sunny I have a panel that is steam VFR. utterly reliable.
beyond that I have an artificial horizon.
I would reiterate the comment of centaurus.
put an artificial horizon in the centre of your panel.
put the other vfr instruments around it and the engine monitoring instruments away in front of the passenger.
there is a rare book on fatal accidents in curtin uni library (or was).
one of them shows the post mortem face of a pilot.
very neatly impressed in his forehead are the row of switches that punctured his head and caused his death.
the photo of the cherokee dashboard shows an identical row of switches right at the bottom of the panel by his knee.
he was found sitting in his seat with a properly done up lap sash seat belt.
under high deceleration the human body is capable of elongations that would be normally attributed to the octopus.
make sure that whatever is in front of you you would be prepared to smack your head into. because one day you actually may.
think carefully about how you set out your panel because one day that care may save your life.