console table with drawers interior

Console Tables With Drawers: Storage Meets Style

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Hello, and welcome to what I genuinely believe is the most comprehensive guide you'll find on console tables with drawers. After months of research into storage furniture design and years of working with clients who've struggled to find the perfect balance between aesthetics and practicality in their entryways and hallways, I've gathered everything you need to make a confident choice.


Console tables with drawers combine the visual elegance of accent furniture with hidden storage that keeps everyday clutter out of sight whilst maintaining a polished first impression in your home.

In this guide, we'll explore what styles of console tables suit different home aesthetics and architectural periods, discover what shapes work best in various entryway configurations, understand popular console table decor trends that complement storage solutions, and learn the essential design rules that prevent expensive layout mistakes. You'll find measurements, real-world examples, and practical advice drawn from both industry standards and genuine customer experiences.

What Shape Console Table Works Best in Different Entryway Configurations?

Rectangular console tables measuring 90-150 cm wide suit most entryway layouts by providing maximum surface area whilst maintaining narrow front-to-back depths of 28-40 cm, though curved demilune shapes work better in tight hallways where protruding corners create traffic obstacles.


 The relationship between table shape and available floor space determines both functional success and visual balance in your entryway.


Shape selection depends primarily on your hallway width and traffic patterns rather than aesthetic preference alone. A console table that looks stunning in a furniture showroom can prove completely impractical in a narrow Victorian hallway where every centimetre of clearance matters.


Rectangular tables dominate the market because they maximize usable surface area whilst fitting neatly against straight walls. You'll find widths ranging from 90 cm (perfect for compact apartments) to 180 cm (suitable for grand entrance halls), with the most popular sizes falling between 120-150 cm for average UK homes. The drawer configuration typically follows the overall width, with tables under 100 cm offering one or two drawers, 120-150 cm tables providing two to three drawers, and larger pieces incorporating four or more drawers.


Positioning rectangular tables requires measuring your hallway width and subtracting the table depth plus 90 cm minimum clearance for comfortable walking space, according to Health and Safety Executive guidance on circulation spaces. So a hallway measuring 140 cm wide can accommodate a table up to 35 cm deep whilst maintaining safe passage.


Demilune tables feature semicircular tops that curve gently outward, creating an elegant profile that works brilliantly in tight spaces. The curved front edge eliminates sharp corners that might catch clothing or bags, whilst the shape naturally draws the eye along the graceful arc rather than toward angular endpoints. These tables typically measure 70-120 cm along the straight back edge with a front-to-back depth at the centre point of 25-35 cm.


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Choosing Console Tables With Drawers

What Styles of Console Tables With Drawers Match Different Home Aesthetics?

Console tables with drawers span seven primary furniture styles, each offering distinct visual characteristics and construction methods that suit specific architectural periods and interior design preferences. Traditional styles like Georgian and Victorian feature ornate carved legs and brass drawer pulls, whilst contemporary minimalist designs prioritize clean lines and concealed drawer fronts that blend seamlessly with the table's facade.


The style you select should harmonize with your home's existing woodwork and architectural details rather than clash with them. A sleek mid-century console table with tapered legs looks jarring in a cottage with exposed ceiling beams, just as a heavily carved Jacobean piece feels out of place in a modern open-plan apartment.


Georgian console tables (1714-1830) typically feature mahogany or walnut construction with proportioned drawers that align with classical architectural ratios. You'll recognise these pieces by their slender cabriole or straight tapered legs, brass ring pulls or cup handles, and a restrained elegance that avoids excessive ornamentation. Drawer fronts often showcase figured wood veneers where the grain pattern itself provides visual interest without additional carving. These tables generally measure 85-90 cm tall and 35-40 cm deep, dimensions that reflect the taller door heights and more generous hallway proportions of period Georgian homes.


Mid-century console tables (1945-1970) revolutionized furniture design by eliminating unnecessary ornamentation in favour of functional simplicity. These pieces feature tapered legs angled outward at 5-8 degrees, drawer fronts with integrated finger pulls rather than protruding handles, and contrasting wood tones that highlight geometric forms. Teak, walnut, and oak dominate the material palette, often combined with lighter wood inlays or contrasting drawer fronts. Drawer depths tend toward more generous proportions (12-15 cm) compared to Georgian styles, reflecting the post-war shift toward accommodating modern household items.


Contemporary console tables prioritize clean horizontal lines, concealed storage, and materials that might include glass, metal, or high-gloss lacquered finishes alongside traditional wood. Drawer fronts often lack visible handles entirely, instead using push-to-open mechanisms or recessed finger grooves that maintain uninterrupted surfaces. These pieces suit open-plan living spaces where furniture needs to recede visually rather than dominate.


