Console Table Decor for the Living Room: 14 Ideas for Walls, Sofas and Corners
Console table decor for the living room, by where the table stands: against a wall, behind the sofa, under the TV or in a corner. A three-layer formula, what to put underneath, and 14 arrangements with lamps, art and baskets.
In this guide · 23 sections
Good console table decor for the living room has three layers: something on the wall above (art or a mirror), two or three things of different heights on top (a lamp, a vase with branches, a low stack of books), and something underneath (baskets, stools or a second shelf of larger pieces). Get those three right and the table looks finished from across the room.
How you apply the formula depends on where the console stands. Against a wall it is a display. Behind a sofa it is a work surface for lamps and drinks, seen from both sides. Under a TV it has to stay low and quiet. The 14 ideas below are grouped that way.
Console Table Decor for the Living Room: The Three-Layer Formula
| Layer | What goes there | Rule of thumb (common guidance) | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Above | One large artwork, a mirror, or a tight group of frames | About two thirds of the table's width; lower edge a hand or two above the tabletop | Art that is too small or hung too high |
| On top | A lamp, a tall vase with branches, a low stack of books with a bowl or candle | Three heights: tall, medium, low. Odd numbers | Many small things of the same height |
| Underneath | Baskets, a pair of stools, large vases, a stack of big books | Fill about half to two thirds of the space; leave some air | Leaving it empty, or cramming it |
Then leave a clear patch on the top. In a living room a console earns its place by being useful: a spot for a drink, a book, the remote.
Against a Wall
1Tall on one side, lit on the other
The arrangement that works on almost any console: a large vase of branches at one end, a table lamp at the other, and between them a low stack of two books with a small bowl or candle on top. Hang one big artwork above, slightly off-center toward the vase so the branches overlap its edge. The picture at the top of this page shows it on a dark rounded console.
2A cluster at each end, art in the middle
For a longer console, build two groups. On one side, a tall vase of eucalyptus with two smaller vases and a bowl; on the other, three brass candlesticks and a small lamp. The space between stays empty so the artwork above can be seen. On the lower shelf, two vases and a couple of books repeat the colors from the top.
3A small console: three things only
On a console under a meter wide, stop at three: a lamp, a vase with tall stems and one book. Let the stems be tall, since height costs no surface. Hang the art close above so the wall and table read as one arrangement.
4Symmetry: two matching lamps
A pair of identical lamps at the ends of a console or sideboard, with one large artwork centered between them and a low vase of flowers on a stack of books in the middle, gives a formal, restful look. It suits a wall you face from the sofa. Keep everything else off the top; symmetry needs space to read.
5A round mirror instead of art
A large round mirror above a console softens all the straight lines of the table and reflects light back into the room. Lean toward asymmetry underneath: a vase of branches on one side, a dark lamp on the other, books and a bowl between. Check what the mirror reflects from where you usually sit; a window is good, the back of the TV is not.
6One oversized piece of art and almost nothing else
A large dark painting above a rough wooden console needs very little on the table: a lamp, one big pot with long leafy branches, and two books. The scale of the art and the branches does the work. This is the lowest-maintenance version and the easiest to dust.
7Stools underneath
Two upholstered cubes or small stools tucked under a console fill the lower space and give extra seats when people come round. Choose stools a little lower than the underside of the table so they slide in and out freely. Above, a wide landscape artwork, a small lamp and a vase are enough.
Behind the Sofa
A console behind a sofa, often called a sofa table, sits between the sofa back and a walkway or the wall. It is seen from behind and from above, and it is used: for lamps you read by, for a drink, for chargers.
8A lamp, a low bowl and baskets below
On a slim black console behind the sofa: a table lamp at one end at reading height, a long wooden bowl and a candle in the middle, a small vase at the other end. Two large woven baskets on the lower shelf hold throws and magazines. Everything on top is low except the lamp, so nobody looks at the back of a row of ornaments while watching TV.
9A sculptural console with two tall pieces
When the sofa floats in the middle of the room, the back of it is on show, and a console with presence, such as a ribbed or solid wood piece, finishes it. Keep the styling spare: a low dome lamp, a large vase of pampas or branches, one book and a candle.
10A low bookcase as a sofa console
A low open shelving unit the length of the sofa works as a console with storage. The top takes a trailing plant, a bowl and a stack of books; the cubbies take books, baskets and a few objects. It also marks the edge of the seating area in an open-plan room, a trick we use in studio apartment layout ideas.
