Micro Layout

[faraway]

.....I think I am going to keep things pretty basic. I only plan on having one building (a small yard office) and I probably won't include any scenic features such as trees.

Or you go for the opposite and build a very dense commercial/industrial urban model. That would have the advantage to keep you busy building the layout for a long time while it is already full operational and does not need any additional space. The cost would be marginal if go for scratch building. Have a look at cardboard modeling as a cost cutting technique very popular in UK.