Create a Luxurious Entrance with a Counter Height Waterfall Console Table
A beautifully designed entryway makes a powerful first impression on guests as they step into your home. The furniture you choose for this space helps set the tone for the rest of the interior. A console table against the wall or behind a sofa offers both style and function. For a truly eye-catching statement, consider a counter height waterfall console table. This elegant table combines the flowing beauty of a waterfall edge with the convenience of a taller counter height. Placed in your foyer or hallway, it creates a luxurious look while providing practical storage and display space. Read on to learn all about maximizing your entrance with this versatile table design.
Waterfall Furniture Designs Create a Seamless, Contemporary Look
The term "waterfall" refers to the seamless way the edge of the table or furniture piece transitions smoothly into the surface. This creates a visual effect of the surface appearing to flow out from the base, like a waterfall cascading over the edge. The look is contemporary, sophisticated, and lighter in appearance than furniture with boxy construction. While the earliest waterfall pieces emerged in the 1930s, the style saw a revival in the 2000s and remains popular in modern interiors. The seamless curvature lends elegance that flows beautifully with any room's architecture and design.
Waterfall details can accentuate any type of furnishing. Most commonly seen on tables like dining sets, consoles, desks, and nightstands, the technique also adds flair to dressers, headboards, and vanities. The unbroken line from edge to surface helps reduce visual weight and create the illusion of floating. This light and airy appearance makes the style a great match for small spaces. The smooth, rounded edges also eliminate sharp corners for a safer furniture profile if you have small children or elderly family members in your home.
Console Tables Enhance Entryways with Style and Function
Console tables are narrow pieces designed for placement against a wall. Their slim, elongated shape makes them ideal for fitting in entryways, hallways, and other tight spaces. While they come in a range of heights, standard console table height falls around 30-34 inches - lower than kitchen countertops but taller than most coffee tables. Their raised stature and generous surface area make console tables highly functional for displaying decorative accents or storing items in your home's entrance.
Position a console table behind a sofa or against a wall along the entryway to create a stylish first impression. The decor you place on top helps reinforce the overall aesthetic you want guests to encounter. A sleek glass vase with floral blooms or a tray containing your keys and sunglasses helps convey refined style. For more rustic or industrial interiors, display weathered books, a lantern, or a basket of blankets. Console tables also provide a handy spot to toss your purse, bags, or other items upon entering the house.
| Material | Description |
|---|---|
| Wood | Classic looks, durable, can be stained to fit any decor. Examples are oak, walnut, maple. |
| Metal | Sleek, modern aesthetic. Often stainless steel, copper, or brass. A glass top adds shine. |
| Reclaimed Wood | Rustic, varied tones and textures. Associated with industrial and farmhouse styles. |
| Marble | Elegant stone with white or colored veining. Usually smaller pieces with metal framing. |
With a range of materials like wood, metal, and stone, and the choice of open or closed shelving, you can find a console design aligned with your interior decor. The table brings purpose and personality to the entryway zone.
Optimal Counter Height Improves Comfort and Accessibility
While traditional console tables hover around 30-34 inches tall, a counter height console table measures 36 inches or more. This increased stature offers great benefits when using the table while standing. A surface height in the 34 to 38 inch range minimizes the need to bend down when retrieving items from the table. This also provides ergonomic advantages for tasks like preparing food or working on a laptop at the table.
The raised table elevation also makes sliding items onto the surface simpler than lifting them up to a low coffee table height. Picture entering your home with arms loaded down with a bag of groceries, your work satchel and laptop bag, and an armful of mail. A counter height console table allows you to smoothly deposit everything onto its surface in one simple motion. No more precariously kneeling or crouching down to set things on a low entryway table.
Kitchen and Dining Uses
In addition to entryways, counter height waterfall consoles shine in kitchens and dining rooms. While a bit lower than standard 36-inch kitchen counters, the table provides extra prep and serving space. The smooth waterfall edge makes an excellent profile for rolling out pastry dough or mixing ingredients. In dining areas, the table is the ideal height for casual meals enjoyed while sitting on bar stools. Set your plates and drinks on the table instead of reaching down to low coffee table height.
Home Office Helper
A counter height waterfall console also aids productivity when used as a home office table. The taller height makes it more comfortable to use laptops and write. The generous surface accommodates spreading out project plans and paperwork. Built-in shelves or drawers allow you to store office supplies within arm's reach. Position behind a sofa to create a convenient workstation when you need a change of scenery from your main desk.
Combine Waterfall Edge with Counter Height for an Elegant Console
Marrying the graceful look of a waterfall table edge with the practical counter height dimension creates a console table that beautifully fits both form and function. Visually, the waterfall detail adds striking elegance. The seamless curve provides a floating effect that makes the tall legs appear slimmer and the table lighter than blockier forms. The smooth profile provides a safer interaction surface, especially important for accident-prone zones like busy entryways.
