Console Table Styling: Where the Lamp Goes

In console table styling, the lamp usually goes at one end, set back toward the wall, and is balanced at the other end by something lower: a stack of books, a bowl, a leaning frame. Two matching lamps, one at each end, give a more formal, symmetrical arrangement.

Where should the lamp go on a console table?

Most consoles stand against a wall, often under a mirror or a picture. The lamp is the tallest object on the surface, so it decides the composition. Place it at one end, a short distance in from the edge, and set it back so the base does not crowd the front.

The other end then needs weight, not height. A stack of books, a stone bowl or a small sculpture is enough. A common rule of thumb is to build a loose triangle: the lamp as the high point, the art on the wall in the middle, a low object at the other end.

Symmetry is the other option. Two matching lamps, one at each end, with a mirror or a picture centered between them. It suits long consoles and formal rooms, and it frames whatever sits in the middle.

Matching the lamp to the console

Scale is where most console styling goes wrong. A lamp that is too small looks lost. A lamp that is too wide crowds the front edge and leaves no room for keys.

Depth is the measure to check first. Zenith, the largest lamp in the collection, needs a console at least 16 inches deep. Strates has discs wider than its stem, so allow about 12 inches of clear surface. On a narrow hall console, New Works, with its 9.8-inch shade, is the easier fit.

Each of our console table lamps gives its height and width in inches and centimeters on its page.

The rest of the surface: art, books, objects

Once the lamp is placed, the rest follows. Keep it short.

• Art. Hang it low enough to relate to the console, or lean it against the wall. The lamp can overlap its edge; that overlap ties the two together.
• Books. Stacked flat, they make a low, steady block. They can also raise a small object to the height you need.
• One natural element. A stone bowl, a branch of eucalyptus in a vase. It softens the lines of the furniture and the frame.
• Empty space. Leave part of the console bare. In a hall, it needs room for keys and post.

Materials can echo each other. A travertine lamp on a travertine console reads as one block of stone. A marble base on dark wood stands out from it. Both work; decide which one you want before you place the rest.

For a sideboard, where the surface is longer and the art larger, see our notes on sideboard styling with a lamp, art and objects.

From the collection

• Zenith: a tilted clear glass bowl on a black fluted column, 19.7 inches tall. For a deep console or a sideboard.
• Strates: two discs of Calacatta Viola marble with the light between them, 12.6 inches tall.
• New Works: dark reddish-brown marble under an opal glass bowl, 13.8 inches tall. For a narrow console.

Questions

How tall should a lamp be on a console table?

There is no fixed rule. A common rule of thumb is to choose a lamp tall enough to read as the high point of the arrangement, without hiding the art or mirror above it. Our console lamps range from 11 to 19.7 inches tall; check the depth of the console as well as its height.

Should I use one lamp or two on a console?

One lamp, balanced by a lower object at the other end, gives a relaxed, asymmetrical look and suits most consoles. Two matching lamps give symmetry and suit long consoles under a centered mirror or picture. On a short console, two lamps tend to crowd the surface and leave no room for anything else.

What if there is no outlet near the console?

Then a cordless lamp is the simpler choice. In our console collection, Silex is rechargeable: a travertine base under a matte dark bronze dome, with about 12 hours of light per charge and about 6 hours to recharge. Our other console lamps are corded and need an outlet within reach.

To find the right scale for your hall or living room, explore our console table lamps.