Console in the hallway: options, application projects and stylish placement options in design

2019-03-11

Author: Belfan

Issues discussed in the material:

• What is the console
• What are the advantages of a white console in the hallway interior?
• What are the types of white console for the hallway?
• What style does a white console look good in the hallway?
• How to choose the right white console for the hallway

You can beautifully decorate the interior of your hallway by installing a console table. This is a compact, original and comfortable piece of furniture. After a rather long break, it began to be used by designers along with a standard set (wardrobe, shoe rack, cabinet, pouf). In this article we will tell you in more detail about what features the white console in the hallway has and how not to make a mistake in choosing this item.

What is the console

A console is usually called a narrow table with four legs and small drawers in which small things are stored so that they are always at hand. In hallways, products with a height of about 1.10 m are usually installed. The depth of the console, as a rule, does not exceed 0.4 m, so that there is room for it even in a narrow corridor. The design of the hallway with a white table of an unusual shape attracts attention with its expressiveness and unique outlines.

Nowadays, anyone can purchase such a piece of furniture, but several centuries ago consoles could only be seen in palace interiors or high-society establishments. We owe their appearance to the Baroque era, or more precisely, to the years of the reign of Louis XIV, who is known for his love of luxurious things. Elegant products made from precious wood, decorated with openwork carved patterns, gilding and painting, soon appeared in the houses of high society in France, and then the flow of fashion spread them throughout all European cities.

Magnificent furniture made by cabinetmakers from the 17th to 18th centuries is today exhibited in museum halls or is part of the palace furnishings, and for many connoisseurs it is simply a dream to have one in their collection.

Despite the globalization and industrialization of life, the popularity of console tables has not diminished, although today, with rare exceptions, standard models are used in interiors. This product is no longer considered a symbol of luxury style, but this has not lost its charm and functional properties. The use of consoles has long gone beyond the baroque; this item can easily decorate any room. It can also serve as a convenient stand for decorative items.

The photo below clearly shows what the white console is.

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Choosing the right console

Before buying such furniture, you should think about what the console will be used for in the interior. If the owner wants to see a dressing table in the hallway, then it is better to choose an elongated console and hang a mirror above it. If you want to put the necessary little things in it, then the product should have drawers and shelves to accommodate everything you need.

It is also worth considering what items you plan to place on the console, so that you buy it in a size from which the items will not fall off. Depending on the layout of the hallway, linear or corner consoles are chosen.

It is not enough just to choose the right console model for the hallway; it is important that its color is in harmony with the rest of the interior of the room. You should not give preference to dark options if the room does not have enough area. Light furniture with glass inserts will look better and visually expand the room.

Fans of cheerful design will enjoy modern consoles in bright colors, for example, orange, yellow, red and the like. They are good, but only in large hallways, as they will focus on volume.

A universal option would be a white console that would look perfect in any hallway. It can enliven and lighten a gloomy interior or emphasize the harmony of a bright design. In a hallway of pastel shades, such an interior detail will stand out favorably, becoming the center of the overall composition.

Consoles decorated with veneer will always be relevant. Moreover, they can have either a natural shade or be painted in any other color. The choice of color depends on the style of the hallway. Natural wood texture is ideal for a classic interior.

Black consoles look great, regardless of whether they are glossy or matte. Black color in this case acts as an accent, so all surfaces in the room are made in light colors. To break up the interior, bright accents are used, for example, lemon yellow, orange, red, blue or other shades. Black consoles are usually placed in hallways designed in loft or minimalist style.