In terms of usage, the counter height worspace better accommodates a stand-up experience. The increased height complements the vertical space of a foyer or hallway. The straight edge gives ample open surface for displaying decorative accents and temporary storage when arriving home. For all these reasons, a counter height waterfall console table makes a magnificent addition to entryway, kitchen, dining room, or home office.
Material and Finish Options for Customization
Like all waterfall furniture, counter height waterfall consoles come in a diverse range of materials to match your preferred interior design style. For many homeowners, a solid hardwood table conveys a timeless, heirloom-quality look. Options like walnut, oak, and maple not only bring beauty, but stand up well to everyday use in high-traffic spaces like entrances. Their rich grain patterns and natural warmth lend well to staining that highlights these attributes. Going for a more modern or industrial vibe? Metals like stainless steel, bronze, and tempered glass offer cooler sleekness.
Finish selections also help customize the table to your decor. Dark walnut stain or a charcoal gray paint shade provide sophisticated neutrals. Opt for a cerused or whitewashed look for lighter wood hues. Distressed paint jobs with rub-through effects and visible wood grain evoke rustic or vintage styles. For contemporary spaces, go bold with a lacquered turquoise or metallic champagne finish. The choices for personalization are nearly endless.
DIY Option
If sourcing a ready-made counter height waterfall console overstretches your budget, consider a DIY version. Numerous bloggers and YouTube creators offer step-by-step tutorials for constructing your own table. While this requires decent carpentry skills, the luxurious waterfall look can be achieved with the right techniques and planning. DIY also allows fully custom sizing and finish options. Be sure to use quality dense wood that will support weight and stand the test of time.
Design Considerations for Your Entryway
When planning the layout of your entrance, keep scale and proportions in mind. Measure the wall space available and doorway access when choosing the table's dimensions. A table that overpowers the area visually or impedes movement through the space defeats the purpose. Leave ample room for passing around and pulling out chairs. Also consider sightlines if placing a mirror above the console. You want guests to take in the welcoming tableau you've designed. This gives a great first impression!
Your waterfall console table, whether store-bought or DIY, should complement existing furnishings and architecture. The style, finish, and decor should feel cohesive and reinforce your overall aesthetic. For traditional interiors, keep lines classic with turned legs. Modern and contemporary spaces can handle more daring cantilevered silhouettes. Use finish and accessories to polish off the look. A vintage glass vase filled with flowers or a ceramic bowl holding your keys help personalize the function.
Style Tips
- Add a mirror above to visually expand a narrow hallway
- Incorporate concealed storage with woven baskets or a bench with lift-up seat
- Position a slim table behind a sofa to zone spaces in open floor plans
- Anchor with a substantial area rug underneath for spatial definition
Pair with Comfortable Seating for Guests or Accessories
Consider accompaniments that enhance the waterfall console table's purpose in your entry. Seating gives guests a refined spot to pause when they arrive while you grab coats or locate your keys. Set out a padded bench or elegant dining chairs in a harmonious style. This seating grouping helps differentiate the entryway from adjoining spaces. For storage needs, add baskets or trays to neatly corral items like mail, sunglasses, gloves or handbags.
Charging devices is a common need near home entrances after being out and about. Incorporate discrete cords for plugging in phones that are incorporated into the table design. Or, install a USB charging station on the wall above. The right additions transform a purely decorative table into a highly functional hallway command station.
Integrated Features
- Built-in charging ports and outlets
- Cubbies, shelves, or drawers for storing small items
- Cabinet or bench seating with interior storage space
Get the Luxury Look Without the High Price Tag
Like most furniture made from premium materials, custom waterfall console tables come with a matching price tag. High-end versions crafted from exotic hardwoods or incorporating ornate details can cost upwards of $10,000. While undoubtedly beautiful statement pieces, this stretches beyond many homeowners' budgets.
Fortunately, ready-made waterfall console tables provide an attainable option to achieiving this look for less. Mass retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart sell their own versions ranging from $200 to $1500 for a counter height sized table. These affordable waterfall consoles still convey elegance and visual interest while costing a fraction of custom options. Comparison shop to find the best balance for your budget between quality construction and attractive design.
As a focal point or accent in entrance halls, foyers, or living spaces, a counter height waterfall console table offers graceful style and handy functionality. The seamless waterfall edge provides distinctive visual flair that effortlessly pairs with any design aesthetic. The raised counter height enhances comfort and accessibility when standing to place items on the table. Durable hardwood construction ensures lasting use when situated in high-traffic areas like home entryways.
Topped with decorative accents and accessorized with storage solutions, a counter height waterfall console welcomes guests to your home in undeniable luxury. Give your entrance an instant refined makeover with this on-trend statement piece.