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    You are here: Home / Home Decor / How to Style a Console Table Behind a Couch (4 ways!)

    How to Style a Console Table Behind a Couch (4 ways!)

    Last Updated: November 2, 2021 | Published: June 7, 2021 | By: Laura | 22 Comments | Filed Under: Decorating 101, Home Decor, Living Room

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    Struggling to decorate a table behind a sofa? Get 4 different ways to style your sofa table right here!

    When we moved into our new house last year, the living room was the room I was most concerned about decorating. We had purchased a sectional sofa for our old house, but it took so long to arrive that we had it delivered to a new house. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

    Thankfully I love the new sectional in this room. (I brought a measuring tape to the house showing to make sure it would fit). And I was pleasantly surprised that my beloved Everett console table fit perfectly behind it! I love our new cozy living room layout, which is a less open space than we had before.

    But the new challenge for me was how to style the console table behind the sofa and in the middle of the room. It needed to be functional (with lamps for reading) and beautiful (duh!) and not feel like it was a wall in the middle of the living room.

    I’ve pretty much had it styled one way since I set it up, but I decided to play around with some other styles and found 3 new ways to style it, too! So, I thought I’d share them with you, in case you too have a console table behind a sofa, too! These home decoration ideas will also work for any flat service!

    So, what do you do differently when a decorating a table than when it’s pushed up to a wall? Well, for one, you won’t want to fill the table with a bunch of really tall decor because then you won’t be able to see over it.

    So, keep that in mind as you’re styling these. For example, when I styled this console table against a wall in my old house, I put a big piece of art in the middle. But that won’t work in this situation.

    How to Style a Behind the Couch Table

    While each style is slightly varied, I like to include at least one of each of these elements in my decor when I’m decorating any horizontal space.

    1. Books – for entertaining and height
    2. Organic shapes – for interest (animal figurines or items from nature)
    3. Greenery (real or faux, I usually use faux plants if we’re being honest) – to breathe some life into my decor
    4. Tray or console basket – for corralling items or blankets and pillows
    5. Lamp – for the cozy factor!

    Console Table #1: The Symmetrical Sofa Table with 2 Lamps & 2 Baskets

    Styling things symmetrically is probably my favorite way to decorate, but it’s not always the most pleasing to my eye. I just find it easy. So, this formula is the one I’ve used the most on our console table behind the couch.

    decorated sofa table

    It includes my favorite two lamps on either side of the table, then a short stack of books and decor accessory in the middle. The little brass turtle on top of the books brings in the organic element.

    The faux plant to the right side and the blanket coming over the basket edge on the bottom left side give enough asymmetry to feel a little more interesting and less “plain Jane.”

    Then on the bottom, I have two of my very favorite console baskets. This is a very simple, yet classic style and we use these lamps every evening when the sun goes down to give a cozy vibe to our living room.

    Console Table #2: Asymmetrical Sofa Table Decor with 1 Lamp & 2 Baskets

    Asymmetrical Decor on a Sofa Table

    In this look, I kept the two baskets on the bottom, but took away one of the lamps. It still needed to feel balanced with something tall(ish) on the right side, so I moved the stack of books under my faux spider plant to give it some height.

    Then I added an organic shape via this dried grapewood branch. It not only brings in interest, but is low enough to see over.

    Styling a Sofa Table Behind a Couch
    Books I love to use in my decor: The Dwelling, The Tracery, Elements of Family Style

    I think I like this look the best, but we love having both lamps on the table for lighting. But if I were to change our current look, I’d change it to this! 😊

    Style #3: Asymmetrical Decor with 1 Lamp and 1 Basket

    I took one of the baskets away and added some decor underneath. I loved how this tray brought these 3 items on the bottom left together.

    Console Table Behind a Sofa

    The limestone knot decor at the bottom gives the organic interest. And the bowl on the top of the table can serve as a corral spot for keys or remote controls. If your console table is near a door, you may need the bowl for everyday items.

