I've moved 3 times in the past 3 years, and only now do I have a dedicated small table for the miniature hobby. I have made more progress painting in 5 days than I did in the past year!
I think the most important part (for me) is to have a setup where I can just have my WIP there, ready to be worked on instantly. The less friction to start painting, the easier I'll start.
The Skadis board is also great for paint and tools, especially if you have a 3D printer. Having every pots visible when I get into my office makes me want to paint!
How soon in your hobby did you get a dedicated setup? For those that don't, how do you manage the setup time?
I really enjoy the portable setup. I have 2*5 miniature holders that fit one compartment, so I can also transport up to ten minis in the box. One thing that doesn't work is bigger miniatures like vehicles but I'm mostly playing/painting skirmishers these days so it hasn't been an issue for me so far.