A console table is a bit of a riddle. It can be a hall table or a side table, but is generally not an end table. It can be a sofa table or a coffee table or accent table, but not a dining room table. And never, ever is it a mathematical table! To solve the mystery of this extremely versatile item, a general guideline for a console table is that it is usually a rectangular piece of furniture that ranges from 2 to 4 feet in length and stands about waist high. Some console tables may be half-moon shaped or round, but the most commonly recognized shape is a long rectangle.

Perhaps the best and most popular uses of console tables are in entryways and as accent pieces in a living room. For example, when you come through the door of your home, you are generally carrying something that needs to be set down in a convenient location. This may be your briefcase, groceries, or just a set of keys that need to be placed in a spot where they won't get lost. The idea also holds true for many other items, ranging from homework to purses. For this reason, the console table may be one of the most highly utilized pieces of furniture in your collection. And if you're going to use it every day, you want it to be attractive. Fortunately, these tables come in so many styles and materials that it is easy to ensure they complement other pieces in the room. In a smaller room or entryway, you might want to match the material from which your table is constructed with nearby window sills or doors in the space where it resides, although different styles can be paired in a room, depending on paint colors and flooring.

Speaking of material, console tables come in some of the most varied choices of any type of table. The majority, of course, are wood: oak, maple, walnut and cherry are popular, although the material can be stained or distressed to change the look of the piece. Glass tabletops mixed with wood bases are an attractive way to add dimension and variety to the design, and are also helpful for intermingling styles within a room. Glass is also uniquely suited to reflecting candlelight or enhancing the sparkle of your glassware.

We've talked about console tables in entryways and living rooms, where they can be placed against a wall or adjacent to a couch or settee. So where else can you locate your console table? Almost any room in the house! You may have use for one in a sunroom, and certainly a library or study room can benefit from console tables to hold books, a computer and printer, or to attractively display collectibles. Bedrooms are a perfect location, as the tables are a perfect spot for pictures, beauty products, books, lamps, and of course, clocks! Last but not least, it's almost impossible to ignore dining rooms, where a console table can be used for extra plates of food and to hold and display beverages and glasses.