What is a console table used for?

Console tables serve a variety of functions. They can be used as buffets, storage units and display tables. Because they vary in size, you can use them for just about anything.

Why is it called a console table?

Why it is called a console table comes down to the history of this type of furnishing. The very first consoles produced in France during the 16th and 17th centuries were not freestanding. Instead, owners anchored them to walls. This anchoring method strengthened the console top, allowing it to support heavy loads. The name “console” comes from the French word "consolide," which means to reinforce or strengthen. It was likely chosen because of the anchoring system that lends strength to and reinforces consoles. Shop a diverse assortment of console tables on 1stDibs.

What is the difference between a buffet table and a console table?

The difference between a buffet table and a console table comes down to size and storage features. Console tables are usually less deep than buffet tables, so they take up less space behind sofas and along walls. In addition, consoles are less likely to have cabinets and drawers than buffet tables, which are designed to store dinnerware and serveware in dining rooms. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of buffets and console tables.

What is the difference between a coffee table and a console table?

The difference between a coffee table and a console table is in the design. A coffee table is a low table that comes in many shapes, such as surfaces that are rectangles, squares, ovals or circles. Console tables are taller and usually have elongated shapes, such as ovals, rectangles or semicircles. Placement is another differentiator between the two types of tables. Coffee tables usually go in front of sofas and loveseats, while console tables may be placed behind a sofa or loveseat or along a wall. Find a large collection of coffee tables and console tables on 1stDibs.

What is the difference between a sideboard and a console table?

The difference between a sideboard and a console table comes down to usage and storage features. Sideboards are usually found in dining rooms and have shelving concealed behind cabinet doors for storing dinnerware, glassware and serveware. Normally positioned in entryways, hallways and living rooms, console tables may have no storage features or include drawers, open shelves or cabinet doors, depending on their design. Find a large selection of console tables and sideboards on 1stDibs.

What is the difference between a console and a sofa table?

The main difference between a console and a sofa table is that a console can be placed anywhere in the home (against a wall in a hallway or under a television in the living room) and a sofa table is limited to being behind a sofa.

Should a console table be taller than a couch?

A console table should not be taller than a couch . Much like a sofa table, a console table is placed against the back of a sofa and should be the same height as the sofa.

How wide should a console table be in an entryway?

In an entryway, a console table should typically be around 10 to 16 inches wide. Tables of this width should still allow plenty of clearance so people can easily walk by the table. You may see manufacturers refer to the width of consoles as depth. On 1stDibs, shop a range of console tables.

Can you use a console table as a desk?

Because of their variety of sizes and range in function, console tables can easily work as a desk. Given their size and ease of mobility, a console table can be used in almost any sort of room.

How tall should a lamp be on a console table?

A lamp for a console table should be between 25 and 32 inches tall. The table lamp ’s shade shouldn’t exceed half the width of the console table.You’ll find that when it comes to arranging wall art , a decorator might suggest that the space on the wall above a console table is a great place for a large painting or a wall sculpture . In that case, you may wish to use a taller lamp for the table. If your table is smaller in scale or if you have a small mirror hanging on the wall above the console, you may wish to opt for a shorter lamp.Find vintage table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

Trestle Console Table

Spanish Baroque Console

$6,149

Exceptional iron & brass w/ glass top trestle console

By Françoise See

Located in London, GB

An exceptional iron & 15mm thick glass trestle console table with twisted brass rope detailing to the base & plates to the top standing on 8 brass sabots .

Category

Mid-20th Century French Console Tables

Materials

Brass, Iron

Vintage Italian Trestle Long Console w/ Red Top

$9,400

Vintage Italian Trestle Long Console w/ Red Top

Located in North Miami, FL

This fantastic vintage Italian oak trestle console table with a vivid red laminate top, trimmed in walnut and very sculptural.

Category

Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Console Tables

Materials

Walnut, Laminate

Rustic Farmhouse Trestle Wood Console Table

$3,081 / item

$6,400Sale Price|20% Off

$5,712Sale Price|20% Off

$32,000 / set

$13,000 / item

$8,250

$1,158 / set

Pair of Kozka Trestles in Black Glossy by Zieta

By Zieta

Located in Geneve, CH

Pair of Kozka trestles in black glossy by Zieta Dimensions: D 31 x W 51 x H 45 cm Material: Carbon steel. Available in other colors and in stainless steel. Kozka is our new me...

Category

2010s Polish Organic Modern Console Tables

Materials

Steel

Pair of Kozka Trestles in White Glossy by Zieta

$1,158 / set

Pair of Kozka Trestles in White Glossy by Zieta

By Zieta

Located in Geneve, CH

Pair of Kozka trestles in white glossy by Zieta. Dimensions: D 31 x W 51 x H 45 cm Material: Carbon steel. Available in other colors and in stainless steel. Kozka is our new m...

Category

2010s Polish Organic Modern Console Tables

Materials

Steel

$26,350

Late 18th-Early 19th Century Italian Walnut Dining Table

Located in Houston, TX

Late 18th-Early 19th century Italian Walnut Dining Table. We offer a magnificent antique Tuscan walnut dining table which can be used as an entrance table, trestle table, refectory t...

