No one's on the fence when it comes to TV dining: You're either an enthusiastic proponent or horrified at the very idea.

Our family sits unapologetically in the former camp. We've tried using the excuse that my husband and I work in media and that we're taking one for the team, but really we're just avid TV viewers.

Good food and good television simply go together.

Far from being a replacement for a social meal, TV dining can be a great shared experience. If you aren't in the convivial spirit, a quiet meal can be savored solo in one's comfiest chair, with digital entertainment at hand.

Remember those food trays from summer camp? Designers are having fun with the TV dining trend by reworking that tray.

David Weeks has used a bright red melamine to reintroduce the actual dinner tray used by Sing Sing prisoners. Brooklyn artist Lorena Barrezueta turns fine porcelain into the Munch Deluxe tray, part of her Gourmet Collection, in tomato or turquoise.

The TV tray table of the 1960s has evolved into something sturdier and more stylish. There are smart ebony or cherry-toned wood tables at most big-box retailers, usually sold in sets of four with a stand.

Simplytraytables.com has some interesting painted ones, including a set of woodland birds that give off a nice cottage-y vibe.

For those who prefer a tray that can be carried from kitchen to TV room, there are several colorful versions.

West Elm offers a compact wood tray that neatly holds a plate and glass, and would do double duty as a serving piece.

Where do you put the tray? Casual dining calls for sturdy, easily cleaned surfaces.

Large coffee tables offer ample space for a group nosh.

Modernists on a budget will love Innovation's simple yet sophisticated Irock Tables in an array of vivid hues.

This season, trunks have returned to the living room - another example of the trend toward multifunctional furniture. Store cozy throws and extra floor pillows inside the large ones. Use smaller styles for seasonal accessories or board games, when space is at a premium.

Pottery Barn's Brittanic trunk is a stunner, combining utility and elegance.

There are handsome upholstered benches, like Pottery Barn's with a kilim fabric, that do double duty as table and stool.

Finally, consider a simple wooden bench, which takes up a small footprint in a space-challenged room. It's easy to relocate to a hallway or the foot of a bed when the mood strikes.