11A console as a breakfast bar
A console of bar or counter height with stools pushed under it turns the back of the sofa into a place to eat or work with a view of the room. Style it lightly, with one vase and a tray of books, so the surface stays usable. Four stools under a long console replace a dining table in a small flat.
Under the TV, at the Side and in a Corner
12Under a wall-mounted TV: low and few
A console below a TV should not compete with the screen. Keep everything below the bottom edge of the TV: a low bowl, a horizontal stack of books, a small plant, one candle. Put taller pieces at the far ends, clear of the screen. Baskets below hide consoles, cables and remotes. For screen height and viewing distance, see our small living room layouts.
13A side console between two doors or windows
A narrow strip of wall between openings is a natural place for a short console. Because it is seen in passing, keep to the three-piece arrangement and add a mirror above to bounce light from the window beside it.
14A corner console
Set a short console across or beside a corner with a floor lamp behind it or a tall plant at its side. The corner gets light and a surface, which is often all it needs.
What to Put Under a Console Table
The space below is half of what you see, and the half most often forgotten.
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Two or three matching baskets | Throws, toys, magazines; hiding clutter | Baskets too small for the space look lost |
| A pair of stools or poufs | Extra seats; filling a tall open space | Height: they must slide under freely |
| Large vases or jars in a group | A display console with no storage need | Robot vacuums, pets and children |
| A stack of large books with an object on top | A lower shelf | Dust; keep it to one or two stacks |
| One big basket with a throw | Narrow consoles | Blocking a radiator or vent |
| Nothing | A sculptural console with solid sides | A thin-legged table looks bare |
Choosing the Lamp, the Art and the Greenery
- Lamp. As common guidance, lamp and shade together should come to roughly eye level when you sit nearby, and the shade should not overlap the art by much. One lamp on a short console; one or a pair on a long one. If there is no socket near, see our guide to lighting without ceiling lights for rechargeable options.
- Art or mirror. About two thirds of the console's width. A piece much narrower than half the table looks adrift; group two or three frames instead, as we describe in gallery wall ideas for a hallway.
- Greenery. Long, loose branches (olive, eucalyptus, whatever is in season) in a heavy vase give the most height for the least surface. Dried grasses need no water.
- Books. Two or three, lying flat, as a plinth for a bowl or candle. The same stacking logic is in our coffee table tray decor ideas.
- Color. Take two or three colors from the room and repeat each at least twice between the wall, the top and the lower shelf.
Through the Seasons
Keep the lamp, the art and the books all year and change the branches and one small piece. Autumn: dried leaves and a small pumpkin. Winter: evergreen branches, candles and a bowl of baubles; our Christmas entryway decor ideas give the full console version. Spring: blossom or tulips. Summer: garden greenery.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Art hung too high, floating away from the table.
- A row of small ornaments, all the same size. Use fewer, larger pieces.
- An empty lower half.
- A lamp with a visible trailing cable. Run it down a table leg with clips.
- Blocking a walkway. A console should leave a comfortable passage; if people turn sideways to pass, it is too deep for the spot.
Reader Poll
Where is your console table?
FAQ
How do you decorate a console table in a living room?
Hang art or a mirror above, place a lamp at one end and a tall vase at the other with a low stack of books between, and fill the space underneath with baskets or stools. Leave part of the top clear.
What do you put on a console table behind a sofa?
A lamp at reading height, then low pieces: a long bowl, a candle, a small plant, a stack of books. Keep tall things to one end so they do not block the view, and use baskets below.
What do you put under a console table?
Two or three large baskets, a pair of stools or poufs, a group of large vases, or a stack of big books. Aim to fill about half to two thirds of the space.
How do you decorate a small console table?
With three things: a lamp, a vase with tall stems and one book or small tray. Hang a mirror or one artwork close above to make the arrangement look larger.
What should hang above a console table in the living room?
One large artwork or mirror about two thirds of the table's width, hung with its lower edge a hand or two above the tabletop. A tight group of frames works where one large piece is not available.
How do you style a console table under a TV?
Keep everything lower than the bottom of the screen: a low bowl, horizontal books, a small plant. Put anything taller at the far ends and hide cables and devices in baskets below.
