When a sofa is floated in a room, the long blocky back can be a big visual roadblock. Many people place a console or “sofa table” of the same height behind the sofa to mitigate this effect and often place a lamp, picture frames, a vase or other decorative items on it. More and more, however, we’re noticing people using these tables for more than just display and, instead, for functions like eating or doing a bit of paperwork. The idea is a smart one for small homes, but we’re seeing it in homes of all sizes. Here are some examples of this trend: