A console table is one of the most adaptable pieces you can bring into a living room. It slips into spaces other furniture cannot, brings a useful surface to awkward corners and quietly shapes how a room reads. A metal frame opens up even more possibilities, thanks to its slim profile and the way it pairs with almost any colour scheme. If you are wondering how to make the most of one, here are ideas drawn from real British living rooms and the way people actually use them.
One of the most rewarding placements is behind a freestanding sofa. In an open plan room, a console here creates a gentle divide between the seating area and the rest of the space, without building a wall or blocking light. The surface becomes a home for lamps, a tray of drinks or a few books within easy reach of whoever is sitting down. A slim metal frame is ideal for this because it does not add visual weight behind an already substantial sofa.
If you are still choosing the table, our metal console tables include low slung designs that suit this position perfectly, sitting neatly at or just below the sofa back.
Many British living rooms open straight onto the front door or a small entrance area. A metal console here sets the tone the moment you walk in. Pair it with a large mirror for a final glance on the way out and a bowl for keys, and you have a practical welcome that also looks considered. Add a lamp on a timer and the entrance glows softly in the evening, which is a small touch that makes a home feel cared for.
With more televisions mounted on walls, the space below them often sits empty. A long metal console fills it neatly, holding a soundbar, a games console and a couple of decorative objects while keeping cables tidied along the lower shelf. The open frame keeps the area feeling light rather than blocky, which suits smaller rooms where a bulky media unit would dominate.
This is a chance to coordinate with the rest of your furniture, and browsing the wider living room furniture range helps you find finishes that sit comfortably together.
A console against a long wall becomes a stage for the things you love. Layer framed photographs, a piece of sculpture and a trailing plant, then hang artwork or a mirror above to complete the composition. This works especially well in rooms that lack a fireplace or other natural focal point, giving the eye somewhere to rest. Vary the heights of your objects and leave some clear space so the display feels curated rather than crowded.
A generous mirror above the table doubles the light and makes a compact room feel larger, and our decorative mirrors offer shapes from soft arches to clean rectangles to suit your scheme.
For those who like to entertain, a metal console makes an elegant drinks station. The surface holds glasses, a few bottles and a tray, while a lower shelf stores extras out of sight. A metal frame with a marble effect top feels particularly fitting here, bringing a touch of occasion to a relaxed evening. Tucked into a corner of the living room, it keeps drinks away from the main seating yet close enough to be convenient.
Every home has a tricky spot, whether a slim wall beside a chimney breast or the run between two doorways. A metal console is often the only thing that fits, thanks to its shallow depth. Use it to bring purpose to a space that would otherwise sit empty, perhaps with a single lamp and a plant to soften the corner. Because the frame is open, it fills the gap without making the area feel tight.
A metal console gives you a hard, clean base, which makes it the ideal place to layer softer textures. A woven runner, a chunky knit throw folded on the lower shelf, a ceramic vase and a soft rug underneath all play against the metal beautifully. This contrast of hard and soft is what stops a modern room feeling clinical. A rug in particular grounds the whole arrangement, and our rugs can tie a console into the wider seating area.
A metal console does not need to match the rest of your furniture to look at home. In fact, a little contrast often makes a room more interesting. Set a slim steel frame against a deep fabric sofa and the hard line of the metal balances all that softness. Place it near timber pieces and the difference in material adds depth, as long as the tones are working together rather than fighting.
The trick is to find one point of connection. That might be a colour, a finish picked up in a lamp or a frame, or simply a shared sense of proportion. With that single thread in place, the console can happily sit among pieces in different materials and still feel like part of a coherent room rather than an afterthought.
Not every living room has a fireplace or a grand window to draw the eye, and a styled console can fill that gap beautifully. By layering a striking mirror or piece of art above the table and arranging a considered group of objects below, you create a natural focus for the room. The eye lands there first, which gives an otherwise flat wall a sense of purpose.
This works especially well on the wall you see first as you enter the room. Make that the spot for your console and its display, and the whole room gains a clear sense of arrival. A pool of lamp light on the surface in the evening only strengthens the effect, turning the console into the warm heart of the space.
In a compact living room, every piece has to earn its place, and a console is one of the most space efficient surfaces you can choose. Its shallow depth means it can run along a wall where a deeper table would never fit, giving you somewhere for a lamp and a few essentials without stealing precious floor space. A frame with an open structure and a glass top keeps the look light, which helps a small room feel more open.
Mirrors are a natural partner here, bouncing light around and giving the illusion of more space. A console paired with a generous mirror is a classic small room trick that adds both function and a sense of depth, making the room feel larger than its measurements suggest.
One of the pleasures of styling a console is that nothing has to be permanent. As your taste shifts or the seasons change, you can rework the display in minutes, swapping art, changing the stems in a vase or introducing a new object you have fallen for. The table stays the same dependable base while the look on top evolves, which keeps the room feeling fresh year after year without any major outlay.
The best use for a metal console is the one that solves a problem in your particular room, whether that is a missing surface, an awkward gap or a lack of a focal point. Try one idea, live with it for a while, and adjust the styling until it feels right. A console rewards this kind of experimenting because it is so easy to restyle. Explore the full collection and shop modern furniture with free UK delivery at Furniture in Fashion.
Behind a freestanding sofa, against a long wall, beneath a wall mounted television or in a narrow awkward space all work well. The right spot depends on what your particular room is missing.
Yes. A long console holds a soundbar and accessories beneath a wall mounted television, with a lower shelf for cables and boxes, and the open frame keeps a small room feeling light.
Layer soft textures against it, such as a knit throw, a woven runner and a rug underneath, and add greenery and warm lamp light. The contrast of hard metal and soft textiles is what makes the look inviting.
A large mirror reflects light and makes the room feel bigger, while artwork or a small gallery arrangement creates a focal point, which is useful in living rooms without a fireplace.
Yes, and the contrast often looks better than matching everything. A metal frame draws a crisp line through a room full of timber, adding definition without clashing. Find one shared tone or finish, such as a warm metal that echoes the wood, and the two materials will feel intentional together.
When a designer specifies a sofa bed, the result looks effortless, but behind that ease…
Setting a budget for a sofa bed is tricky because two similar looking pieces can…
Choosing a sofa bed means balancing two roles in one piece, and the decision becomes…
A sofa bed lets a single room shift between everyday lounging and overnight hosting, which…
A sofa bed lets a single room shift between everyday lounging and overnight hosting, which…
A sofa bed is sat on by day and slept on by night, so it…
This website uses cookies.