diff --git a/canvas/src/store/__tests__/canvas-events.test.ts b/canvas/src/store/__tests__/canvas-events.test.ts
index b4867cd3..60b47256 100644
--- a/canvas/src/store/__tests__/canvas-events.test.ts
+++ b/canvas/src/store/__tests__/canvas-events.test.ts
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ describe("handleCanvasEvent – WORKSPACE_PROVISIONING", () => {
     const n = newNodes[0];
     expect(n.id).toBe("ws-new");
     expect(n.type).toBe("workspaceNode");
-    expect(n.position).toEqual({ x: 0, y: 0 });
+    expect(n.position).toEqual({ x: 100, y: 100 });
     expect(n.data.name).toBe("Brand New");
     expect(n.data.tier).toBe(3);
     expect(n.data.status).toBe("provisioning");
diff --git a/canvas/src/store/canvas-events.ts b/canvas/src/store/canvas-events.ts
index 81a3eb0e..a012a282 100644
--- a/canvas/src/store/canvas-events.ts
+++ b/canvas/src/store/canvas-events.ts
@@ -88,13 +88,15 @@ export function handleCanvasEvent(
           ),
         });
       } else {
-        // Spread new nodes in a grid so they don't stack
-        const GRID_COL_WIDTH = 320;
-        const GRID_ROW_HEIGHT = 160;
+        // Spread new nodes in a grid so they don't stack at the viewport origin
         const GRID_COLS = 4;
-        const rootIndex = nodes.filter((n) => !n.data.parentId).length;
-        const x = (rootIndex % GRID_COLS) * GRID_COL_WIDTH;
-        const y = Math.floor(rootIndex / GRID_COLS) * GRID_ROW_HEIGHT;
+        const COL_SPACING = 320;
+        const ROW_SPACING = 160;
+        const GRID_ORIGIN_X = 100;
+        const GRID_ORIGIN_Y = 100;
+        const idx = nodes.length;
+        const x = GRID_ORIGIN_X + (idx % GRID_COLS) * COL_SPACING;
+        const y = GRID_ORIGIN_Y + Math.floor(idx / GRID_COLS) * ROW_SPACING;
 
         set({
           nodes: [