LCD Monitors Don't Fill Up My Deskspace

Okay, this CRT setup is a little extreme...

The main problem I have, is that now there is too much open airspace either in front of or behind my new monitors. When I was using my 17" and 19" flatscreen monitors, I knew that I needed to have a reasonable amount of space on the desktops to accommodate the devices. But desks were designed with the right face-to-monitor ratios so when you put a monitor on your desk or on those hutch-like stands, they were exactly the right distance for you to view them comfortably.

But now with these fancy LCD monitors that don't take up any space, I find that the monitor is too far away, because it's closer to the back of the desk, not needing any room for tubes and whatnot. Now what am I supposed to do with all the empty space in front of the monitor? I can't really put anything there because it's going to block the view. And if I move the monitor closer, I have all that empty space behind the monitor--space that has no real useful value for shelves or anything else.

What have I gained?

Sure, the monitors are nicer to look at, but where am I going to put my baseball cap? At least with CRT monitors, you could place your Babylon 5 figures on the top. But there's no space on top of an LCD monitor, because they're too bloody thin! Now my desktop is a vast sea of open airspace, and unless I cut the desk in half to reduce the room, I'm stuck with this awkward set-up. Now if I did decide to make my desk narrower, I'd have no place to stretch my legs, and I'll end up further away from my keyboard, ir I'd be hunched over when I type or watch .avi versions of Stargate: Atlantis.

Seriously, what were these engineers thinking when they invented the LCD monitor? Obviously not the end-user.

Now I'm running across the same problem with my 48" LCD television. Yes, I can mount this cool new device above my fireplace, but now where am I going to hang the velvet Elvis paintings?