It's amazing what you can build in a limited space if you are motivated...

I built many, many models (including Byron F16, Nosen Gere Sport and Champ, and several 16' span built-up X-C sailplanes) in a small (12x10) apartment bedroom, including paint and covering. I had a 3'x8' building table, a 10" sanding disk/48" belt sander, 18" bandsaw, a floorstanding drill press, TAIG lathe and two shelving units jammed in there! RC gear installs and rigging got done on the living room table, vacuum bagging and wing sheeting on the kitchen floor, and sanding was done in the building room with a fan sucking the dust out the window (cleaning the screen often!)

I covered the carpet with pieces of 1/8" luan ply cut to fit and topped that with carpet padding and cheapo indoor/outdoor carpeting...when I moved out after 6+ years the carpet in that room was still spotless.

Barry