diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/a4-preview.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/a4-preview.tsx
index 7ee52f7..627837d 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/a4-preview.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/a4-preview.tsx
@@ -42,12 +42,8 @@ export function A4Preview() {
 
   return (
     <section className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-      <h2 className="text-center text-sm font-medium">
-        Print sheet ({paper.label})
-        {pageCount > 1 ? ` — ${pageCount} pages` : ''}
-      </h2>
-      {/* Floats over the page so the selected frame's tools follow you. */}
-      <div className="sticky top-2 z-20 mx-auto w-full max-w-xl empty:hidden">
+      {/* Pinned to the screen, so the selected frame's tools never shift the page. */}
+      <div className="pointer-events-none fixed inset-x-0 bottom-4 z-30 flex justify-center px-4">
         <SheetInspector />
       </div>
       <div
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/options-panel.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/options-panel.tsx
index a12eb29..19796a6 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/options-panel.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/options-panel.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { type ReactNode, useState } from 'react'
+import { Minus, Plus } from 'lucide-react'
 
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
 import { DATE_FORMATS, type DateFormat } from '@/lib/date'
@@ -143,21 +144,12 @@ export function OptionsPanel() {
           </select>
         </Field>
         <Field label="Per row" htmlFor="opt-perrow">
-          <span className="flex items-center gap-2">
-            <input
-              id="opt-perrow"
-              type="range"
-              min={MIN_PER_ROW}
-              max={MAX_PER_ROW}
-              step={1}
-              value={perRow}
-              onChange={(event) => setPerRow(Number(event.target.value))}
-              className="accent-primary w-24"
-            />
-            <span className="text-muted-foreground w-3 text-sm tabular-nums">
-              {perRow}
-            </span>
-          </span>
+          <Stepper
+            value={perRow}
+            min={MIN_PER_ROW}
+            max={MAX_PER_ROW}
+            onChange={setPerRow}
+          />
         </Field>
         <Toggle
           label="Cut marks"
@@ -177,6 +169,46 @@ export function OptionsPanel() {
   )
 }
 
