Console, Sofa , & Entry Table – What’s The Difference Between Them & Does It Even Matter?
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Images via Laura Hammett & Akar de Nissim
Console table vs. sofa table vs. entry table…what the heck is the difference between all of ‘em? And honestly, does it even matter?!
Kind of and kind not. Let’s talk about it.
I use the terms console table, end table, and sofa table interchangeably all the time, especially if I’m shopping online. But if you wanna get down to the nitty-gritty, there are some slight differences to be aware of.
Console, sofa, and end tables are all visually open, typically with long legs and maybe some small storage like a shelf or a drawer.
If you’re looking for something with more storage, try looking at media consoles, credenzas, and sideboards.
Images via Marco Ricca & Nam Dang-Mitchell
But back to console, sofa, and end tables. Let me answer a few commonly asked questions and tell you the difference between all of them.
What is the difference between a console table and sofa table?
Console tables are usually a standard height (around 33 inches) so you can place them against a wall, whereas sofa tables are low enough to sit behind your sofa.
Where do you put a sofa table?
Sofa tables are designed to be placed behind your sofa. Using a sofa table will help ground the sofa and make it look more intentional and finished, especially if your sofa is placed in the center of the room and not against a wall. Decorate it with tall items like table lamps or flowers to add some height.
SAVVY TIP
“A sofa table should be at least an inch lower than the back frame of your sofa, not the pillows.“
Entry tables, on the other hand, are typically more narrow… perfect for an entryway where there’s no room to begin with. They can also have some decorative accents, such as a rounded top or a couple of small drawers for storage.
Long story short, you can use all of these pieces interchangeably when decorating, just make sure you check those dimensions! And if you’re shopping online, be sure to search all of those terms to yield in the best search results.
I hope this post helped you figure out the difference between console tables, sofa tables, and end tables! Still have questions? Comment below to let me know!
Cheers!
Took me time to read all the comments, but I seriously enjoyed the write-up. It proved to be Very helpful to me and I am positive to all the commenters right here Its always good when you can not only be informed, but also entertained Im sure you had fun writing this article.
Hi,
Loved your article, it was super informative and very well written.
I love the first white bookcase with the hexagon shelves! Where can I find that? Thank you!
Hi Terra,
Your excellent presentation fascinated me well. Sometimes it would be difficult for me to differentiate between the sofa table and the console table. Reading your writing now I have got a nice idea.
I hope you will share such kind of new idea in near future. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.
Who is the manufacturer of the black table with the big pot underneath, the black pots on top and the charcoal drawing above?
Who is the manufacturer of the black table with the big pot underneath, the black pots on top and the charcoal artwork?