Advantages of a white console in the hallway interior

• Compact sizes. Basically, the entrance areas of our apartments are not large in size, but even a small corridor can be decorated with great elegance. A narrow object will not take up much space against the wall; Corner miniature options perfectly complement the interior space.
• Functional features.
  It’s convenient to put a bunch of keys, a handbag and a pair of gloves on the tabletop of a small console, so that when you come home from work or a walk, you can slowly change your shoes and hang your coat or jacket in the closet. If there is no need to install a chest of drawers, but a compact item with several drawers and a shelf would not hurt, then a white console is an excellent replacement. A small table allows you to rationally place the remaining furnishings in the hallway. The combination with a mirror on the wall, a small shelf for combs and other small items, and a stylish key holder looks complete and complete. A mini-banquette or ottoman will fit under the table. If the hallway is spacious enough, the furniture console can be used as a stand for a beautiful decorative item. It is better to remove unnecessary things from the table in a timely manner and not arrange a storage area on it, it looks untidy.
• Stylish look. By installing a white console, you can easily transform the room, giving it lightness and expressiveness. With its presence, it harmoniously complements the overall picture and at the same time does not lose its uniqueness against the background of other objects. An important rule is that the style of the console matches that of the entire hallway. Most often, a close mirror, a picture or two lamps are placed above the table to create a beautiful image. The tabletop serves as a stand for table clocks, potted plants, travel souvenirs, or family photos.
• Mobile design. If the table is not attached to the wall, then it can be used in different parts of the house depending on the situation. A white light console can easily become an element of the interior when organizing a romantic dinner, for example, near a fireplace or in another recreation area.
• The versatility of white. It is necessary to choose a tone that will harmoniously fit into the given design. A general recommendation when decorating a small hallway is to choose a light shade of furniture, since their ability to visually expand the room, increasing illumination, is known. In this case, this also applies to the color of the console table. It is better to stay with the universal white version. A white product will dilute the interior with a dark finish and add a note of lightness and airiness to the atmosphere. In a hallway with bright combinations, a white accent will smooth out and balance the color scheme, and among furniture in pastel colors, this color will ideally complement the surrounding environment. A snow-white table can be combined with different styles, be it classic, Provence or modern design.

Advantages of use

Thanks to a significant number of advantages, consoles are used more and more often in hallways. So for small apartments with narrow hallways, such furniture is just a godsend. Thanks to its compact size, it can be placed in any room of any size and give it aesthetics and functionality. Thus, the empty space where no more furniture fits will become more comfortable.

Consoles are used by designers in various interior styles. With the help of competent selection of shape, execution, and decorative design, such furniture will become a stylish addition to the interior.

Thanks to the high functionality of the console, you can easily place all the necessary things in the hallway without cluttering the free space. The wall above it can be decorated with a mirror, a small picture, a key holder, a shelf and other functional items. A pouf or stool will fit perfectly under such a table, so it will not interfere with the passage in the corridor.

In a studio apartment where there is no separate hallway, the console will help zone the space. When installing a console table, the entrance area will be strictly marked.

When creating an interior with console tables, you can safely combine different materials and textures. Thus, a console made of natural wood will look organic with a mirror in a carved frame and a stool with noble upholstery.

Varieties of white console for the hallway

The following types of consoles are used for the hallway:

• Freestanding furniture model. Such products have a shallow depth, and, as a rule, it is best to install them near a wall. White consoles of this type are intended for placement in different parts of the house (living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens), and not just in corridors. The table will be an excellent addition to a sofa or pouf located in the hall.
• Attached design - equipped with one or two legs, which requires additional fastening to the supporting wall.
• The hanging console is similar in appearance to a regular shelf. An additional fastening element is a decorative leg; it does not reach the floor and rests against the wall. The hanging table is not equipped with sides and can have different shapes. Various types of decor will suit a white tabletop. A console complete with a hanging mirror will be a worthy replacement for a traditional dressing table. A convenient drawer for small items and cosmetics will be a nice addition.

If necessary, the console can be easily moved to another part of the house: in the bedroom it can be used as a bedside table, in the living room as a flower stand or lamp.

Typical classification

All console structures for the hallway can be divided into several types:

1. Functional, which are additionally equipped with shelves and drawers for storage. Most often, the design of such furniture items is simple, without excessive decorativeness. This console is used when there is no possibility or need to overload the room with massive cabinets and chests of drawers. The functional console, thanks to its configuration, can be successfully used as a dressing table, which allows you to place it not only in the hallway, but also in the living room or bedroom.

2. Decorative, used to complement space if there is empty space. They are smaller in size and do not have additional storage space. Such console tables themselves are an interior decoration, on which you can place accessories or flowerpots. Additional elements for such a console will be a clock, mirror, pouf or other accessories that will give the composition a finished appearance. These products are usually made to order. The final cost will depend on the material and quality of the product.

Advice! A console in the hallway can be an option for decorating an unsightly wall or radiator.

What materials are hallway consoles made from?

