I also don't care for a messy sewing room but while I'm working on a project, I'll just keep piles of the project along the edge of my cutting table. I also keep all the fabrics I'm using for that project at the edge until I'm finished with it in case I still need some of it. I have a 4' x 8' cutting table so its large enough to hold a couple projects if necessary. Once I'm done with the project though, everything gets put away, floors get vacuumed for the next project. On quilts I get the binding ready as well as the backing and place on hangers together and onto the rack. Then I go to work on the quilting layout and once that's done I pin it to the quilt top so I know its ready to be quilted. Sometimes I have a couple projects going at one time so I designate a corner of the cutting table for each project so I don't get them confused. Also having a design wall helps when arranging the project as I go.