Farmhouse console tables embrace visible wood grain, chunky proportions, and construction details that suggest handcrafted origins rather than factory production. Pine, oak, and reclaimed wood provide authentic material choices, whilst drawer fronts often feature planked construction with visible joints and iron or wooden knob handles. The style works beautifully in cottages, barn conversions, and homes that emphasize natural materials and informal comfort over polished sophistication.


Console Table Style Comparison


Style
Typical Height
Typical Depth
Drawer Depth
Key Materials
Georgian
85-90 cm
35-40 cm
8-12 cm
Mahogany, walnut
Mid-Century
76-82 cm
30-35 cm
12-15 cm
Teak, walnut, oak
Contemporary
76-85 cm
28-35 cm
10-14 cm
Various, glass, metal
Farmhouse
75-85 cm
35-45 cm
15-20 cm
Pine, oak, reclaimed

These measurements provide general guidance rather than absolute rules, as individual manufacturers vary their proportions based on specific design goals and target markets. The farmhouse category shows the widest variation in dimensions due to its less standardized, handcrafted origins.

What Are Popular Console Table Decor Trends?

Console table decor emphasises layered heights using three-object arrangements where the tallest piece measures 45-65 cm, paired with books or boxes stacked inside drawers rather than displayed openly, creating clean surfaces that highlight architectural accessories like mirrors and table lamps. The current aesthetic favours edited arrangements over abundant styling, letting the table itself and one or two carefully chosen decorative elements command attention.


Decor trends shift toward showcasing the console table's storage functionality as an asset rather than disguising it. Open drawers photographed for Instagram and Pinterest reveal organized interiors with small trays, divided compartments, and items arranged by category, celebrating practical storage as worthy of display.


The three-height formula remains reliable regardless of changing trends: one tall element (lamp, vase, or mirror propped against the wall), one medium element (stack of books, decorative box, or small sculpture), and one low element (tray, small plant, or candle holder). This creates visual interest through varying elevations whilst avoiding the cluttered appearance of too many similarly sized objects. Your tallest piece ideally measures 45-65 cm tall, roughly half the table's width if the table measures 90-120 cm.


Current trends favour asymmetric arrangements rather than centred pairs. Position your tall element toward one end of the table, the medium element slightly offset from centre, and the low element balancing the composition at the opposite end or near the medium piece.


Rather than hiding the console table's drawers behind closed fronts, contemporary styling embraces them as organizational features worth showcasing. You might photograph drawer interiors with everything neatly arranged for social media, or leave a drawer partially open to reveal attractive internal organization using small leather trays, velvet-lined compartments, or labelled dividers. This approach particularly suits the farmhouse and industrial styles, where visible functionality aligns with the overall aesthetic philosophy.


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What Design Rules Prevent Console Table Layout Mistakes


Console tables require 90-120 cm hallway clearance measured from the table's front edge to the opposite wall or obstacle, ensuring comfortable passage for two people moving in opposite directions according to UK building regulation accessibility standards. The relationship between table placement and room circulation determines whether your console table enhances or compromises your entryway's functionality.


Design rules for console tables balance three competing requirements: adequate walking space, sufficient drawer function clearance, and visual proportion relative to the hallway's dimensions. Getting one right whilst ignoring the others creates expensive mistakes that prove difficult to resolve after purchase.


The UK's Approved Document M recommends minimum corridor widths of 90 cm for single-person passage and 120 cm where two people need to pass comfortably. These measurements apply to the remaining clearance after furniture placement, not the hallway's overall width. So if your hallway measures 150 cm wide and you're considering a console table 35 cm deep, you'll have 115 cm clearance remaining. That works perfectly for comfortable two-way traffic.

What Are Popular Console Table Decor Trends

Our Most Popular Console Tables

Console Tables With Drawers Checklist

This checklist lists the sequential steps for selecting and positioning console tables with drawers in your entryway.


  1. Measure your hallway width and subtract 90-120 cm for passage clearance to determine maximum table depth.
  2. Calculate drawer extension depth by adding drawer travel (typically 30-40 cm) to the table's closed depth measurement.
  3. Identify your home's architectural style to select Georgian, mid-century, contemporary, or farmhouse table designs that harmonize visually.
  4. Choose rectangular shapes for maximum surface area or demilune designs for hallways narrower than 110 cm total width.
  5. Confirm drawer depths meet your storage needs, with 8-12 cm depths accommodating flat items and 15-20 cm depths storing bulkier accessories.
  6. Mark the table's footprint and drawer extension zone using painter's tape, then test passage clearance carrying typical items.
  7. Select table width measuring one-half to two-thirds the wall section width for balanced visual proportions.
  8. Plan lighting placement using table lamps measuring 40-55 cm tall or wall sconces positioned 150-165 cm from floor level.

