Whether you’re measuring up a console table for a narrow hallway, decoding hall table dimensions, or working out what to put behind your sofa, this guide has every answer. We cover what a console table is, standard heights and widths in centimetres, materials compared, where to place one, how to style it, and how to choose the right piece for your space. Our team helps customers compare console and hall tables in person every week across our five South-East Queensland showrooms.
A console table (also called a hall table) is a long, narrow table designed to sit against a wall. Standard height is 75–90 cm and typical depth is 25–40 cm, with widths from around 80 cm for narrow halls up to 160 cm for statement walls. Choose the width to suit your wall, the depth to suit your walkway, and the material to suit your room.
Console Table or Hall Table — What’s the Difference?
It’s the question we hear most, and the short answer is: not much. A hall table and a console table are usually the same type of furniture — a long, slim table built to sit flat against a wall rather than in the open. “Hall table” simply describes where the piece tends to live, while “console table” is the broader furniture term. You’ll also see the same design called an entry table or a sofa table when it’s used in an entryway or behind a couch.
What matters more than the name is the job it does. A console gives you a surface to style and, on many designs, drawers or a shelf to hide the everyday clutter — all without eating into your floor space. That’s why it works in so many rooms, which we cover further down.
Console table = hall table = entry table = sofa table. The name usually just reflects the room it’s in. Shop them all together in our console & hall tables collection.
Console Table Dimensions & Heights
Three measurements decide whether a console fits your space: height, depth and width. Height is usually the least of your worries — most tables land in a comfortable 75–90 cm band — but depth and width are where a hallway can catch you out. Measure your wall length and the clear walkway in front before you fall for a look.
| Dimension | Typical range | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 75–90 cm | Sit it near your sofa-back height; comfortable for styling and keys |
| Depth | 25–40 cm | Slim depths keep hallways walkable; allow room for drawers to open |
| Width — compact | 80–100 cm | Narrow halls, small walls, apartments |
| Width — standard | 100–120 cm | Most entryways; sits well behind a three-seater sofa |
| Width — large | 120–160 cm | Long walls and grand entries; makes a statement |
Leave a little breathing room at each end of the table rather than filling the wall corner to corner, and keep a comfortable clear walkway in front in a hallway. Behind a sofa, aim for a top that sits close to the height of the sofa back.
Console Table Materials Compared
Material sets the mood of the whole piece. Warm timber softens a hard, modern hallway; glass and marble-look tops on slim metal bases feel crisp and contemporary and keep a narrow space open. There’s no wrong answer — it comes down to the look you want and the other pieces already in the room.
| Material | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Solid timber (acacia) | Coastal, Hamptons, farmhouse warmth | Genuine hardwood; ages well and hides marks. See wooden consoles |
| Tempered glass | Small or dark entries | Keeps a space feeling light; wipes clean. Common on mirror sets |
| Marble-look / stone-effect | A premium, high-contrast look | Usually engineered, not natural marble — lower-maintenance; check each product page |
| Metal & stainless base | Modern, contemporary rooms | Slim profile keeps narrow spaces open; buff dry to avoid water marks |
“Marble-look” and “stone-effect” tops are usually engineered rather than natural marble, and “wood-look” isn’t always solid timber. It’s worth reading the materials listed on each product page — our wooden range is genuine solid acacia.
Where to Put a Console Table
A console table earns its keep almost anywhere there’s a wall to spare. Its narrow footprint means it adds a surface and storage without crowding a room — here are the spots it works best.
- The classic spot — a landing pad for keys, mail and bags
- Add a mirror above to bounce light and check your look on the way out
- Choose a slim depth to keep the walkway clear
- Anchors an open-plan lounge and defines the seating zone
- Sit the top near the height of the sofa back
- Great for lamps, a tray or a spot to rest a drink
- Turns a blank wall into a styled display surface
- Layer art or a mirror above and decor below
- Pairs well with a matching buffet or sideboard nearby
- Works as a compact dressing table or vanity
- Doubles as a slim desk in a home office
- Drawers keep small items tidy and out of sight
How to Style a Console Table
A console looks its best with a little restraint. The reliable formula is three elements: something tall (a lamp or a vase), something functional (a tray or bowl to catch keys), and something personal (framed art, books, or a mirror above). Leave some of the surface clear so the table itself still shows.
A mirror above the table is the single most effective move in an entryway — it reflects light and makes a tight space feel larger. You can buy the pair together as a matched console and mirror set, or choose a separate piece from our wall mirrors range. For a full walkthrough, read our console table & entryway styling guide.
Work in odd numbers and vary the height. A tall lamp, a stack of two or three books, and a small bowl will always look more considered than a row of same-height objects.
Drawers, Shelf or Both?
The entryway is where keys, mail, sunglasses and chargers pile up, so storage is often the deciding factor. Here’s how the options compare:
- Drawers hide the small stuff completely — ideal for a clean, uncluttered surface. Browse consoles with drawers.
- An open shelf suits things you don’t mind seeing or want within reach — a basket, books, or a pair of shoes.
- Both together gives you the most flexibility: hide the daily clutter in the drawer and style the shelf below.
