A console table consists of a flat top, sustained by legs which are often curved (to resemble consoles). It is designed to be fixed on a wall or set against one in a front entrance or hallway, behind a sofa or in a dining room.
It can be very practical if you need to store your magazines or books near your sofa or, if it is placed in the hall, you can keep the telephone on it. A console table is a design element that can add a lot of elegance and style to your room.
In the past they were mainly made of wood, and the aspect was a bit more massive; they used to have many drawers and shelves. Today there is such a large variety of console tables that it is really hard to choose one. They are made of glass, metal (copper, iron), wood and basically the form is rectangular and sometimes oval or semi-ovals. Their top is narrower than a normal table. They have 4 legs or a solid base when they aren't attached to a wall. The top console tables - the ones that consists of only a top, with no underneath body - usually have a semi-circlular or a semi-oval form and are situated in hallways.
Modern and Contemporary Console Tables
The French Art Deco style has some beautiful modern console tables. They have U or waterfall edge bases, they are made of dark stained rosewood and Macassar ebony, with a high gloss lacquer finish. Or, also very modern, there are the ones made of copper. They are very stylish and will heighten your home decor. Copper is a metal that doesn't rust as easily as iron and, being a very malleable metal, has strong colors even in its incipient form, the tables can have interesting shapes and beautiful colors too. Also the combination between glass (the top) and metal (the body underneath the top) is breathtaking (the glass can be double curved and used as a newspaper and magazine holder).
If you are not sure what to choose, but still you really want to buy something that is both very practical and very chic and fashionable, you should definitely go for the contemporary console table. When thinking of a contemporary style, there are three really important words: lines, shapes, forms. Some may find the style cold and stark, but actually it is quite exciting, fresh and very urban.
A contemporary console table will have clean, smooth lines, sculptural furnishings, neutral elements, bold color, few accessories and maybe a shelf or a drawer. The table tops are made of vitreous china, tempered safety glass, marble, and, for the legs, iron, laminated wood, stainless or forged steel may be used. Champagne, hand polished solid aircraft grade aluminum, lacquer and cherry are common type of finishes for a contemporary console table.
If you like the classic look of furniture, the Stakmore console table should be taken in consideration. The company has been producing folding furniture since 1922. Their products are made to last. Their console tables can be easily extended to a full size dining table for 6. The tables are made of maple and ash with cherry, natural, fruit wood, chestnut or a medium oak finish.
Where to find console tables
If you want to buy yourself a console table there are a couple of things to consider: what kind of style and size would you like? Where will you place it? And what is the maximum that you would like to pay for it?. If you don't have a large budget, but you do have a little time, you could try a wholesale store. For example you could look through the local phone book and start calling the furniture wholesalers and ask about the prices and what special offers they have. These prices may be a little higher compared to ones offered to licensed retailers, but definitely lower for you than buying it yourself from the retailers.
Even better would be to buy your wholesale console table on line. This way you may purchase a nice piece of furniture while saving up to 40%-70% of department store prices.
