Welcome Sam, you have arrived at a good site, with many good members that are will to help others out and give suggestion.
As for a small space I can relate, before moving south I was working out of a one car garage (the car needed to be parked in there at night) I have a 3' x 7' bench on the back wall and a few tools stored under and on some shelving. I built a cabinet to hang above that had a peg board center, everything within easy reach.
Splinter mentioned above your bench could be an old door on horses. I was in the construction trade, and usually set up horses with a of plywood on top, I could put a small table saw and miter saw on there and have room to work on a bench.
LBD (Little Black Duck) mentioned it find your niche and determine how much room you really need. Doing smalls will not require much room. Look up Les Hastings, he built a portable / travel bench that looked pretty good and useful.
Traveling Work Bench - Woodworking Project by Les Hastings - Craftisian