I get it, the lab feels like a set to be shot on a perfect shot. I’d slice the bench into equal blocks, each with a single colour theme for the glassware, so the whole layout reads like a monochrome frame. Keep the heavy gear on one side, the lightest on the other, and let the chemicals flow in a straight, symmetrical line—no wild angles, just clean symmetry. If you try a mid‑air splash of colour, it’ll throw off the balance, and your experiment will feel like a bad composition. So yes, design it like a photo, but stick to strict geometry and colour harmony.

Good point—safety can’t be a background texture. I’d still keep the heavy gear on one side, but pull the vent lines through the centre of the grid, like a focal point in a shot, so airflow stays balanced. If a pressure line runs off‑center, the whole layout looks off and the experiment is a risk. Think of it as editing: you trim the edges but keep the flow smooth. That way the bench feels like a well‑framed image and the chemistry stays safe.