Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
It may look like a straightforward piece of furniture, but a console table in the entry has the power to set the tone for the rest of a home. It’s a first impression you want to get right, so how do you make it stand out?
“It’s all about finding the perfect balance and letting your eye guide you,” says Robert Morrissey, owner of Robert Morrissey Antiques and Fine Art. Traditionally, console tables were placed in the great halls of homes in the 17th and 18th centuries. Now they’re seen in entryways, living rooms, dining rooms, and even bedrooms. “Since they were originally developed, consoles have taken on many sizes and forms, but they’re still used very often to help fill a wall and define a space,” says Morrissey.
Having decorated many console tables throughout his career, the antiques and furniture expert knows a thing or two about making them look cohesive—never cluttered—in a space.
His No. 1 rule: Buy what you like when deciding what to place on or around the table. “You have to be patient, because it takes time,” Morrissey says “but that’s part of the fun.”
Of course, there are other things to keep in mind when decorating. Here, Morrissey shares his tips for styling the perfect console.
1. Maintain Proportion
“You don’t want to have a little cup and saucer on a big, long console table,” says Morrissey, “and in the same sense, you don’t want to have a small console table with a gigantic pair of lamps on it.” Look for pieces that are proportional to the furniture.
2. Train Your Eye
“Balance is not the same thing as symmetry,” Morrissey says. A simple formula: Have an odd number of items, or, grouping of items, on the console, three being the minimum. The easiest way to achieve balance is to have a pair of something flanking another object in the middle—for example, a pair of lamps on the ends with a decorative bowl in the center. Stand back and make sure the objects you’re looking at feel visually balanced in size and color. “Just let your eye be the guide,” he says.
3. Determine a Focal Point
“People tend to focus on the middle, so focus there and then work your way out,” says Morrissey. “My recommendation is to find a painting or mirror that is proportionate to the console and center it over the table.” One big no-no: “The mirror or art should never be wider than the console,” he cautions.
4. Mix and Match
Morrissey loves to use pieces from different eras, which yields an eclectic look. “One thing goes with the other,” he says. “If your table is very modern, you could hang an 18th-century painting and put out Greek pottery and a contemporary candlestick.”
5. Expand Around Your Table
Suppose you have a 20-foot wall but an 8-foot console. How do you build it out? “It lends itself to a pair of chairs, plants, or floor lamps [flanking each side],” Morrissey says. “People will also use it as an excuse to hang a pair of sconces on the wall. It frees up the whole surface on the table to dress it.”
