In a small room, the challenge is often space rather than the number of sheets. A cover that reaches the furniture may also spill into the doorway or the place where you need to stand. Plan those areas before opening the pack.
Divide the room into three areas
First mark the items that will stay in the room and need covering. Then identify where the work will happen. Finally, reserve the route between the work area and the door.
Use a quick sketch if the room is crowded. The aim is to avoid continually moving a cover, stepping around folded plastic or carrying tools through a narrowing gap.
HSE's construction guidance stresses orderly work areas and clear access routes, including control of obstacles and slippery conditions. Those principles are useful when planning a compact decorating space. HSE slips and trips guidance.
Open only what you need
Unfold one sheet at a time and assign it to a particular item or group. Keep unused sheets packaged and outside the route. If the cover is much larger than the object, manage the excess without leaving loose folds where people will pass.
Recheck door movement. A door that catches the plastic can pull the sheet away from furniture or bunch it across the threshold. Do not rely on someone remembering to step over it.
Work in stages
A staged approach can be easier than covering everything at once. Finish one accessible area, tidy the tools and then adjust the room for the next stage. Stop messy work while repositioning covers.
Light plastic intended for furniture covering should stay out of foot traffic. Do not make it a walkway simply because it fits the available space. Before each session, check that the route is clear and the covered items remain covered.