BG designs

So I'm working on this witch comic again. One of the kids is a scientist and he has a tree-house laboratory. I have to combine the right amount of science and tree house. I started out by designing shots of the whole room, trying to compose it nicely and design at the same time. My teacher, Will Weston recommended I try working on one prop at a time and then compose the shot later. So, I'm starting with the desk. After I drew this, I noticed the composition was completely even. The size of the window and the desk are exactly the same. But, now I have an idea of what I want and I can push the proportion of the elements, without inventing the elements themselves. I'm surprised I didn't think of this before because it is exactly how I do my character designs. When I design a character I put it in the most boring straight on and side pose I can, so I'm not thinking of the pose, just the design. Then, I use that as a rough guide for the final comic when I just think about the poses.