Category

Antique 1790s Italian Baroque Dining Room Tables

Materials

Walnut

Recent Sales

Pair of 17th Century Tuscan Walnut Lyre-Legged Trestle Console Tables

Unavailable

H 32.38 in W 71 in D 26 in

Pair of 17th Century Tuscan Walnut Lyre-Legged Trestle Console Tables

Located in San Francisco, CA

A pair of 17th century Tuscan walnut lyre-legged trestle console tables, retaining their original lustrous patina, with the hexagonal tops; the two tables can be used together as an ...

Category

Antique 17th Century Italian Console Tables

Materials

Walnut

English Trestle Console Table with Removable Shelves, Offered by La Porte

Unavailable

H 33 in W 44 in D 19 in

English Trestle Console Table with Removable Shelves, Offered by La Porte

Located in Southampton, NY

Versatile rustic modern farmhouse style can be used as console, sofa table or simply shelving in any rooms and setting. Easy transported in two forged iron frames with removable thre...

Category

Early 20th Century English Console Tables

Materials

Iron

Exceptional Console - Françoise Sée

Unavailable

H 33.75 in W 59 in D 17.75 in

Exceptional Console - Françoise Sée

By Maison Ramsay, Françoise See

Located in SouthPort, CT

Trestle console table designed by Françoise Sée, Ramsay Boutique.

Category

Vintage 1970s French Console Tables

Materials

Slate

Primitive Trestle Console

Unavailable

H 37 in W 78 in D 11 in

Primitive Trestle Console

Located in Hudson, NY

A lovely surface and color. The height is 37 inches and the piece makes a practical and spare console or work surface.

Category

Antique 1890s North American American Craftsman Console Tables

Oak Trestle Sofa/Console Table (ref# PR112)

Unavailable

H 30 in W 62 in D 26 in

Oak Trestle Sofa/Console Table (ref# PR112)

Located in San Francisco, CA

Solid thick oak top with great aged patina. All oak supports and stretcher. Has a very substantial look without being too large. Origin Pertuis, France

Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Console Tables

Materials

Oak

Materials

Walnut

French Narrow Trestle Table

Unavailable

H 35.25 in W 71.63 in D 18.5 in

French Narrow Trestle Table

Located in New Orleans, LA

Industrial French table with original iron trestle base. Wood top is new. Narrow shape is quite unique. Top dimensions: 71.625"w x 18.5"d Base dimensions: 23"d x 37.125"w x 33.25"h

Unavailable

Sold

H 32 in W 72 in D 18 in

Large Lucite Trestle Console Table Attributed to Jeffrey Bigelow

By Jeffrey Bigelow

Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Trestle console table in thick beveled lucite with glass top attributed to Jeffrey Bigelow, American 1970's.

Pair of Italian Baroque Style Trestle Console Tables

Sold

H 31.5 in W 61.25 in D 21 in

Pair of Italian Baroque Style Trestle Console Tables

Located in Atlanta, GA

Of modern origin with rectangular tops, trestle legs and X-form stretchers.

$9,549 / set

H 34.65 in W 35.83 in D 37.41 in

Antique Pair of Thomas Chippendale Style Chesterfield Brown Leather Armchairs

By Thomas Chippendale

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of fully restored, Thomas Chippendale style, Victorian hand dyed brown leather Chesterfield buttoned club armchairs with Claw & Ba...

Category

Antique 19th Century English Victorian Armchairs

Materials

Leather

Pearson Ralph Lauren English Style Green Leather Library Chairs, Set of 2

$4,795 / set

$3,595

H 63 in W 39 in D 19.5 in

Chinoiserie Jacobean Hand Painted Bookcase or Bar Cabinet, Circa 1920s

By Berkey & Gay Furniture

Located in South Bend, IN

A gorgeous Chinoiserie Jacobean style bookcase, dining cabinet, or bar cabinet In the manner of Berkey & Gay USA, Circa 1920s Carved walnut, green lacquered case with hand painted...

Category

Vintage 1920s American Chinoiserie Cabinets

Materials

Brass

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Trestle Console Table For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the trestle console table you’re looking for. Each trestle console table for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using wood, walnut and metal. Find 95 options for an antique or vintage trestle console table now, or shop our selection of 4 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. There are many kinds of the trestle console table you’re looking for, from those produced as long ago as the 18th Century to those made as recently as the 21st Century. A trestle console table made by Baroque designers — as well as those associated with Mid-Century Modern — is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made trestle console table over the years, but those crafted by Gerald McCabe, Maria Pergay and Karl Springer are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Trestle Console Table?

Prices for a trestle console table can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — at 1stDibs, they begin at $1,650 and can go as high as $45,000, while the average can fetch as much as $4,792.

Finding the Right Console-tables for You

Few pieces of furniture are celebrated for their functionality as much as their decorative attributes in the way that console tables are. While these furnishings are not as common in today’s interiors as their coffee-table and side-table counterparts, console tables are stylish home accents and have become more prevalent over the years.

