A console just might be the piece of furniture you didn’t know you needed. Console tables provide more than just a spot to put things down. They can be used to highlight a space in hall or entryway, and can even be used for extra storage space. Often a console is paired with a mirror, especially in a hall or foyer, but that’s not the only way to use one. Also, a console is typically a long, slim table with an open bottom but you can use multiple types of cabinets to function as a console, especially if you need extra storage. How prominent they are in your decor greatly depends on how you style them. It’s time to think beyond the lamp and vase of flowers for different ways to decorate your console. Check these out.

Pair with a Pendant

This might be a cabinet but it easily functions as a console thanks to its long and slim design. The decor paired with it is new and fresh, thanks to the use of a pendant light instead of a table lamp. Two mirrors, stacked atop one another, are offset to one side, making room for the showy pendant. This is a great way to have light in the space but in a more up-to-date form. Accessories on the dark glass surface are kept to a minimum to keep the eye drawn upward.

Be Plant-Focused

Skipping the mirror entirely is a popular way to style a console, and here, the focus is on the lush plants. The front of the cabinet has a unique scalloped design and the curved arms of the plant shelves repeat the rounded form. Again, the two plant shelves behind the console are situated off-center and the accessories on the console are shifted to the opposite side in a simple but pleasing grouping. Two more plants, placed on the side wall complete the look.

Go for Organic Minimalism

It’s possible to emphasize a certain aspect of a console through the accessories you use to style it. Here, a minimalist table base is paired with a stone top that has a natural, organic feel. That vibe is strengthened through the use of the two very textural, organically shaped vessels, as well as the two stacked mirrors that are also asymmetrically rounded. Hanging the mirrors at an angle gives the grouping a little more edginess, but in a subtle way.

Size Up

When using a more substantial cabinet as a console, a great idea is to scale up the size of the accessories you place on top. Three rustic vessels sitting at one end of this contemporary console are large and dominate the tabletop. No other accessories are necessary when you go for this option. Adding large, oversized stems of greenery to one of the vessels an effective way to emphasize the dramatic element.

Use Asymmetrical Styling

Everything about the decor around this sleek contemporary console is based on asymmetry. First, the elements on the console are arranged with the accent light off-center to the right, while the large vase is shifted all the way to the left end. The dried branches bend over, visually filling the void between the vase and the books. Even the mirror itself sports an unusual spatial sensibility with the frame and mirror shapes mismatching on the left side. While nothing is centered, the overall design feels natural and pleasing to the eye.

Feature Groupings

Styling a console table is the perfect time to feature a grouping. Whether you have a collection of candlesticks, vases or other vessels, they can be the basis for an updated console tablescape. Here, a streamlined console — with an off-center mirror, of course — is balanced by a small collection of vessels and bottles. Different heights create a layered look and adding at least one very different shape, like the round golden vessel here, adds variety interest and color. This type of display is easy to construct because you can likely shop it from among the items you already have at home.

Make Edgy Arrangements

This type of console styling takes asymmetry to a whole other level by confining all the decor to one end of the table. The accessories are all standard fare but the arrangement is definitely not the usual placement. The large octagonal mirror is fronted by a selection of neutrally toned vases and vessels of different sizes and shapes. The quirky shift to the end of the console is emphasized by the open section in the cabinetry below, as well as the shape of the cabinet doors: It all pulls the eye to the left.

Create Zen-Inducing Decor

It may be a nominally sized piece of furniture in a small space, but this spare console and decor pack in plenty of Zen feeling. Natural wood and stone have an organic vibe that is emphasized by the simple round mirror that reflects the greenery in the space. Atop the table, just a couple of accessories punctuate the serene arrangement: An airy plant in a natural container and an Asian style accent. If a quiet, spa-like feeling is what you’re going for, this how to get it.

Fill the Space

While a spare, artistically styled console is super attractive, not everyone has the square footage to make that happen. For those using a console to pack in as much storage and function as possible, you can still fill the space with everything you need and do it in an attractive way. This is a great example because the console itself is in an eye-catching terra cotta hue. A large mirror with a novelty shape is hung to one end, partially hidden by the top edge of the console. At the right end, decorative floating shelves are hung on the wall and in between, a lantern-style lamp and a variety of accessories are arranged across the top. This incorporates virtually all the decor elements you can have on a console, but it looks great, stylish and uncrowded.

Play With Positioning

When the console has a built-in feature like this asymmetrical shelving at one end, there’s a lot of opportunity to play with positioning when styling the piece. In this picture, the shelving is balanced by confining the decor to the opposite side. A gallery wall is skewed left and balanced by a lantern-style fixture. All the other accessories are confined within the shelving, save for the large round ball and small bust, which are still within the space defined by the wall art. Of course, it’s just one option for decorating an unusual console.

This is a small overview of a few ways that you can style a console to make any space look fresh. When it’s time to look for a console, expand your shopping options beyond just the slim-lined styles that are stereotypical. Then, try out different arrangements and accessories until you find something that looks not just good, but great!