+function Stepper({
+  value,
+  min,
+  max,
+  onChange,
+}: {
+  value: number
+  min: number
+  max: number
+  onChange: (value: number) => void
+}) {
+  return (
+    <span className="flex items-center gap-1">
+      <Button
+        type="button"
+        variant="outline"
+        size="icon"
+        className="size-7"
+        aria-label="Fewer per row"
+        disabled={value <= min}
+        onClick={() => onChange(Math.max(min, value - 1))}
+      >
+        <Minus className="size-3.5" />
+      </Button>
+      <span className="w-4 text-center text-sm tabular-nums">{value}</span>
+      <Button
+        type="button"
+        variant="outline"
+        size="icon"
+        className="size-7"
+        aria-label="More per row"
+        disabled={value >= max}
+        onClick={() => onChange(Math.min(max, value + 1))}
+      >
+        <Plus className="size-3.5" />
+      </Button>
+    </span>
+  )
+}
+
 function Section({ title, children }: { title: string; children: ReactNode }) {
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-2.5">
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/photo-dropzone.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/photo-dropzone.tsx
deleted file mode 100644
index 8961b6c..0000000
--- a/apps/web/src/components/photo-dropzone.tsx
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-import { useCallback, useState } from 'react'
-import { type FileRejection, useDropzone } from 'react-dropzone'
-import { ImagePlus } from 'lucide-react'
-
-import { cn } from '@/lib/utils'
-import { usePhotoStore } from '@/stores/photo-store'
-
-export function PhotoDropzone({ compact = false }: { compact?: boolean }) {
-  const addFiles = usePhotoStore((state) => state.addFiles)
-  const [rejectedCount, setRejectedCount] = useState(0)
-
-  const onDrop = useCallback(
-    (accepted: File[], rejections: FileRejection[]) => {
-      if (accepted.length > 0) addFiles(accepted)
-      setRejectedCount(rejections.length)
-    },
-    [addFiles],
-  )
-
-  const { getRootProps, getInputProps, isDragActive } = useDropzone({
-    onDrop,
-    accept: {
-      'image/jpeg': ['.jpg', '.jpeg'],
-      'image/png': ['.png'],
-      'image/webp': ['.webp'],
-      'image/heic': ['.heic'],
-      'image/heif': ['.heif'],
-    },
-  })
-
-  return (
-    <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-      <div
-        {...getRootProps()}
-        className={cn(
-          'border-input hover:border-ring hover:bg-accent/40 flex cursor-pointer flex-col items-center justify-center gap-2 rounded-lg border-2 border-dashed text-center transition-colors',
-          compact ? 'p-4' : 'p-10',
-          isDragActive && 'border-ring bg-accent',
-        )}
-      >
-        <input {...getInputProps()} />
-        <ImagePlus
-          className={cn(
-            'text-muted-foreground',
-            compact ? 'size-5' : 'size-8',
-          )}
-        />
-        <div>
-          <p className="text-sm font-medium">
-            {isDragActive
-              ? 'Drop your photos…'
-              : 'Drag photos here, or click to browse'}
-          </p>
-          {!compact && (
-            <p className="text-muted-foreground mt-1 text-xs">
-              JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC — processed on your device, never uploaded
-            </p>
-          )}
-        </div>
-      </div>
-      {rejectedCount > 0 && (
-        <p className="text-destructive text-xs">
-          {rejectedCount} file{rejectedCount > 1 ? 's' : ''} skipped — only
-          images are supported.
-        </p>
-      )}
-    </div>
-  )
-}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/photo-sidebar.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/photo-sidebar.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..670fb63
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/photo-sidebar.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import { useCallback, useState } from 'react'
+import { type FileRejection, useDropzone } from 'react-dropzone'
+import { ImagePlus } from 'lucide-react'
+
+import { PhotoStrip } from '@/components/photo-strip'
+import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button'
+import { usePhotoStore } from '@/stores/photo-store'
+
+/**
+ * Left rail: an "Add photos" button on top, the reorderable strip below.
+ * The whole rail is a drop target — but stays a clean button until you drag,
+ * when a square drop pad fades in over a blurred strip.
+ */
+export function PhotoSidebar() {
+  const addFiles = usePhotoStore((state) => state.addFiles)
+  const [rejectedCount, setRejectedCount] = useState(0)
+
+  const onDrop = useCallback(
+    (accepted: File[], rejections: FileRejection[]) => {
+      if (accepted.length > 0) addFiles(accepted)
+      setRejectedCount(rejections.length)
+    },
+    [addFiles],
+  )
+
+  const { getRootProps, getInputProps, isDragActive, open } = useDropzone({
+    onDrop,
+    noClick: true,
+    noKeyboard: true,
+    accept: {
+      'image/jpeg': ['.jpg', '.jpeg'],
+      'image/png': ['.png'],
+      'image/webp': ['.webp'],
+      'image/heic': ['.heic'],
+      'image/heif': ['.heif'],
+    },
+  })
+
+  return (
+    <div {...getRootProps()} className="relative flex flex-1 flex-col gap-3">
+      <input {...getInputProps()} />
+
+      <Button type="button" onClick={open} className="w-full gap-2">
+        <ImagePlus className="size-4" />
+        Add photos
+      </Button>
+
+      {rejectedCount > 0 && (
+        <p className="text-destructive text-xs">
+          {rejectedCount} file{rejectedCount > 1 ? 's' : ''} skipped — only
+          images are supported.
+        </p>
+      )}
+
+      <PhotoStrip />
+
+      {isDragActive && (
+        <div className="bg-background/70 absolute inset-0 z-30 flex items-start justify-center rounded-lg backdrop-blur-sm">
+          <div className="border-ring text-muted-foreground flex aspect-square w-full max-w-[220px] flex-col items-center justify-center gap-2 rounded-xl border-2 border-dashed text-center">
+            <ImagePlus className="size-8" />
+            <p className="text-foreground text-sm font-medium">
+              Drop your photos…
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      )}
+    </div>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/apps/web/src/components/sheet-inspector.tsx b/apps/web/src/components/sheet-inspector.tsx
index 9544776..e2eb21c 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/components/sheet-inspector.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/components/sheet-inspector.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import {
+  Check,
   RectangleHorizontal,
   RectangleVertical,
   Square,
@@ -35,9 +36,9 @@ export function SheetInspector() {
   if (!photo) return null
 
