Console Table Revamp

Zeba Malayil
Nov 30, 2020
4 min read

I’ve always been one to spend hours on Pinterest creating imaginary mood boards for what my wedding would be like, what my future home would look like, how my future studio space would be designed, the imaginary scenarios have always been endless. Over time ideas changed, preferences evolved, and many of the key events in life like my wedding happened so fast, I don’t think my Pinterest board was able to keep up with life’s pace. As per usual, when we moved into our tiny little apartment here in Mumbai, we rushed to get all our furniture, keeping everything as economical, sustainable and low-maintenance as possible, that we barely got to pull out the old mood board and cherry pick each piece. But the beauty of homes and personal spaces are that you can always work on them, improve them, or mix it up every once in a while. Your home is your personal project that’s always on-going, whether it’s the new system you set in place in your pantry, or the old photographs you decided to revive and put up on the wall, the fun and the possibilities are endless.

Getting to the topic of the post - Console tables seem to be all the rage this season, so why not start your home project with doing up your console table (if you have one, else you can use these same ideas on chest of drawers, TV unit shelves, or on a sideboard like I have).

Pointers for a well-balance console table

1. Anchor Your table

Have a grounding piece such as a mirror, framed artwork, statement clock, etc. - to visually anchor the table to the wall. It basically makes the table look a lot more in place, and a lot less like it’s been parked there by accident. Depending on the location of the console table, this anchoring piece can also bring context, such as a mirror to make small spaces look larger, a piece of art to liven up an otherwise simple layout, wall-shelves for added storage space and so on.

2. Bring in layers

Add objects of varied heights, sizes, textures, and shapes, to bring a certain depth and character to the space. Create interest for your eyes by bringing in variety in all aspects. But be careful not to go overboard and have jarring contrasts that can be visually disturbing. Subtlety is key when trying to bring in variety.

3. Cater to your senses

I love it when design can cater to more senses than one, so experiment and see how you can interest your various senses. For example, for your seeing – besides the décor, bring in some form of light like a beautiful lamp-shade of your style preference, or just a simple candle. For your olfactory senses – You can go with a scented candle (two birds with one stone), a bowl of potpourri, incense sticks, or essential oil diffusers.

4. The rule of odds

For some odd reason (pun so intended), objects arranged in odd-numbered clusters look a lot more pleasing to me than even-numbered arrangements. And my personal favorite is grouping objects in clusters of threes. So, try this odd rule of odds and let me know if it works for you, or if it’s just me.

5. Add a personal touch

I say this for designing almost any space in your home, bringing a personal touch to it just makes it so much more heart-warming. That's when it transforms from being just a well-designed space to a well-loved space as well. So don’t forget to add trinkets that make it so much more yours, like a picture frame, a travel-souvenir or even just your favorite books stacked up.

6. Liven it up a little

Did you think you would get through this without me suggesting you add a plant to the mix? I may be on the verge of becoming a crazy plant lady, but why fight it? Adding a plant just brings so much life to the whole arrangement. And if you don’t have a green thumb, you can go for dried flowers, grain sheaves etc. like in the images below.

7. Form follows function

Definitely think about the utility of it while you set up your console table. If you can bring in baskets for storage, chic newspaper racks, key hooks, or snack jars like I have done, it brings a lot more purpose to the space and its design. In my case, because I have a sideboard and not a console table, I’ve made full use of all the drawers and shelves for storage of everything from table mats to medicines. Always remember, there needs to be context even for the utility you bring in.

And there you have it, these are a few basic tips to style your console table, these are just a framework for you to work around, the rest is left to your personal aesthetic. Here's how I implemented some of these pointers on my sideboard at home.

We got a mirror custom made from Crawford market (Bombay's bustling local market for all things man-made), that I used as an anchoring element. After using up each of the three cabinets and drawers for all the dining-related utility that we required, I moved onto adding little tidbits to amp up the table. I realized I've unintentionally followed the rule of odds while arranging the table, starting with my favorite potted plants (super low maintenance ones - ZZ and Snake plant on the table top, and Monstera at the foot of the table), a terrazzo coaster, and because the sideboard is just a hand's reach away from our cozy dining table, I've kept these super cute salt & pepper shakers on it as well. The other end of the table has an earthy rope mat, on which I've kept all my light and scent inducers, such as reed diffusers and scented candles, behind which I've kept a wine red fluted glass vase that I occasionally fill with flowers or leaf cuttings when I trim my plants. At the centre of the table, I brought in the utility bit, with this faded glass tray that we drop our keys and coins into, and behind it I've filled up some upcycled jars (came as part of a corporate gift package my husband received last Diwali) with nuts and dried fruits, so that's the first thing that catches our eye when the snack pangs kick in.