Not Sexy but need some ideas!

The way I would personally go about adding environment through lighting is I would use and HDRI environment map. Gloss everything up so you can see environment in the reflections. Also, it really pushes certain product renders into the final tier or photorealism. Just a thought, sort of complication unfortunately. Looking real good though!

Everyone, thank you so much for the great ideas. Some I was able to take for this particular project and some I'm def. going to use in future images. I've attached the final 'look' I'm going with (there are about 11 more configurations of this workstation I have to render). Although everyone liked the darker background better, it was decided to use the white for printing purposes. Thanks again for making my first post on here a successful one and I'm sure you'll be hearing from me soon!!! James

Hey! Nice to see some furniture up here... I've done literally over 1000 of these type of renders in the last year so I can feel your pain. With regards to the floor: I like to make it matt white. Reflections are cool and do add some visual complexity, but I find that the under side of the desk is typically where all the "junk" is hidden and usually has lots of rough sheet metal corners and fasteners. To add some style, I like to mess with the color balence to create some color contrast between the lighting and shadows. Also, I like to make a copy of my final layer in photoshop, add some chromatic abberation (using the lense flair option in ps) and some blur then erasing the top effect layer untill the focus of the image is clear and crisp, but the fringe is all blured with some c/a. Please see examples.[ATTACH=CONFIG]41058[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]41059[/ATTACH]

I think this may have been suggested already, but experiment with your camera angle and composition, and see if there's any way you can implement some depth of field. Oh, and maybe add, like 7 lens flares ;)

fabric looks good

I would keep the white background adding dark soft shadows from 2 area lights

In addition to comments above, might try a slight dutch angle.

I agree with the comments about a dark background making it "pop" more. Also I'd suggest a wider angle lens for your camera. Another thing that might be nice is some close up macro shots of the small details of the product with a little bit of DOF. E

I really agree with Elevation. With a dark background, the desk pop more. I also add more contrast and a bit of yellowish tint. Just rough test:

Yeah I was just thinking it may be burning a bit much. Unfortunately the light fixture is recessed in that small little space (can you believe that!) I'll work on the displacement idea and reflections, thx a lot!

Most excellent render to me but as you asked... I would eliminate the burnt spot on the desk and also would model the light fixture. Perhaps the fabric mesh needs to be reduced and I would make sure to use displacement for the fabric, "make it breathe". Spend all the time possible with reflections being as accurate to their physical counterpart- quite a challenge without adding more things, but it can be improved a bit. Anything else I am missing is yet another detail clue that could enhance the 'reality' of the render. Looking forward to your further developments.

Thx Elevation, I'll give it a shot and see how it comes out. Very creative!

couple of thoughts. What about rendering it at night? Maybe it would be more interesting if someone were working late. This might be a cheat but worth a try. You've got those reflective white floors. Why not put all your stuff in the reflection? It might be kind of cool if you had a view of the workstation in the show room (as you have it now) and then the reflection shows all the life and activity it will have in the future.

HA! Let me post my resume first then I'm on it!!! :)

Hmmm, have you ever heard the expression, "You can't polish a turd." Not sure if color is out of the question, but that's where I'd start. Beyond that, you're basically just adding Photoshop-y backgrounds that have nothing to do with the rendering. How about scratching some graffiti into the surface of the cabinet in the shape of a can of POP. Then at least you can say to your boss, "There you go, plenty of pop in there...."