Side and Console Table Ideas: Slim Wood, Drawers, Baskets

The best console table for a narrow entryway is a slim wood one, about 10-12 inches deep, with a few shallow drawers for small things and baskets underneath for the bulky stuff. Keep the top simple, and leave room to walk past it.

If you're short on space, don't worry. These small side and console table ideas rely on depth, storage and a clear styling formula, not on square footage.

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How deep should a console table be?

Depth is the dimension that decides whether a console works. Leave about 36 inches for a main walkway. In a 48-inch hallway, that means a table no deeper than about 12 inches. A wider foyer can take 14-16 inches, but slim pieces at 10-12 inches look lighter and bump fewer hips.

Measure from the baseboard, not the drywall. The table legs stop at the baseboard, so a thick one can steal up to an inch of your usable depth.

Before you buy, do the grocery-bag test: walk past the spot carrying something. If you bump the table, it's too deep or in the wrong place.

What is the rule for a console table?

There are three working rules. Keep the table shallower than the space around it can spare. Keep its height close to standard (about 30-32 inches) unless your ceilings are high. And keep it a bit lower than the sofa back if it sits behind a sofa, so the two read as separate pieces.

Why drawers help

Drawers handle what I call micro-clutter: keys, mail, wallets, dog waste bags. Shallow drawers, about 3-4 inches deep, work better than deep ones because things can't get buried. They also force you to edit.

Slim tables can tip forward when a loaded drawer is open. Keep heavy items elsewhere and anchor the table to a wall stud with a furniture strap. As an architect, I'd call that non-negotiable in a home with kids or pets.

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Which baskets work under a console?

Baskets take the bulkier things: shoes, umbrellas, a spare blanket. Aim for baskets that fill roughly three-quarters of the gap between the floor and the table's underside. The leftover space lets the arrangement breathe and keeps baskets from scraping the wood as you slide them out.

If you live with a cat, I'd skip wicker and rattan, which make tempting scratching posts. Felt, heavy cotton canvas, or wire baskets with fabric liners are safer picks. Felt pads on the base help them glide.

Which wood and finish hold up best?

Solid oak, walnut and ash resist dents well. Pine gives a rustic look but marks easily when you drop keys on it. For the finish, an oil looks natural but gives little protection against water rings. A hard-wax oil or matte polyurethane keeps the look and adds a protective layer.

In a busy household, a wire-brushed finish is a smart choice. The textured surface hides scratches from claws and dings from toys better than a smooth one, which shows every flaw.

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How to decorate a console table against a wall

On a shallow top you can't layer front to back, so build upward and sideways. I like a valley layout: something tall on the left (a lamp), something tall on the right (a vase with branches), and something low in the middle (a shallow bowl or a short stack of books).

• Choose oval or rectangular lamp shades so nothing overhangs the walkway.
• Hang a mirror above, about two-thirds the width of the table, to bounce light into a dark hall.
• Add one living thing, such as a pothos or a dried branch. Check with your vet that any plant is safe around your pets.
• Use a wall sconce instead of a lamp if you want the whole top free for a drop zone.

If you use table lamps, run the cord down the leg with clips so it doesn't dangle across an open back. For more on arranging objects with natural materials, see Wilderkind coffee table styling.

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Side and console table ideas for the living room

A console doesn't have to live by the front door. Here are other spots that work:

• Behind the sofa: it defines a floating seating area, and baskets hold throws.
• In a small dining area: a 12-inch console works as a sideboard where a typical 18-20 inch buffet would crowd the chairs.
• Opposite the bed: drawers for remotes or makeup, baskets for extra linens.

For a TV wall, these TV console decor ideas use the same top-styling logic. The warm wood and curved shapes in these furniture ideas pair well with a slim console.

What can I use instead of a console table?

A narrow bookcase, a wall-mounted floating shelf, a slim dresser, or a bench with baskets underneath all do the job. If you rent and can't drill into walls, a low chest of drawers gives you the storage without any mounting.

Whatever you pick, keep the same dimensions in mind: about 10-12 inches deep in a tight hall, with 36 inches of walking room.

Small details that make it work

• If a runner sits in front, put the console's front legs fully on or fully off the rug. Half on causes wobble.
• Mix wood tones with the floor. Dark walnut floors suit a lighter oak console, since similar tones make the furniture disappear.
• Check where outlets fall. A bright white outlet in the empty space under a table is easy to hide behind a basket.
• For color ideas, try moss, mushroom, cream and warm wood.

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Frequently asked questions