Purpose of the furniture console and standard dimensions of products

In the furniture industry, a console is a small table that is usually placed against the wall.

There are many types and forms of consoles. They can be attached to the wall or rest on legs, be low or high, equipped with drawers or have a table top no wider than the palm, be an example of minimalism or amaze the imagination with skillful wood carvings. But they all have 2 main features :

• Placement: the console is almost always placed against the wall.
• Purpose: the console is a decorative table. It is installed as a decoration on its own, or serves as a stand for a lamp, vase, or figurine.

Pictured: Cattelan Italia Westin console.

Features and purpose

Consoles vary in size, shape and location. The tabletop is always mounted to the wall, but some products may additionally have two legs, resembling a cabinet or table. If there are supports, then they determine the height of the tabletop. Furniture without legs can be fixed in any convenient place.

A console table can be part of a set for a bedroom, living room or dining room. This speaks to the versatility of side furniture.

The console is always adjacent to the wall and is a decorative piece of furniture. A vase of flowers, a mirror in an elegant frame, and photographs are placed on the tabletop. But you can make it more functional - use it as a bedside table or a shelf on the hallway wall. To do this, it is better to choose a model with a built-in drawer of a retractable or folding type. Such furniture can be placed along straight walls, as well as in a free corner, which allows you to complete the interior and emphasize its style.

Fastening tools

The following tools are required to attach the bracket to the wall:

Bracket and dowels
Dowels are usually sold complete with the bracket.

Varieties

There are many types of console furniture. The choice of the required model depends on its purpose, size, room configuration, location of the product, and interior style. It is also necessary to pay attention to the material used to make the furniture.

By area of ​​application

Consoles come in two varieties - decorative and functional. The first panels decorate the interior and are compact in size. A narrow console will help fill an empty corner or niche. The design of the table can be so expressive and bright that the product will look like an independent decorative element. To highlight the console, it is good to hang a picture or mirror above it. Often, such a table is used to disguise a heating radiator. Under the furniture you can place an original pouf, a floor vase or a wicker box. Thus, a narrow table becomes an independent art object that can transform the most inconspicuous room.

Criteria for choosing a furniture set, its varieties

Modern interiors are focused primarily on the functionality of furnishings. The console also plays a practical role in the interior. So, in the bedroom it can be used as a bedside table, dressing table or workplace. For comfortable use of furniture, it is necessary to select its size in accordance with its purpose. If it is assumed that the console will be used instead of a dressing table, then a spacious drawer for cosmetics can be located under the folding tabletop. In the living room it is placed against a free wall or near upholstered furniture.

Console TV stands are popular in minimalist interiors. They look less bulky, make cleaning easier and give the interior a stylish look. The width of such furniture is quite convenient for safely installing a modern model TV on it. If the TV is mounted on a bracket to the wall, then a console cabinet or shelf organically fills the free space under it.

You can add comfort to a small hallway with the help of such furniture. The table will not take up much space, but it will provide a surface for storing small items. And additional shelves will make such a piece of furniture spacious. Above the tabletop there is enough space for a mirror, a key holder or a hanger for hats. The free space below can be allocated for a pouffe on wheels or a banquette.

By device and installation location

There are different ways to position the console depending on its design:

1. Freestanding furniture console table. It may have 1, 2 or 4 legs, but what distinguishes it from traditional models is its narrow tabletop. Taking into account the number of supports, it is located near the wall or anywhere in the room. Modern models may have wheels for easy movement around the room.
2. Attached consoles. They have two or one support. Sometimes a rigid wall mount is used to ensure a stable position.
3. Wall models. The leg performs a decorative function or is completely absent. An oval, rectangular or semicircular tabletop is rigidly fixed to the wall and complemented by a decorating element on top - a painting, a mirror, a lamp. With this type of fastening, attention is paid to the decorative appearance of the brackets.
4. Corner furniture console (free-standing or wall-mounted). With its help, it is possible to rationally use a free corner. Such furnishings look especially original and expressive.
5. Models with built-in cabinets under the countertop. They are equipped with beautiful fittings on the outside and allow you to store small items, writing instruments, and cosmetics.

The most convenient are consoles with a transformation function. They can be folded out into a comfortable-sized table top for a dining table or desk.

Freestanding

Pristavnaya

Wall-mounted

Corner

With drawers

Transformer

What is a furniture console?

This word has Latin roots and is present virtually unchanged in most European languages. However, the term most likely came to us from France. After all, it was there that consoles experienced their real heyday 3-4 centuries ago. “Console” from French means “support”, “bracket”, “support”. Objects with similar meanings are found in construction and architecture.

Well, in the furniture industry, a console is a small stand in the form of a table or cabinet. As a rule, consoles are installed against a wall or next to a large piece of furniture (for example, a sofa). They are often attached to vertical surfaces.

An important distinguishing feature of consoles is their decorative nature. Despite the fact that this item also has purely utilitarian functions, its main purpose is to decorate the interior. At the same time, consoles can have both a rich and very laconic design, it all depends on the style of the room.

