and of course I love extending the space with chairs! I think 2 and 3 are my fav but damn girl you had some good stuff to work with!
Thanks for the lovely post. Very calming. Do you have any idea on the paint color and brand. Love it and would like to paint my living room. Thanks for the Inspiration! Much needed😊😊😊
Hi Annie
Those chairs were a find. They were covered in some outdated french fabric. I love how they turned out with the cowhide too! Thanks for the sweet comment!
Hi Judy
The walls are Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray and the trim is Benjami Moore Simply White. Their entire downstairs is painted that color and it looks great. Happy to send you a few more pics i
What a great job, Cindy…I love them all which goes to show…why not change things up for new looks?
Good advice about filling in with the chairs and not getting everything new. Although I am going to use your link for a couple of narrow baskets for my bedroom to hide some cords!
Cindy – you have such a fabulous way of styling homes and clothing. I save many of your posts for my reference. Thank you for sharing your talents with so many.
Cathleen
Hi Cathleen
Thank you so much I am very touched. I so appreciate that.
Wonderful ideas for styling a long console, Cindy. All of the different ways you did it are fabulous. Thanks for always giving us great inspiration.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Cindy! I love your style! I say it all the time, but I’ll say it again! I love how you covered those traditional antique chairs using white cowhide. It’s such an unexpcted choice, but makes it modern. The narrow piece that work perfectly in the space was a great find. I love all the looks and how you mix modern with antiques and high with low for the perfect collected look.
Who could not enjoy playing with their own console table or table tops after reading that??? Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Pat
Your art played a prominet role! You can see how beautiful they are in their home!!
I THINK YOU CAN GUESS WHICH ONE IS MY FAVORITE TOO!
Some very interesting ideas. Sometimes I feel like I need to redecorate everything from scratch.
Hi Lorna
We all feel like that! I totally understand!
I am not sure? maybe the same as mine?
YES!
WITH THE GRAPE BUCKET!
Ahhh…according to my husband the thing to make my heart beat faster is a clean horizontal space! Meaning it won’t stay that way long. Love all of the ideas. Looks like you two had a fun time.
Hi Patricia
A clean horizontal space does not exist for long in my home unless company is coming!! I promise I will do a wine room post one of these days!