I too am constructing a provisional layout in an area of our dining room. It involved moving the dining table over to the windows where it serves as a display table for our Santa collection. I then used 2 6 ft folding banquet tables to construct a 6 ft by 5 ft main section and an extension measuring 4 x 4 ft, for a loop around a small natural tree, and to allow access to the grandfather clock. So it ends up being ten ft in the widthwise direction. I wanted at least on good run. The children's interlocking play mat makes a nice surface to smooth out any irregularities in the table heights and helps to deaden the sound of the Fastrack. I cover that with table cloths. This is just a temporary fix until I get a larger space. We usually display a D56 NP village with the NPC line that I construct, but this year I am just looking to see what I can do with just the trains in a small space. I'll post more of the finished product in a day or two.
We are empty nesters and our daughter lives in CA (we are in FL) so we aren't expecting visitors this holiday season. My wife too, is very understanding, but not yet ready to relinquish our upstairs bonus room which she uses for crafting Christmas cards this time of year.
