Side Tables, Hall Tables, & Console Tables — What’s the Difference?

Furnishings

While the main furniture in your home should encompass sofas, beds, and kitchen tables, there are other accessory pieces that can fill the design gap in your interior.

Side, tables, hall tables, and consoles are some of the missing links that can help pull your furnishings and design together. But with all the different pieces out there, it can be confusing to choose the right pieces for various spaces in your home.

While your grandmother may have been partial to her China cabinet, these oversized pieces are not the only things that you can use to store your dishes, linens, and other items. And they’re not the only pieces available to help occupy blank wall spaces.

Console Tables

A console table is generally a wide and shallow piece that’s about as tall as your average desk or table. These furnishings are typically placed up against a wall to fill vacant wall space. However, they can also be placed up against the back of a sofa, in which case they would be referred to as a ‘sofa’ table. And if they’re placed in the foyer or hallway, they are called ‘hall’ tables.

Since console tables often stand on their own in a hallway, entryway, or home office, you can play around with them and try out unique styles and materials, such as wood, metal, glass, or combinations of each. They can offer some extra storage, so they can be just as functional as they are stylish.

Side Tables

A side table is usually beside another piece of furniture that you would sit on, like a sofa or bed. The purpose of a side table is to provide a surface to place items within easy reach, such as a book, beverage, or anything else you’d like to be able to access without having to get up.

It’s important to keep the height of your side table in mind. If it’s too tall or too short, not only will it seem out of place, but it will also be inconvenient to use. Ideally, your side table should be no higher than the furniture arm of the piece it’s up against, and no shorter than the seat. For an armless piece, get a side table that’s either the height of the seat or your height to comfortably reach for something when you are seated.

If you’re looking for more design tips to enhance your interior, get in touch with the experts at Hope Designs today!