What to place on top of the hall table – depends on your lifestyle, occupants of the home, your home’s existing style and your décor preferences.

If you have dogs that love to greet your guests with jumping and paws up on their legs, then a covered candy dish with dog biscuits to occupy them might be one important item for your hall table.  If you don’t have dogs that need distractions then a covered dish of individually wrapped mints is a terrific way to give guests the opportunity to freshen their breath either on the way in or on the way out.

If you’re a family photo collector, a framed picture or pictures set diagonally on the hall table facing toward the door are very welcoming and give guests a smile as then enter the home.

A vase of fresh flowers or a plant of greenery will greet guests with a fragrant, fresh and sunny hello.

A decorative air freshening candle or “faux” candle is another fragrant and welcoming item that can be lit or turned on a few minutes before guests arrive. For long hall tables, a candle stick or tall candle holder on each is a fabulous way to frame the center object (such as a large flower arrangement or statue) and create a focal point.
Above the hall table choose a mirror or an eye catching piece of artwork and hang it at eye level so that it remains anchored by the table.

If your hall table has drawers or cabinet doors, other items to keep by the front entrance include a few inexpensive umbrellas in case it’s raining when guests are leaving – they can return it at a later date or take it as a gift. Clean rubber flip-flops so they can remove their shoes and not ruin them by running to the car in a downpour. If you have kids, a plastic bucket behind a hall table cabinet door is a great place to have them place their shoes to prevent them from tracking dirt through  the house. Other non-guest related items that one might keep in their hall table are keys, a handbag, a gym bag, briefcase or kid’s backpack.

Having convenient items available for your guests and family members will make things run smoother and will make your guests feel important and welcomed in your home. A well decorated (and if possible – well stocked) hall table can help you to have all the last minute items available for quick and easy access.

If your home’s front entrance is currently empty and drab, consider taking a look at hallway tables that will add life, style and coziness to the space. By furnishing the entryway and adding a few decorative touches such as wall art, a mirror, fresh flowers and/or a favorite sculpture or family photo, you’ll create an interesting and inviting area for your arriving guests.

Another terrific benefit of hallway tables is their ability to add convenience and organization to your life. By choosing a table that features storage capabilities, you’ll have quick and easy access to many items upon walking in or out of your home. Hallway tables can hold such necessities as keys, umbrellas, rain boots, kids’ backpacks, briefcases, handbags, outdoor sports equipment, dog leashes and many more.
If you’re seeking additional storage space, then look for hallway tables with drawers or shelves or cabinet style doors that can conceal and organize your belongings so that leaving for work and school in the morning is easier and more orderly. Also, coming home with a handful of belongings such as keys and a purse and backpack will be much simpler if there’s a place to store everything as soon as you step in the house.

Some hallway tables also have mirrors attached while others have a hutch style attachment that might have hooks for hanging raincoats or other items. Keep in mind, when considering these style hallway tables, that they tend to create a more cluttered feeling rather than a welcoming one. It’s best to keep things like sweaters and other outerwear in closets or on hooks behind a garage or bedroom door.

Keeping the front entrance of your home clean, clutter free and tastefully decorated is key to giving your guests a sense of warmth and welcome upon entering your home. For an added touch of tasteful décor and place a perfectly sized area rug on the floor and set a covered candy dish or pretty bowl of colorful individually wrapped mints on top of your hall table to complete your guest’s invitation to step inside and make themselves at home.

Hall tables are available in countless styles. There are also many different materials used in designing and fabricating them. When shopping for a hall table for the home, it’s important to remember that it truly is one of the first impressions guests will have on the home and it’s décor. With that said, since there are literally limitless options in hall table design, finding the perfect one that compliments the home shouldn’t be a difficult task. You can find a table to go with any type of furniture, including things like black leather chairs.

Adding a hall table to a foyer or front entrance also gives homeowners the ability to display favorite accessories such as vases, bowls, candles and even family photos. Also, adding a mirror above the hall table gives a smaller foyer a larger look by reflecting the light and space.

Some hall tables feature drawers for handy access to essential items like keys or  a compact umbrella. Others have ornate features such as metal, woodcarving and wood inlays. And still others include materials such as glass, granite, marble, tile, acrylic, and various woods to name a few. There are solid hall tables that feature cabinetry or large drawers as well as a smooth top area. The drawers are deep and are terrific for storing shoes upon walking in the front door which helps to protect carpets and keep floors cleaner.

Many furniture designers and manufacturers also offer custom made hall tables for homeowners who can’t seem to find exactly what they’re looking for in the standard models. Having a custom hall table created can be quite expensive however, can also be a stunning work of art.

When shopping for your hall table, start your search online. Online retailers often have deep discounts on discontinued styles as well as last season’s designs. Also, be sure to inquire about free or discounted shipping rates as well.