Manufacturing materials

Most often in the interior you can find products made from the following materials:

1. Tempered glass. This model looks weightless and airy, best suited for small spaces where it is important to maintain a feeling of light and spaciousness. External fragility is deceptive - the furniture is highly durable and resistant to mechanical stress. Glass can be smooth and textured, transparent and tinted. Its huge disadvantage is the cost.
2. Natural wood. This environmentally friendly material fits organically into many interior trends - not only traditional country, but also modern high-tech and minimalism. Depending on the style, the wood can be coated with transparent or matte varnish, this way you can emphasize the natural shade and texture. Toning compounds are also used. Wood is a soft material, so products made from it are often decorated with carvings and inlays. Disadvantages: high cost, requires special care.
3. Chipboard. A console made of particle boards is a budget option. Its design is usually simple and laconic, so such products look best in minimalist modern interiors. The disadvantage is that the slabs are unsafe and can emit harmful substances.
4. MDF. This is an alternative to wood. The design of such models is more varied than that of products made from chipboard, and the cost is lower than that of consoles made of natural solid wood. The material is durable, but does not withstand serious mechanical loads.
5. Metal. Models made from this material can be found in urban styles. They look impressive and emphasize the style of the interior. A separate variety is forged consoles, painted white. Such models will be appropriate in Provence and shabby chic style interiors. The disadvantage of metal is its significant weight; you should choose free-standing consoles from it.

Types and characteristics of computer furniture, basic equipment

Tempered glass

Natural wood

Chipboard

MDF

Metal

Forging

To further decorate console furniture, various techniques are used:

• inlaid with decorative glass and precious metals;
• a mirror is hung above the console, which sometimes comes with it;
• wooden consoles can be painted in any color;
• use veneering technique;
• perform artistic painting to give products individuality and an original appearance;
• the edge of the table top is inlaid or decorated with carved decor, and the surface itself is made of natural stone.

Features and advantages of sandwich furniture, types of designs

Console furniture: advantages of use in practice

Let's say there is a hallway where, in principle, there is very little space. It is useful to have some kind of horizontal surface. This will make the process of packing up for exit easier. Insofar as it is not possible to place a closet, a mirror is hung on the wall.

And a console table is installed under the mirror. The width of its lid rarely exceeds 20 cm. But this is quite enough to satisfy the user’s household needs.

Note that console furniture does not necessarily have to be supported on the floor. Due to its lightness, it can easily be placed entirely on the wall. The legs in this case have a purely decorative function.

The video demonstrates the use of a console table in the interior:

Source: postroyka.org

Standard dimensions

The size of the console furniture is chosen depending on the purpose and the available space for its installation. There are no strict standards as for kitchen furniture, and the size of the model is usually chosen by the manufacturer himself. However, there are conditional standards. So, for the smallest table, the height is 700 mm. Large countertops are located at a height of 1200 mm.

For rectangular and oval products, the length is from 500 to 800 mm and the width is 350–500 mm. For corner models, dimensions vary between 400–600 mm. The width should be chosen depending on what is going to be stored in them. Consoles with pointed and wavy edges look unusual. The best option for a hallway is a model with a triangular-shaped tabletop.

Minuses

Of the few shortcomings, only one is noted. The console will not fit in a very small hallway. Here she will break the harmony. Since in ancient times only rich people could afford to install such furniture, they had medium-sized or large-sized hallways, so this aristocratic furniture fit perfectly into a large room.

To make your choice, you should look at the photo of the console in the hallway.

Product design

Console furniture is relevant for many interior styles - from strict classics to carefree Provence. The only difference is in the external design:

1. For minimalist interiors, you should choose plain models of simple shapes, without decor or fittings. The main thing is that the console is functional.
2. For classic interiors, purchase wall-mounted models with graceful legs. The product must be made of valuable wood, have a rich texture and shade. Such furniture serves as a decorative element. The maximum that can be placed on it is a vase or a fragile figurine.
3. For high-tech style, choose products made of plastic, glass or metal. Mirror surfaces will look original. The functionality of the furniture is also important - drawers and shelves will allow you to organize the storage of small items.

The color of the console matters. White models are the most popular in modern styles. Black furniture is relevant for art deco, hi-tech or minimalism styles. The natural wood shade console is suitable for ethnic, country, and Provence styles.

Minimalism

Classic

High tech

Art Deco

Ethno

Country

Provence

Criterias of choice

When choosing a transforming table, you need to start from the interior of the apartment. Massive models made of natural wood or stone are suitable only for a room in the Baroque, Empire, or Classic styles. For minimalism, neoclassicism, loft or Mediterranean design, it is better to choose plastic, glass or chipboard. In order for the product to be of high quality and last a long time, you need to evaluate the console according to the following parameters:

• strength of fasteners, runners, smoothly operating mechanism (if the table rises);
• lightness, ease of transformation;
• dimensions of the model assembled and disassembled;
• ratio of material, workmanship and price.

Before purchasing, be sure to check the operation of all mechanisms. If the table is needed to receive a large number of guests, it is better to choose a model with 2-3 additional inserts and 4-8 legs. For working at the console, a folding design is suitable, which has room for legs on at least one side.

Strength of fastenings, runners, smoothly operating mechanism

Dimensions of the model assembled and disassembled

Lightness, ease of transformation

The ratio of material, workmanship and price

Background

Today, a console is understood as a narrow and long table with one, two, three or four legs (other options are possible), with a height of 70 to 110 cm and a depth of about 30-40 cm. Centuries of evolution have led this piece of furniture to this form: originally a console was a projection in the wall that was used as a support for balconies and sculptures. This strange table began to acquire its modern features thanks to the court of the French king Louis XV. In the era of the heyday of Baroque and the worship of luxury, the console had already separated from the wall and served as a showcase for displaying expensive things.

Manufacturers use wood, plastic, glass, acrylic, metal, stone and even cement to make consoles. Consoles made of glass and plastic attract a lot of attention. Such models easily fit into the interior of almost any modern style, be it high-tech or loft. Decorators love them for their ability to easily coexist with other objects, without burdening or weighing down the space.

One of the most current trends in interior design is the use of wooden consoles. They will help create a cozy atmosphere.

Some people prefer consoles with a classic design; such models have marble countertops. And some people like models with decorative legs, for example, in the form of animals or mythical characters.