I don't think you have adequate space between the sofa and the door for a garden stool, which are typically a bit hefty in shape. I wondered if a very small half-round table would work there, but I think even low profile isn't going to work well. It would help to see the rest of your space, because I'm not quite understanding why the sofa can't be moved down on that window wall a bit. Anything you put between the sofa and the door is going to create visual "blockage", if not actually a tripping hazard. If your only option is to leave the sofa where it is, I would keep breaking out the folding table and putting it away when not in use. I feel your pain in that regard -- did that for many years in the den of our previous home.

I personally would replace the table you have now with a more suitable end table. Seems the garden stool would be in the way of the entrance, and look awkward/out of place.

The stool would actually sit in front of the sofa arm instead of between the sofa and the door, the picture below shows the placement I'm thinking about, using the folding table as an example. That is the only end of the sofa I sit on because of the placement of the tv, there is only about 3 feet of space between the sofa and the tv stand, so if we moved the sofa down, we would break our necks when looking at the tv.

We are moving in a couple of years, so this is just a temporary solution to needing to place a drink from time to time while the family watches tv. If you think the folding table is the best solution, then I'll stick with that.

writersblock, I've considered a C table actually. Something like the first image you provided just might be perfect.

Ohhh, ok. Now I get it. A garden stool would work, but I think a C-table is a better solution. We have a couple of C-tables that we use in our media room next to our chairs. They're very unobtrusive and easily portable, and they just look better than the folding tables.

IdaClaire, I agree, I think that's the route I'm going to go. Thanks for the advice!

Gotta ask, is that TV mounted on the wall? If not, do you at least rotate it toward the sofa when watching it? Ours sits on a console and we often rotate it depending on where we, or our G'daughter, are sitting at the time.

Annztoo, no, it's not mounted, but it is super heavy and faces the center of the living room where the larger sofa and recliner are. I can see it fine on the love seat, but if I were to move the love seat down any it would kill my eyes and neck.