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How A New Task Lamp Inspired A Console Table Style Refresh

I don’t tell many tales on the blog, but I’m pretty excited about sharing this one. That’s because what started off as simply adding a new piece of decor – a gorgeous task lamp – to our Great Room turned into a decorating project extravaganza! And what home style enthusiast could refuse the prospect of restyling a space? So, how did I get there? Well, here’s the story of how a new task lamp inspired an entire console table style refresh 🙂

Tabletop styling tutorial for the modern, minimalist home. Tips for styling a console table, entryway table, and buffet.

~The following is a sponsored post and contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. All opinions are entirely my own. Please see my full disclosure policy here.~

My New CO-Z Gold Desk Lamp

Console table styling with MCM gold desk lamp with marble base and vintage accessories.

When I first styled our console table a few years back, I always regarded it as a temporary measure – including the decor above it (this lovely DIY ombre yarn garland, for example, that’s hung on the wall these past few years).  I always intended on doing something fresh to match the mid-century modern (MCM) feel of the table itself, but just hadn’t gotten that spark of inspiration I needed. So when I was contacted by Banyon Imports recently – an Amazon 500 top seller – about teaming up with them to showcase their CO-Z Gold Desk Lamp, it was quite honestly a no-brainer for this MCM fan!

The lamp has a delicate, vintage design with a beautiful brass finish, which makes it work as both a trendy and classic piece.

Console table style refresh using MCM accessories | CO-Z Gold Desk Lamp with marble base | Hand-carved wooden bowl.

That’s a win-win, in my opinion, especially if your loving the brass and copper trends in interiors these days, a trend that’s holding strong.

The lamp’s natural white marble base adds to its charm and appeal, too, making each and every lamp a truly unique piece.

Gold desk lamp with natural, white marble base.

When it comes to functionality, I personally like how easy the metal shade adjusts to whatever angle I want, providing a concentrated light in whatever direction it is pointed in.

Gold task lamp with adjustable metal shade. The perfect addition to MCM furnishings and the modern home.

MCM style CO-Z marble desk lamp with copper finish and adjustable metal shade.

This little beauty is just over 18 inches tall and comes with a bulb, making it a great reading lamp that I could use in a living room, bedroom, a bedside table or in my office.

The designers also had modern home owners in mind when they created this clear power cord, making it easy to hide away.

Reading lamp with clear power cord with easy on/off switch.

All in all, I knew that this MCM style lamp would be the perfect starting point for my console table style refresh.

Console Table Style Refresh + My Tips For Styling Long & Narrow Tabletops

Once my new task lamp arrived, I began sourcing out my accessories and re-imagining my console table style options.

I’ve shared a couple of posts on tabletop styling before, including:

3 Steps To Easy-Breezy Coffee Table Styling

How To Style A Buffet Table in 3 Easy Steps

In the case of my MCM console table, however, it’s a bit narrower than my other tabletops and required a bit of a different approach.

Styling tips for a long and narrow console table, entryway table, credenza or buffet.

If you have something similar, you’ve probably already experienced that feeling – as I have – of wondering how to arrange your accessories without overcrowding the table? Or making it too sparse, even if you’re a minimalist (like me)?

Don’t panic!

One of the easiest ways to style a long and narrow console table with accessories you love is by using what I call “The Mountain Method.”

Console table styling tips using visual triangles and the "Mountain Method."

Wait. What?

The Mountain Method goes something like this: arrange your accessories in a zig-zag formation across the entire length of the table with the tallest items flanking either side.

The Mountain Method – Why this look works:

1.  The zig-zag formation mimics nature by keeping the eye moving across, giving it a rugged, landscape effect. Anything that reminds us of the outdoors, of natural shapes and features will often resonate with us.

2.  There is a kind of symmetry that’s created with this look, but without feeling too stiff or formal.

3.  The design also follows the “Rule of 3” which is a basic design principle.

For those unfamiliar with the Rule of 3, it goes something like this:  Arranging accessories in odd numbers – such as 3 – is more appealing than grouping them in even numbers. That’s because it is unexpected, visually interesting, and more memorable.  For this reason, it is a basic design principle that many designers use.

In the case of my console table, I used Visual Triangles (or The Mountain Method) across the length of the table to achieve the look.

Using visual triangles to style and decorate a long and narrow console table.

With a combination of new and old accessories – all fairly neutral decor picks, too – I was able to style this console table using the Mountain Method with ease.

Here’s a closer look at all those MCM-inspired accessories.

Tabletop styling tutorial with modern and vintage accessories.

Tabletop styling tutorial for the modern, minimalist home. Tips for styling a console table, entryway table, and buffet.

Decorating a Scandi console table using modern, minimal and vintage home decor.

Modern, minimal candelabra candle holder.

Vintage, wooden hands planter.

Hand carved wooden hands planter.

Carved white and wood bowl tabletop accessory.

Console table styling with MCM gold desk lamp with marble base and vintage accessories.

Tabletop styling tutorial for the modern, minimalist home. Tips for styling a console table, entryway table, and buffet.

Of course, all this style inspiration was made possible with the introduction of a single task lamp! Who knew? I am absolutely in love with it. It’s both functional and beautiful and balances a modern and vintage aesthetic that works well within my space. And once I had it in hand, it became the foundation for all the rest of my console table style refresh 🙂

 

Shop This Post:

CO-Z Gold Desk Lamp With Marble Base / Small Candle (similar) / Gold Candelabra (similar in black and in gold OR set of 3 in gold) /  Prints by “Opposite Wall” / IKEA Ribba Frames (Canadian site)

A how-to guide on how to style a long and narrow console table, entryway table, credenza, buffet or sofa table. Tips and tricks to create a modern, minimal Pinterest-worthy look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

8 Comments

  • Reply
    Michelle Leslie
    August 20, 2018 at 9:43 am

    Ooooooo Jelica that little table lamp is gorgeous. No wonder it was such an inspiration. Love it’s lines. So elegant and sleek.

  • Reply
    Tara
    August 20, 2018 at 4:03 pm

    All of these pieces are so pretty and I love how you arranged them. I especially think I need that candelabra before the holidays…

    • Reply
      Jelica
      August 22, 2018 at 7:34 pm

      Thanks so much, Tara. I had a lot of fun putting this altogether and the candelabra has been one of my favourite go-to pieces whenever I’m styling (or, in this case, restyling) around the house. Thanks for stopping by 🙂

  • Reply
    Jelica
    August 20, 2018 at 6:24 pm

    It’s definitely a real beauty. And although it’s a great reading lamp, it’s just too gorgeous to hide away in our bedroom reading nook 🙂

  • Reply
    Katrin
    September 8, 2018 at 5:56 am

    This is such a gorgeous space Jelica, the console table itself is so so pretty and the gallery wall above plus the unique decor pieces you’ve added to it just compliment each other so well! Love them all, especially the planter!

    • Reply
      Jelica
      September 8, 2018 at 6:46 pm

      Thank you, Katrin! I am a fan of that planter myself. I always love adding a bit of quirkiness into a space and that planter hits it out of the ballpark 🙂

  • Reply
    Ashley
    June 27, 2019 at 11:10 pm

    Hi! Beautiful arrangement! Would you mind sharing the source for the console table – its gorgeous.

    • Reply
      Jelica
      July 14, 2019 at 3:26 pm

      Hi Ashley,
      I purchased the console a few years ago at a store called “Structube” (https://www.structube.com/en/). I don’t see it listed on their website anymore, but you can always show them this picture and they might be able to tell you who the manufacturer is. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help 🙁 Good luck!

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