If your front door is a daily drop zone for a whole household, lean towards more drawers. For a styling-first console that mostly holds a lamp and a bowl, a single drawer or an open shelf is plenty.
How to Choose the Right Console Table
- Measure wall length and the clear walkway in front
- Narrow hall? Prioritise a slim 25–35 cm depth
- Behind a sofa? Match the top to the sofa-back height
- Busy drop zone → drawers
- Display-led → open shelf or clean top
- Want both → drawer-and-shelf designs
- Warm and relaxed → solid timber
- Light and modern → glass or marble-look
- Glam and finished → a mirror set
Still deciding? You can compare finishes and open the drawers in person at any of our five South-East Queensland showrooms, or browse the full console & hall table range online.
Caring for Your Console Table
- Solid timber & wood-look — dust along the grain, wipe spills promptly with a barely-damp cloth, and use coasters to prevent rings.
- Glass — clean with glass cleaner or a damp microfibre cloth, then buff dry to remove streaks and fingerprints.
- Marble-look & stone-effect — wipe with a soft damp cloth and mild soap; avoid acidic cleaners.
- Metal & stainless bases — wipe with a damp cloth and dry off to avoid water marks; skip abrasive scourers.
Don’t let spills sit on timber, don’t use acidic or abrasive cleaners on stone-look tops, and lift objects rather than dragging them across any surface to protect the finish.
Console & Hall Tables — FAQs
They're usually the same piece of furniture — a long, slim table designed to sit against a wall rather than in the middle of a room. "Hall table" describes where it's often used, while "console table" is the broader furniture term. You'll also hear "entry table" and "sofa table" used for the same design used in different spots.
Most console tables stand between 75 cm and 90 cm tall. The aim is for the tabletop to sit at a comfortable, natural height for dropping keys or styling decor — and, when placed behind a sofa, to sit close to the height of the sofa back. Always check the exact height on each product page.
For a narrow hallway, look for a depth of around 25–35 cm so the table doesn't intrude on walking space. Leave a comfortable clear walkway in front — and remember that drawers need room to open fully if the table faces a wall or door swing.
It depends on the wall. As a rough guide: compact consoles (80–100 cm) suit narrow halls and small walls; standard consoles (100–120 cm) fit most entryways and sit well behind a three-seater sofa; and larger statement consoles (120–160 cm) suit long walls and grand entries. Leave a little breathing room at each end rather than filling the wall corner to corner.
A console table is one of the most flexible pieces you can own. Use it behind a sofa to anchor an open-plan lounge, along a blank living-room wall as a display surface, in a bedroom as a compact dressing table, or in a home office as a slim desk. Its narrow footprint adds function without crowding the floor.
A simple, balanced arrangement works best: something tall (a lamp or vase), something functional (a tray or bowl for keys), and something personal (framed art or a mirror above). Keep it uncluttered so the table itself still shows. Our console table styling guide walks through the full look step by step.
Common options are solid timber (such as acacia), tempered glass, marble-look or stone-effect tops, and metal or stainless-steel bases. Timber adds warmth and suits coastal and farmhouse looks; glass and marble-look tops on slim metal bases lean modern. Browse our wooden consoles or glass mirror sets to compare finishes.
It varies by design, so always check the product page. Our wooden console range is built from solid acacia — a genuine hardwood that's heavier and more durable than MDF or veneer, and develops a natural patina over time. Some tables in the wider market use engineered wood or veneer, which is why it pays to read the materials listed for each piece.
Drawers hide small clutter completely — keys, mail, chargers — which suits a clean entryway. An open shelf is better for items you want on show or within reach, like a basket or books. Many designs combine both. See our console tables with drawers for storage-focused options.
Behind a sofa, a console looks best when the tabletop sits close to the height of the sofa back — usually somewhere around 75–90 cm. A table roughly level with, or just below, the sofa back keeps the proportions balanced and gives you a surface for lamps or decor without towering over the seat.
It depends on the finish. Dust timber along the grain and wipe spills promptly; clean glass with glass cleaner and a soft cloth; wipe marble-look and stone-effect tops with a damp cloth and avoid acidic cleaners; and buff metal or stainless bases dry to avoid water marks. Coasters help protect every surface.
Yes. A2Z Furniture stocks console and hall tables across five South-East Queensland showrooms — Rocklea, Virginia, Beenleigh, Bundall and North Ipswich — with fast local delivery across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan and the Sunshine Coast, plus free pickup from our Rocklea warehouse. Browse the full console & hall table range online.
References & further reading
- Console table — definition and history (Wikipedia)
- A2Z Furniture — Console & Hall Tables collection (dimensions and materials listed per product)
- A2Z Furniture — Console Table & Entryway Styling Guide
About A2Z Furniture
A2Z Furniture is a family-run Australian business, established in 2013, with five South-East Queensland showrooms — Rocklea, Virginia, Beenleigh, Bundall and North Ipswich. We import directly and hold our own stock, with fast local delivery across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Ipswich, Logan and the Sunshine Coast, plus free pickup from our Rocklea warehouse. Find your nearest showroom.
Ready to Shop Console & Hall Tables?
A2Z Furniture stocks the full range across our SE QLD showroom network and online.