Can a console table be used as a desk? Yes, absolutely. In fact, a desk is a table, which means that a console table is a desk. This article will detail how to use a console table as a desk. Let’s get into it.
What differentiates the two is usually height and support.
Console tables are usually shallower and supported by brackets or corbels, whereas tables are supported by four singular legs or two legs that run from corner to corner of the desk. They may or may not include drawers for storage while also not having enough surface space to hold many large items.
Here’s a list of questions to help you determine if a console table can be used as a desk:
- Does it provide me with enough space to work?
- If you want to set up a desktop, is it sturdy enough to hold its weight?
- Is it tall enough for an office chair or gaming chair to slide in?
- Can I make adjustments or alterations to it?
Sometimes, you’ll find that everything checks out and you can use the console table as a desk without any adjustments or alterations.
Other times, you may need to put on your gloves and break out the hammer and nails. But, before you do that, there are easier and cheaper ways to customize a console table.
For instance, if you need additional storage, consider installing trays or storage buckets on either side of the console table to store stationery and equipment.
If that doesn’t work, you could mount a storage holder, planner, and/or whiteboard on a wall beside or behind the console table.
Doing so can free up all the space on the table to be used for typing, notemaking, sewing, painting, or working.
Aesthetics matter. So, it is important that the console table match the aesthetic of the room it will be in. More than anything, the color of the wood should always compliment or accentuate the walls and tiles.
For ergonomic reasons, the console table should be high enough that the edges don’t dig into your arms when you sit on a chair at the desk. Furthermore, your arms should not be overly elevated or slanted when working.
Here are some measurements to abide by before using a console table as a desk:
- Under-desk clearance depth should be 23.6” (60 cm) for your feet and 17.3” (44 cm) for your knees.
- Work space depth should be between a minimum of 13.3” (34 cm) and 14.5” (37 cm).
- The average height from the floor should ideally be between 29” (73 cm) and 30” (76 cm).
If you were to follow all of these suggestions, you should be able to choose a console table that can easily be used as a desk.
FAQ
Where is the best place to put a console table?
In many cases, a console table looks phenomenal in a living room or lounge. It can be placed against a wall, behind a couch, or under a window. I think it’s a wonderful piece of furniture that can aesthetically improve any room, especially if you were to pair it with vases of flowers, ornaments, and indoor plants. This is why I think a console table could be put in a bedroom or in a passageway.
Should my desk face the window or the wall?
If you are someone who feels energized and calm by the presence of nature or the outdoors, your desk should face the window. You’ll feel connected to the world while working for hours on end. If you are someone who is easily distracted, I’d recommend facing your desk towards the wall to minimize any stimuli that could pull your focus.
What is the standard size of a console table?
According to Brianna from bloomintheblack, the standard size of a console table is 24-48 inches long, 26-36 inches tall, and 12-15 inches deep. The tables that veer more toward the larger size of the scale tend to be the most appropriate for a desk.
Final Thoughts
If you have any doubts about using a console table as a desk, know this: resourcefulness is an admirable trait.
New trends often stem from the reimagination of what a particular item could represent or how it could be portrayed within a home.
As long as a console table can meet all your requirements for a functional desk, you can use it as one.
If it doesn’t, explore why, and then check if you can customize it affordably before investing more money in a new desk.
Often times, you’ll find certain stands and fittings that can transform an ordinary and simple console table into a fully functioning work desk.
With that being said, I hope you enjoyed this article on how to use a console table as a desk. Before you leave, be sure to check out some of our other useful articles that are linked below.
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