Various materials are suitable for the manufacture of console tables:

• Solid wood is the ideal choice for creating luxury products in a classic style. Sometimes particularly valuable and rare breeds are used for these purposes.
• For the production of most furniture today, laminated chipboard and MDF are used. Various processing technologies have been developed to imitate wood grain with matte or glossy surfaces in white or other shades.
• Forged parts can become a decorative addition to models in retro or Provence style.
• To design a console in a modern direction, durable plastic, glass, natural or artificial stone are suitable.

You can often find products made from a combination of different materials, in which, for example, chrome legs are combined with a glass table. Or another option - a wooden tabletop and a stand made of openwork forged metal. Items are decorated with carvings, silk-screen printing, painting, mosaics, gilding and other types of decoration.

To decorate the hallway, it is advisable to buy a white console and a mirror in the same style.

Range of consoles

The console in the hallway is a kind of table, which has legs in the front, and the back part is attached to the wall. It may have all 4 legs or just one. The execution depends on the style in which the furniture is made. This piece of furniture does not lose its popularity over the years, but only adapts to changing conditions.

There are many options for using it in the interior; it allows you to avoid massive tables and cabinets, which will be especially valuable for owners of small apartments.

At the moment, consoles for hallways are made from:

1. Wood or its imitation.
2. Metal, with forged or polished elements.
3. Plastic.
4. Natural or artificial stone.
5. Glass.

And also combined models are not excluded, for example, with a table top made of wood or stack and forged legs. It can be painted in any color, and also have decorative design in a given style. Consoles for hallways with a mirror have become very popular.

To organically fit this furniture into the interior of the hallway, it is complemented with a mirror, stools, and a painting. One or more wall lights are usually installed above the table. This design will add comfort and coziness to the room.

Shapes of a white console in the hallway

• Corner console for hallway

A tiny hallway will look more attractive and comfortable if you use such a compact but functional item as a corner console in the design. This product allows you to intelligently place furniture in a small space, and its surface will serve as a convenient stand for a decorative vase or telephone. Corner-type models are usually very compact; they are not equipped with legs and need to be mounted to the wall. Therefore, under the console, which may have a drawer, there is a free area that can accommodate a basket for newspapers and magazines or a decorative rack for canes and umbrellas. It is convenient to place a handbag or put keys or gloves on the shelf of the corner console located next to the front door. But in everyday life it is better to keep it free and not spoil the attractive appearance with carelessly thrown things.

• Narrow console

To decorate hallways in small apartments, narrow pieces of furniture are usually also selected to leave more free space.

Narrow white console in the hallway:

— suitable for placement in any corridor, as it has a compact size;

- complemented by shelves and drawers to store small items;

- is an original and stylish decoration of the room.

The narrow model can play the role of a dressing table when it is installed close to the mirror, and its drawers are convenient for storing cosmetics and other accessories. Often the tabletop of such a console is used as a stand for beautiful vases, ikebana or handmade baskets, in order to store various necessary things in one place. Thus, a narrow white console table is an elegant piece of furniture, comfortable and functional, which was created not only to accommodate various small things, but also to decorate the room. To furnish the hallway, it is better to use the necessary minimum of furniture, but a small console will not be superfluous.

• Other types of consoles in the hallway

Today, a variety of types of tables are made. You can find a round, oval or trapezoidal shape - depending on the imagination of designers and customers. There can also be a different number of legs, it depends on the model and installation method.

Manufacturing materials

Prices for consoles vary greatly. They depend on the quality of the material, assembly and many other parameters. The most expensive option will be a console made of natural wood, but they have many advantages.

• Wooden furniture is environmentally friendly and safe.
• Wooden furniture always has a pleasant smell, which creates a cozy atmosphere.
• The wooden console is strong and reliable. They are resistant to mechanical damage and will serve the owner for a long time. With proper care of the material, it will last for several decades.
• Wooden furniture can be restored, and then it will look like new.
• Wooden furniture looks rich. Thanks to this material, a touch of aristocracy appears in the interior.

Wooden tables also have disadvantages:

• They must be treated with antiseptics, otherwise the furniture will deteriorate.
• Wood does not tolerate high humidity and temperature changes in the apartment.
• Cost is the main reason why natural wood is not affordable for everyone. Oak is the most expensive option, birch is the most budget-friendly.
• Heavy weight. All wood products weigh a lot and can also damage the floor covering.