   return (
-    <div className="border-input bg-card flex flex-wrap items-center gap-x-4 gap-y-2 rounded-md border p-2">
-      <span className="text-muted-foreground text-xs font-medium">
-        Drag the photo to reposition
+    <div className="border-input bg-card pointer-events-auto flex items-center gap-x-4 rounded-full border py-1.5 pr-1.5 pl-3 shadow-lg">
+      <span className="text-muted-foreground hidden text-xs font-medium sm:inline">
+        Drag to reposition
       </span>
       <div className="flex gap-0.5">
         {ORIENTATIONS.map((orientation) => {
@@ -80,21 +81,22 @@ export function SheetInspector() {
       </div>
       <button
         type="button"
+        aria-label="Remove photo"
         onClick={() => {
           select(null)
           remove(photo.id)
         }}
-        className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive ml-auto flex items-center gap-1 text-xs"
+        className="text-muted-foreground hover:text-destructive hover:bg-neutral-100 ml-auto flex size-7 items-center justify-center rounded"
       >
-        <Trash2 className="size-3.5" />
-        Remove
+        <Trash2 className="size-4" />
       </button>
       <button
         type="button"
+        aria-label="Done"
         onClick={() => select(null)}
-        className="text-xs font-medium hover:underline"
+        className="text-neutral-600 hover:bg-neutral-100 hover:text-neutral-900 flex size-7 items-center justify-center rounded"
       >
-        Done
+        <Check className="size-4" />
       </button>
     </div>
   )
diff --git a/apps/web/src/routes/index.tsx b/apps/web/src/routes/index.tsx
index 661f66d..b4b71a9 100644
--- a/apps/web/src/routes/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/web/src/routes/index.tsx
@@ -2,35 +2,29 @@ import { createFileRoute } from '@tanstack/react-router'
 
 import { A4Preview } from '@/components/a4-preview'
 import { OptionsPanel } from '@/components/options-panel'
-import { PhotoDropzone } from '@/components/photo-dropzone'
-import { PhotoStrip } from '@/components/photo-strip'
+import { PhotoSidebar } from '@/components/photo-sidebar'
 import { ProjectControls } from '@/components/project-controls'
-import { usePhotoStore } from '@/stores/photo-store'
 
 export const Route = createFileRoute('/')({
   component: Home,
 })
 
 function Home() {
-  const hasPhotos = usePhotoStore((state) => state.photos.length > 0)
-
   return (
     <main className="mx-auto flex min-h-svh w-full max-w-7xl flex-col gap-5 p-4 sm:p-6">
       <header className="flex items-start justify-between gap-3">
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-1">
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-semibold tracking-tight">Polaroid</h1>
           <p className="text-muted-foreground text-sm">
-            Build polaroid-style print sheets — edit each frame on the page.
-            Everything stays on your device.
+            Edit each frame on the page — everything stays on your device.
           </p>
         </div>
         <ProjectControls />
       </header>
 
       <div className="grid gap-6 lg:grid-cols-[240px_minmax(0,1fr)_300px] lg:items-start">
-        <aside className="flex flex-col gap-3">
-          <PhotoDropzone compact={hasPhotos} />
-          <PhotoStrip />
+        <aside className="flex flex-col lg:self-stretch">
+          <PhotoSidebar />
         </aside>
         <div className="min-w-0">
           <A4Preview />