Removing shoes, umbrellas and other article from the foyer is the first step in creating an inviting space. Freshening up the wall paint is a low cost (usually only $25 on average for a gallon) approach to bringing a new and refreshing feeling upon entering the home. If the floor is unsightly refinish wood floors or replace unsightly carpet with tile. If redoing the floor is out of the question, a new decorative throw carpet over damaged wood, or even linoleum in place of filthy old carpeting are budget friendly ways to get a crisper, cleaner look. Adding a fabulous console hall table is the next step.

A hall console table will bring a convenient place to temporarily set things down upon entering the home as well as giving the space a more finished, more complete look. It may even contain drawers in which to leave keys or an umbrella. Of course the console hall table that’s right for the space will greatly depend on the existing décor of both the inside and the exterior of the home. A cohesive look is always desired and that’s why is should coordinate with the rest of the home in both material and finish as well as style.  A country style home would do best with an oak console hall table while a more contemporary home might look best with a linear, more sleekly designed table.

Once the furnishing is in place, a few decorative items will add the finishing touches. Choose a large ornate mirror or a more modern style to hang above the hall table. The mirror will function in two ways; one is to make the space look larger and the other is to give homeowners a place to get a last quick look at themselves before opening up the front door! A beautiful vase of fresh flowers is a lovely accent for a console hall table because it brings the outside in and gives off a fresh and sweet aroma for guests arrival.  Add a small covered candy dish with individually wrapped mints or a few candles or both and the entryway will done. Visitors will be greeted with a neat, clean, refreshed front entrance and will feel welcome as they anticipate what the rest of the home will bring to the senses.

An true antique hall table is at least 100-years-old. Of course, at 50, 60 or 70-years-old, the value of the piece may still be as high as a much older one because it’s the demand and popularity amongst collectors that ultimately sets its worth. No matter the market value of an antique, one thing is true, it has stood the test of time and with proper care, will continue to do so for generations to come.

An antique hall table will usually be quite ornate in design. It may feature intricate painting, detailed hand carvings, stunning wood inlays or brass carved figurines and other accents. The tables themselves may be half round in shape so as to lay flat against the entry way wall or they may be rectangular in shape. Some will have marble tops and still some will feature matching ornate mirrors that may even be attached to the antique hall table.

Most antique hall tables are hand crafted from solid wood such as mahogany, walnut or oak and are created with elaborate hand carved designs. An antique hall table is surely going to be a large monetary investment in comparison to the mass produced furnishings of today. Depending on the condition, quality, ornamentation, manufacturer and popularity of the period, one can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $3,000 and up. While the investment may seem high, one thing to keep in mind is that this table will become a treasured family heirloom to be passed down from parents to children to grandchildren and so on.
When shopping for an antique hall table, the best place to start is online. Online shopping makes it easy to find the widest selection of antiques being sold by both retailers and individuals. When buying, be sure the table comes with a certificate of authenticity or have the seller write a complete description of the table including it’s age and condition.  Also, to be on the safe side, ask the seller to include their name or business’s name, address and phone number.

Oak hall tables are either created from solid oak or from an oak veneer. Veneer is a thin sheet of oak that is usually glued to a less expensive wood such as pine or even particle board. An oak hall table made from veneer is considerably less expensive that one created from solid oak.  Oak is a hardwood and is moderately priced in comparison to higher priced woods such as mahogany. 

Oak hall tables can be stained in any color to fit in with the home’s existing décor. Some may have embellishments such as drawers, doors, glass tops or glass panes. Some may even feature attached mirrors or tile or granite tops. The more modern oak hall table will have minimal embellishments and feature sleek contemporary clean lines. Some modern oak hall tables will include touches of metal or glass but again, these details are quite minimal and more flowing than their antique or country counterparts.

One very popular style that often incorporates quarter sawn oak is the mission style. Quarter sawn oak is oak that is cut lengthwise which when varnished, lends itself to a very rich pattern in the wood. The oak hall table in a mission style will feature lattice or post work. It will lack embellishments and if the piece features doors or drawers, they’ll normally be made of wrought iron.

While the oak hall table can take on many different finishes and styles, one constant is it’s quality. Oak is an excellent wood that is both durable and long lasting. When properly cared for, an oak hall table can last through generations.  The oak hall table should be dusted regularly and should be kept free of any moisture or extreme temperatures or extreme changes in temperature.

To find an oak hall table to fit your space, be sure to start your search online. Look for quality and if it’s solid oak that you seek, check with the retailer if you are unsure whether or not the piece features veneer or solid oak. Online retailers often offer very low or even free shipping on furniture items which makes the experience of shopping from home that much better!