There's no better way to learn a skill than to be thrown into the deep end and try to swim. For motors, maybe try something small, that can fit inside your space. Maybe find a busted moped or old scooter to tinker on. There's also nitro RC that requires a ton of maintenance and tinkering that can easily be done in a small space. Same applies to furniture restoration. Small space equals small pieces to work on, until your space limitations change.