Multi-purpose Furniture: The Apartment Console

by Sr. Editor on August 18, 2008

If you’re trying to furnish your apartment and find your budget is stretched at both ends, relax! With a little creativity and the right decorating “magic,” you can enjoy a dream home without going broke. The secret to enjoying a good looking, organized environment often lies in discovering how to make some pieces of furniture do double duty. This means seeking out pieces that are beautiful, functional and versatile. The console fits this bill.

What is a Console?

If you don’t know what a console is, it’s time to acquaint yourself. You mother might have called it an entry table or stand. Your grandmother may have called it a “buffet.” Modern furnishing wizards tend to call it the console. Regardless, this particular piece of furniture is a must-have in many homes and it’s a secret weapon for use when it comes to furnishing an apartment on a budget.

a picture of a desk console in a furniture store
Photo By: Katherine H

Console Design and Features…

Consoles can vary in their features, but the standard design is long, skinny and loaded with drawers. Some might have a cubby hole that’s just perfect for a chair. Others might offer only a single shelf and no drawers at all. What they all have in common is the fact they can serve multiple purposes – depending on where you put them and how you want to use them.

Should you find yourself needing to be creative as you seek out home furnishings, the console is ideal for use in most Philadelphia apartments. You’ll find, depending on the design, this piece of apartment furniture is perfect for use as:

A dining room table – Not everyone has the money to purchase a full ensemble for the dining room just starting out. A console can work perfectly for someone flying solo or a small family. You’ll have to adjust chair heights accordingly, but the surface should double perfectly for eating off of. If there are drawers included, all the better. You can store stuff you don’t want visible inside and enjoy dinners in style.

A television stand – Consoles are frequently used as entertainment centers to replace more costly living room furniture pieces. The surface space is perfect for televisions and other electronics and the drawers and shelves function beautifully for holding DVDs and CDs.

A computer desk – Some consoles make ideal office furniture replacements and look great doing so. They don”t take up as much space as a conventional office desk would and they”re especially perfect for accommodating laptops.

Sofa Table/Entry table – Need a place to put your keys when you walk in the door? A console is brilliant for serving this purpose and making a threshold look homey, too. Accessorizing with colorful books, a plant or lamp, and maybe a basket for organization would really complete the look.

a picture of a console being used behind a sofa
Photo By: Schnaars

Decorating Philadelphia apartments on a budget isn’t always easy. If you know how to make furniture serve double duty, you can enjoy a great look and functionality, too.

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