Choosing Console Tables With Drawers

Console tables with drawers succeed when they balance your home's architectural style, your hallway's physical dimensions, and your household's genuine storage requirements without compromising traffic flow or visual proportion.


The selection process rewards careful measurement and honest assessment of how you'll actually use the piece daily. That gorgeous demilune table measuring 35 cm deep might not suit your 110 cm hallway, whilst the farmhouse console with generous 20 cm drawer depths solves your entryway storage chaos but clashes with your contemporary interior design.


Remember that console tables serve as functional furniture first and decorative elements second. A beautiful table that forces awkward sideways passage through your hallway or whose drawers block movement when opened creates frustration that outweighs any aesthetic pleasure. Prioritise practical requirements, then refine toward your preferred style within those functional parameters.


Key Takeaways:


  • Measure hallway width and subtract 90-120 cm to determine maximum table depth whilst maintaining comfortable passage clearance
  • Match console table style to your home's architectural period, with Georgian, mid-century, contemporary, or farmhouse designs offering distinct aesthetics
  • Account for drawer extension depth when calculating space requirements, as drawers typically extend 30-40 cm from their closed position during access

FAQ: Console Tables With Drawers Storage and Style

What is a console table with drawers used for?

Console tables with drawers store everyday entryway essentials like keys, post, sunglasses, and mobile device chargers whilst providing surface area for table lamps, decorative objects, and mail sorting. The drawers keep frequently accessed items organized but concealed, maintaining clean surfaces that create polished first impressions in your home's entrance.

How deep should a console table with drawers be?

Console tables with drawers typically measure 28-40 cm deep, with 30-35 cm depths suiting most UK hallways that average 90-120 cm wide. Narrower hallways under 110 cm wide require tables measuring 25-30 cm deep maximum to maintain 80-90 cm passage clearance according to building regulation accessibility guidance.

What height works best for console tables?

Console tables measuring 76-85 cm tall align with standard sofa arm heights and provide comfortable surface access whilst standing. Georgian and Victorian styles often measure 85-90 cm tall, reflecting period architecture's more generous proportions, whilst contemporary and mid-century designs sit lower at 76-82 cm for sleeker profiles.

How many drawers should a console table have?

Console tables function best with two or three shallow drawers measuring 8-15 cm deep internally, allowing category-based organization rather than single jumbled storage spaces. Tables measuring 120-150 cm wide typically accommodate three drawers comfortably, whilst narrower 90-100 cm tables suit two-drawer configurations that maintain usable drawer widths of 35-45 cm.

What's the difference between console and hallway tables?

Console tables traditionally describe decorative pieces designed for display in entrance halls or behind sofas, whereas hallway tables emphasize practical storage and functionality in circulation spaces. The terms overlap substantially in modern usage, with most console tables now incorporating drawers or shelves that serve hallway storage requirements whilst maintaining decorative appeal.

Can console tables fit in narrow hallways?

Console tables measuring 25-30 cm deep suit narrow hallways down to 100 cm total width, maintaining 70-80 cm passage clearance for single-person traffic. Demilune or half-moon shapes work particularly well in tight spaces because curved front edges eliminate protruding corners whilst reducing effective depth at the table's sides.

Should console tables match other furniture?

Console tables should harmonize with your home's architectural period and existing woodwork rather than matching furniture pieces exactly, creating cohesive interiors through shared design language rather than identical materials. A mid-century console table pairs beautifully with contemporary furnishings through shared minimalist principles, whilst Georgian styles complement traditional interiors despite different specific wood species or finishes.

How do you style console tables with drawers?

Style console tables using three-height arrangements with one tall element (lamp or mirror measuring 45-65 cm), one medium element (stacked books or decorative box at 15-30 cm), and one low element (tray or small plant under 15 cm). Current trends favour minimal surface arrangements that showcase the table's design and drawer fronts rather than abundant decorative clutter.

What wood works best for console tables?

Oak, walnut, and mahogany provide durable hardwoods for console table construction that withstand daily entryway use whilst developing attractive patinas over decades. Pine suits farmhouse styles through prominent grain patterns and lighter weight, whilst teak and walnut dominate mid-century designs through warm tones and excellent dimensional stability that prevents drawer warping.

How wide should console tables be?

Console tables measuring 120-150 cm wide suit average UK entrance halls and provide balanced proportions when positioned against walls measuring 180-240 cm between doorways or architectural features. The table should span one-half to two-thirds of its wall section's width, with 90-100 cm tables suiting compact spaces and 150-180 cm pieces filling grand entrance halls appropriately.

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Author: Catherine Kindleson

Catherine Kindleson is a seasoned interior design expert with nearly twenty years of hands-on experience helping British families transform their homes into beautiful, functional spaces. Her authority stems from a blend of practical consulting, deep research into furniture design trends, and a reputation for translating complex safety and style standards into easy-to-follow advice for everyday living. 

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