A more budget option is MDF tables. This material is also durable and environmentally friendly, easy to care for. Made from MDF, the textures of stone or wood are repeated. Their price is lower than that of natural wood, and if you choose high-quality material, it will be no worse than natural wood. MDF is also not afraid of damage.

In addition to MDF, laminated chipboard is used for the manufacture of consoles. There is a huge range of different textures from laminated chipboard. At the same time, the heavy design of the console cannot be made from chipboard; chipboard also has low environmental safety.

The hallway console in a modern style is made of dark or light shades to suit styles such as hi-tech, loft and others. They have a simple, minimalistic design and are often made from laminated chipboard.

What style does a white console look good in the hallway?

The white console is a universal piece of furniture. For modern designers there are no restrictions on materials, and models can be created to suit any request:

• As we mentioned above, for a long time a white (or other color) console in the hallway has not been considered an element of only the classics or baroque movements, although historically its origin is connected with these styles. But this item looks most harmonious precisely in the luxurious classic interior of the hallway of a luxury apartment or the hall of a mansion.
  The classic style is characterized by fundamentality and sophistication. The geometry of this type of console is distinguished by straight lines and laconicism. The tabletop is especially attractive if inlaid using the marquetry method (the pattern is made with wood of a different shade), bronze details or carvings. The legs are shaped like columns with flutes. The supports at the top end with a traditional capital with pilasters, which is a cube decorated with heraldic symbols.

  The Baroque style is distinguished by splendor, luxury and pomp. The outline of the tabletop is a complex curved shape; the product is decorated with carved details with gilding depicting angels and plant leaves. The curved legs are also decorated along their entire length with carved patterns.

• The white console, designed for an Art Nouveau style interior, has more laconic and smooth lines, curved, but without pretentiousness. They harmoniously complement the space, dissolving in it.
• Fans of the high-tech trend will choose for the hallway a console with a rectangular tabletop made of shiny metal or white marble, which bends like the letter “P” and goes into legs of a regular geometric shape. Calibrated lines, a technical approach and the absence of decorative elements make this style recognizable.
• The Provence direction is popular with romantic natures: they will be happy to decorate their hallway with a white antique console table, which can be complemented with a vase of flowers or several photographs.
• The white console, made in the loft style, looks creative. This can be a narrow table welded from metal parts with a metal, wood or glass top.

Metal console model options

Forged furniture has always attracted attention and today remains one of the most popular options for furnishing premises. Therefore, a console with forged metal parts can confidently be called a universal solution, suitable for complementing many interior styles. Frames and legs of such designs do not take up much space and combine wonderfully with stone, wood or glass tabletops. Many products are equipped with original hooks for clothes, and the forging details themselves are made in the form of flowers, foliage and other intricate curls or patterns.

How to choose the right white console for the hallway

It is important to understand for what purpose you are purchasing a white console. If you need it as a compact dressing table to fix your makeup and comb your hair before going out, then pay attention to the elongated model complete with a mirror. Perhaps you want to install a product that replaces a bedside table - then a console with several drawers and shelves will suit you. So, the purpose of the console table affects its size and shape.

Decide in advance what will go on the countertop. The decorative item that adorns the white console should not be too large for the table, otherwise there is a risk that someone could drop it. The console can be used as a stand for a telephone or a lamp. Otherwise, you can simply place gloves or a purse on it. Then it is better for the table to be near the door.

As we have already found out, console options can be very different: angular, straight, tiny or roomy - the main thing is to select the model for a specific layout.

Consoles for a specific style

The modern market is represented by a large variety of console tables. They vary in shape, size, color, and texture. The console can be chosen to suit absolutely any given style. There are 4 main directions:

1. Art Deco. This direction is distinguished by rigor and conciseness. The ideal option would be a forged console. The colors range from crystal white to dark brown.
2. Classic style. The initial material of furniture, in this case, is always wood. A hanging or attached console with carved forged legs in the color of natural wood looks good.
3. Fusion This is a mood style. It is very bright and noticeable. Fusion includes several different directions at once. For consoles of this style, plastic, glass, and metal are used. An attached design or a narrow design with forged legs is suitable.
4. Provence. This is a style that is completely associated with France, its vineyards, fields, and fresh air. Consoles in this case are made of solid wood in light shades with carved patterns. Such a piece of furniture can be complemented with textile inserts or frills along the edges.