Remember that time I tried to fix my bike in the living room? Got grease on the rug and my wife just stared at me. We worked out that the dining table is my repair zone, but only on Sundays. It's not perfect, but it keeps the peace.
Yeah, that "keeps the peace" thing. I used to think having a spot for stuff like that was kind of silly, but it really does stop the small stuff from turning into a big fight. Makes things easier somehow.