The narrow table placed near a home’s main entrance serves as a functional drop zone and a decorative display surface. This furniture is designed to sit flush against a wall, providing a surface for keys, mail, and decorative items without obstructing traffic flow. This piece is known by several names, which are often used interchangeably by retailers and designers. The name used frequently depends on the table’s specific location or its design characteristics.
The Primary Name: Console Table
The most common and technically accurate term for this piece of furniture is the console table. The name has a historical origin dating back to 17th-century France, where the original “console” was a bracket used to attach the table to the wall, making it a semi-permanent fixture. These early tables were often highly ornamental, featuring intricate details and only two legs, with the wall providing the necessary support.
The modern console table is a freestanding piece, typically supported by four legs, but it retains the defining characteristic of a narrow depth. This slim profile allows it to be placed against a wall in tight spaces like hallways and entryways. Console tables are generally taller than other accent tables, often standing around 33 inches high, which makes them suitable for display and quick access to items.
Names Based on Location and Function
Many alternative names for the entryway table are descriptive, based on where the furniture is placed within the home. When the table is situated in a long, narrow passage, it is frequently referred to as a hall table. Similarly, the term foyer table is used when the piece is specifically located in the main entrance area of the home. Both “hall table” and “foyer table” are essentially console tables, but the name is used to specify the room’s function.
The piece also falls under the broader category of an accent table, which is a general term for smaller furniture used to accent a space. Accent tables are typically smaller and shorter, but the console table is a specialized, taller, and narrower type designed for wall placement.
Specific Design and Shape Variations
Certain names refer to a specific shape or a secondary placement, rather than the general function of the piece. The demilune table is a type of console table distinguished by its half-moon or semi-circular tabletop. The French term demi-lune literally means “half-moon,” and this shape allows the table to sit perfectly flush against a wall with a graceful, rounded front.
The sofa table is another term often used synonymously with the entryway table due to its similar narrow design. While a sofa table is technically designed to sit behind a sofa, its dimensions make it highly adaptable for use in an entryway. Sofa tables are traditionally slightly shorter than console tables to align with the height of a couch back, but the terms are frequently interchanged by retailers.