The popularity of wood console tables took shape during the 17th and 18th centuries in French and Italian culture, and were exclusively featured in the palatial homes of the upper class. The era’s outwardly sculptural examples of these small structures were paired with mirrors or matching stools and had tabletops of marble. They were most often half-moon-shaped and stood on two scrolled giltwood legs, and because they weren’t wholly supported on their two legs rather than the traditional four, their flat-backed supports were intended to hug the wall behind them and were commonly joined by an ornate stretcher. The legs were affixed or bolted to the wall with architectural brackets called console brackets — hence, the name we know them by today — which gave the impression that they were freestanding furnishings. While console tables introduced a dose of drama in the foyer of any given aristocrat — an embodiment of Rococo-style furniture — the table actually occupied minimal floor space (an attractive feature in home furniture). As demand grew and console tables made their way to other countries, they gained recognition as versatile additions to any home.

Contemporary console tables comprise many different materials and are characterized today by varying shapes and design styles. It is typical to find them made of marble, walnut or oak and metal. While modern console tables commonly feature four legs, you can still find the two-legged variety, which is ideal for nestling behind the sofa. A narrow console table is a practical option if you need to save space — having outgrown their origins as purely ornamental, today’s console tables are home to treasured decorative objects, help fill empty foyers and, outfitted with drawers or a shelf, can provide a modest amount of storage as needed.

The rich collection of antique, new and vintage console tables on 1stDibs includes everything from 19th-century gems designed in the Empire style to unique rattan pieces and more.

Questions About Trestle Console Table

What is a console table used for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
Console tables serve a variety of functions. They can be used as buffets, storage units and display tables. Because they vary in size, you can use them for just about anything.
Why are console tables so low?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
Console tables are not low. Typically, consoles are about the height of a desk but are much narrower. As a result, they work well against walls and can be used to hold lamps and decorative objects. While modern console tables commonly feature four legs, you can still find the two-legged variety, which is ideal for nestling behind the sofa. Some also feature shelves for display and storage space or cabinet doors and drawers for hiding clutter. Find vintage console tables on 1stDibs.
Why is it called a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertNovember 13, 2024
Why it is called a console table comes down to the history of this type of furnishing. The very first consoles produced in France during the 16th and 17th centuries were not freestanding. Instead, owners anchored them to walls. This anchoring method strengthened the console top, allowing it to support heavy loads. The name “console” comes from the French word "consolide," which means to reinforce or strengthen. It was likely chosen because of the anchoring system that lends strength to and reinforces consoles. Shop a diverse assortment of console tables on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a buffet table and a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 20, 2024
The difference between a buffet table and a console table comes down to size and storage features. Console tables are usually less deep than buffet tables, so they take up less space behind sofas and along walls. In addition, consoles are less likely to have cabinets and drawers than buffet tables, which are designed to store dinnerware and serveware in dining rooms. On 1stDibs, explore a wide variety of buffets and console tables.
What is the difference between a coffee table and a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertOctober 7, 2024
The difference between a coffee table and a console table is in the design. A coffee table is a low table that comes in many shapes, such as surfaces that are rectangles, squares, ovals or circles. Console tables are taller and usually have elongated shapes, such as ovals, rectangles or semicircles. Placement is another differentiator between the two types of tables. Coffee tables usually go in front of sofas and loveseats, while console tables may be placed behind a sofa or loveseat or along a wall. Find a large collection of coffee tables and console tables on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a sideboard and a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024
The difference between a sideboard and a console table comes down to usage and storage features. Sideboards are usually found in dining rooms and have shelving concealed behind cabinet doors for storing dinnerware, glassware and serveware. Normally positioned in entryways, hallways and living rooms, console tables may have no storage features or include drawers, open shelves or cabinet doors, depending on their design. Find a large selection of console tables and sideboards on 1stDibs.
What is the difference between a console and a sofa table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019
The main difference between a console and a sofa table is that a console can be placed anywhere in the home (against a wall in a hallway or under a television in the living room) and a sofa table is limited to being behind a sofa.
Should a console table be taller than a couch?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 22, 2019
A console table should not be taller than a couch. Much like a sofa table, a console table is placed against the back of a sofa and should be the same height as the sofa.
How wide should a console table be in an entryway?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMay 5, 2023
In an entryway, a console table should typically be around 10 to 16 inches wide. Tables of this width should still allow plenty of clearance so people can easily walk by the table. You may see manufacturers refer to the width of consoles as depth. On 1stDibs, shop a range of console tables.
Can you use a console table as a desk?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
Because of their variety of sizes and range in function, console tables can easily work as a desk. Given their size and ease of mobility, a console table can be used in almost any sort of room.
How tall should a lamp be on a console table?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2024

A lamp for a console table should be between 25 and 32 inches tall. The table lamp’s shade shouldn’t exceed half the width of the console table.

You’ll find that when it comes to arranging wall art, a decorator might suggest that the space on the wall above a console table is a great place for a large painting or a wall sculpture. In that case, you may wish to use a taller lamp for the table. If your table is smaller in scale or if you have a small mirror hanging on the wall above the console, you may wish to opt for a shorter lamp.

Find vintage table lamps for sale on 1stDibs.

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