I once had a cheap run made of hardboard panels, I just used bulldog clips to keep it in place, but on a rat forum I go on someone had used duck-tape (or something similar) as that made the panels flexible so that it concertinered afterward making it easy to store. You could do this with large cardboard box sides too.
We are lucky I guess as we have a pet room that is pet safe for all the animals to free range in; but if the rats are out in the pet room we use the hallway for the hamsters plus the stairs (supervised of course) which they seem to enjoy. The pet room has a cheap carpet in, it's slowly being destroyed by rats, chinchillas, degus so we don't worry anymore.
Our purpose-built-pet-room complete with laminate floor is now where we sleep as we had to move rooms due to a noisy and rather unpleasant neighbour.
Our hamsters are very good and don't seem to 'go' when they're out..... Tinkerbell is especially good, as soon as I put her back in her cage she squats in the corner bless her.
Herbert only tries to attack carpet if he's left, he likes us to be with him, which is understandable!
If he doesn't get up until late, I pop him in the bathroom whilst I'm getting ready for bed for about 15 mins. out time. He's easier to catch in there when we're ready for bed! :P
Someone suggested once using a piece of fleece in the bath to give them a less slippery surface to walk in, which is something else you could try.
I don't like hamster balls at all - so they are not an option for us. I like them to free range as it lets them exhibit natural behaviours, but then, we do only have two hamsters so it's not too hard to give them the time they need.
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