They come in different names, materials, and colors but these tables have one thing in common - they’re very convenient. Many people multi-task in their living room, from working on a laptop to eating to paying bills. Unfortunately, one can’t always bring a desk or a dining table into the living room. Enter the portable table.

Whether it’s known as the portable table or by its other names, the C-table, the sofa end table, or tray table, is a very handy piece of furniture. It’s small and easily movable to wherever you need it.

The C-table name comes from their shape - the letter “C”. The C-shape allows the user to bring the table up close to any seating, whether a sofa or a bed, so that its feet disappear under it. You can then easily swing your legs underneath the tabletop. The Zest C table from CB2 and the Parsons C table from Room and Board are perfect examples.

Zest C table from CB2

Parsons C table from Room & Board

Also called a sofa end table, these tables don’t necessarily have a C shape but they also can be moved up close to a sofa. Examples include this Modesto table and Radulf table.

Modesto table

Radulf table

The tray table has a tray for its top and can easily fold down flat or separated from its legs to store away easily. The brass tray table from Horchow sits on top of folding legs. The removable tray top can be moved easily from the kitchen to the living area to serve food and beverages.

Brass tray table from Horchow