QuilteE : I am one of those also who has a large sewing area (a 2 car garage sewing room-used to be the previous owners wood shop) ..
Anyone who has a small area has my admiration for sure, even those closet sewing areas are the greatest, I am trying to get my oldest daughter to do one of those so she has an area for sewing in her basement. She also wants a small crafting area.. So put it in an upright shelving unit with doors. Her hubs wants the basement to be a 2nd living room for them, not a catch all junk room ! But I think shelving units would be okay and if everything is put away after use then it would be out of mind out of sight (bolted into the wall of course-don't want any accidents happening!) .