Why are you changing the console table?

The mirror looks to be a bit too small for the table.

If you place a hinged top bench beneath the console table you can store shoes inside the bench and have a place to sit to remove the shoes.

Thanks! photo is from previous owner. i dont have a console table or mirror. I’m not sure if i should get the same dark tone console that the previous owners had.

The property is now yours, put your touch on it with furnishings. Yes, previous owner had good taste but you don’t have to replicate their decor.

We need a bit of something to give us an idea of your style. I would hope you will hang the mirror on the wall, if you copy this arrangement. What I see in the realtor pics is an expanse of hollow empty space. The echo is deafening and I am not even in the room. This is not a feel I would copy.

You asked for help with a console color. You indicated this is a new home for you. Before buying furniture, take some time to think of your whole home. Think about what style home you want based on geographical location, the style of the home exterior, your comfort level, your personality and preferences, and the lifestyle you plan to lead. Your new home seems to be in a neighborhood with transitional style where transitional to contemporary would fit in. There are several articles on Houzz that will help you choose a style. Go to "Stories" and the search box. Type in, "So your style is" and look at all the styles that sound like they might suite you to help you decide. Remember you can have a mix and eventually create your own personal style. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/so-your-style-is-transitional-stsetivw-vs~1331096

With regard to color, I have found no better guide and those associated with it than this article: https://www.fromhousetohome.com/whole-house-color-scheme/

With regard to the actual furniture, I encourage you to think about storage potential for each one. It will help you control the clutter of life. So when you choose a console, consider one with at least a few drawers. Consider a chest of drawers if this is the main everyday entry to your home. If you find you love traditional style consider an antique shop for your console search and look for one with an appealing personality.

With regard to shoe storage, a bedroom closet is the ideal place to store nice shoes. The formal entry to a home where special-occasion guests enter is the worst place; shoe storage does not belong here. Consider storing outdoor boots in the garage and get a boot warmer to help them dry properly to protect them. If you have a mud room that is a nicer option.

A final thought: the entry to your home should tell strangers who you are. Do you want people to know you are serious, fun, worldly, a book lover, an art lover. Think about your entry and everything visible from the entry as an introduction to you, with all your complexities.

Thanks everyone! We don’t have a mudroom, we do have a garage down half a flight but we basically use the front door so I need a shoe cabinet for everyday shoes. Maybe I will put the shoe cabinet somewhere else though. we only have a small coat closet a little past the foyer.

What I would like help with is console color suggestions. i would like to get a lighter color like a taupe or a greige and maybe a new light fixture. I just don’t know what to pick but maybe I will hire a decorator.

@smiles81 I found it very helpful to hire an interior designer after a search and portfolio reviews. I found it very helpful to use Houzz too and read a lot of articles in Google searches. I also learned a lot from watching on YouTube, "BBC Design Rules", a six part series that was very entertaining and I have watched several times over. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE89405FF79231F98&si=CLMePJgzlMXplfNq

Thanks for greater explanation regarding your garage and regular use of the front door. If you must have shoes at the front door, may I suggest a pair of shoe cabinets for symmetry, flanking the front door. Would you consider a sage green to add some life to your space: https://www.daals.com/products/oakham-2-tier-shoe-cabinet-with-top-drawer-desert-sage

And in addition, add a console where the previous owner had one. What would you like to store in your console? Keys, purse, gloves, scarves? Would a small dresser be the best fit? https://www.hernest.com/products/skugga-63-inch-oak-6-drawer-dresser-p-9493.html

For a mirror, this is classic: https://www.lampsplus.com/p/dola-champagne-bead-24-inch-x-36-inch-rectangular-wall-mirror__816t0/#productImageZoomOverlay

So, now that you have some suggestions, what is your reaction? That may help us better understand your tastes and preferences.

@smiles81 please tell us what you don't like about your current light fixture. Is it damaged, the wrong color for you, or not smiley enough? It appears suited to the space, because it repeats the shape in the door surround windows.

Thank you so much Kl23. Yes, I need a shoe cabinet like the one you linked and buying one in a color is so smart so I dont have to worry about matching a console. I prefer a blue as opposed to green probably. The light fixture is OK but it is chrome so if I bring in some gold or brass it may look funny, but we will probably keep it for now. I probably don’t want a full dresser there, just a console table and mirror that we will hang up! I do have a very traditional looking formal living room and dining room which I am hoping to replace in the next few years, and I don’t love it so I do want more contemporary pieces in the hall. I will watch those videos. Thank you for the links!!

A recessed entrance area and shoe storage are mandatory in Japanese homes where dedicated footwear is used indoors. Outdoor shoes never enter the main space. Shoe storage is often in shelving behind doors recessed in the wall. Is there 8-12 inches in the adjacent rooms for built-ins? I'd begin plans with furniture purchases going forward to replace the Brazilian Cherry flooring with pale European Oak engineered wide plank.