Console tables, also known as sofa tables are generally placed behind the sofa, giving you somewhere to put your drink or book and making a convenient surface to put a well placed reading light. Narrow enough to fit in a passageway they make a great hall table. I use a contemporary console table as sideboard in my dining room, because space constraints forbid a full buffet style sideboard. We have also seen console tables used as a tv stand or media console, in bedrooms where a regular TV stand would be too low.