    See how I balanced it out by putting the large lamp on one side and the large basket on the bottom of the other side? It would have looked funny if both larger items had been only on one side.

    Style #4: Asymmetrical Style with 1 Lamp

    Console Table without baskets

    If you don’t need or want baskets, I wanted to share a way to decorate your console table without them! I also put a tray on the top for remote control corralling if you need that, too.

    Moving the lamp to the other side of the table allows for a more clear sight line, too! Do whatever works best in your living room design.

    Styled Sofa Table Behind a Couch

    I hope these different stylings helped you find a way to decorate your behind a sofa table. I just went around my house and collected a bunch of items and moved them around until they looked good. So, get creative and use items in your home, too!

    See more Living Room sources here. Wall color: Hale Navy

    Decorate the Sofa Table

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anne

      August 10, 2021 at 3:16 pm

      What is the wall color?

      Reply
      • The Turquoise Home Team

        August 13, 2021 at 12:38 pm

        Hi there! It’s Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. Hope this helps!

        Reply
    2. Kate Rodbro

      April 02, 2021 at 8:30 pm

      Great ideas, Laura. Can you tell me about the couch? I’m on the hunt and would love some recommendations.

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:46 pm

        Hi Kate! The couch is the PB Comfort Sectional Sofa from Pottery Barn. The fabric is the twill fabric in the parchment color. Hope this helps! https://rstyle.me/+a5LRNmLVMJ-CaL_JtSKc2g
        Thanks! Laura

        Reply
    3. Courtney

      January 12, 2021 at 11:36 am

      Hello. I was wondering how to find the console table you used. I love it. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:48 pm

        Hi Courtney – it’s the Everett Console Table from World Market! – https://rstyle.me/+31jeumHtjLiI0-Qt-IWq_w

        Thanks for reading!

        Laura

        Reply
    4. Kimmylouwho

      January 04, 2021 at 10:57 pm

      my favorite was #3; great job!

      Reply
    5. Tammie

      January 04, 2021 at 5:22 pm

      Great styling ideas! I like #2 and especially #4.

      Reply
    6. Claudia

      January 04, 2021 at 12:16 pm

      I was wondering the same thing! When you look closely though you can see something under the table. Looks like she has outlets in the floor.

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:48 pm

        Yes! I have outlets in the floor under the sofa. The house came that way!

        Reply
    7. Judy Hodgkins

      January 04, 2021 at 9:50 am

      Hi Laura: These are gorgeous but how do you plug in lamps on the table so people do not trip on the cord.

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:49 pm

        Hi Judy, there are outlets under the couch in the floor. I wish I had a better solution, but I’m grateful my house came with these!

        Reply
    8. LavaidaVandelia

      June 19, 2020 at 10:15 am

      How do you plug in the lamps? This is such a problem for me.

      Reply
      • Alice

        October 08, 2020 at 10:03 am

        Wondering the same thing?!?

        Reply
      • AnnMarie

        November 14, 2020 at 6:49 am

        That’s what I was wondering

        Reply
      • Jane Fitzgerald

        January 28, 2021 at 8:24 am

        Style #3 shows outlets under console

        Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:50 pm

        Sorry I never answered this last year, but I have outlets under the sofa. Thanks for reading! Laura

        Reply
    9. Patti

      May 12, 2020 at 5:02 pm

      They are all great, my favorite is # 2! Enjoy seeing you decorating your new home.

      Reply
    10. Kay

      May 08, 2020 at 1:52 pm

      How do you safely handle the lamp power cord when the sofa and table are in the middle of the room?

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:43 pm

        Hi Kay, we have outlets in the floor under the sofa. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Sue Volkmar

      May 08, 2020 at 1:43 pm

      Hi Laura-

      How do you deal with plugging in lamps on your console table, so folks don’t trip over them?

      Reply
      • Laura

        June 06, 2021 at 11:43 pm

        Hi Sue, we have outlets in the floor under the sofa. 🙂

        Reply

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