any advice from the pros on setting up a home office?

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Been self-employed for a couple of years now but have managed hopping about without an office. Now I have an office and it's lovely. But I want to make sure I kit it out properly, retain the nice spacious feel but also make it as user-friendly/efficient as possible.

Would be really grateful for tips on what works/doesn't work

Also, I think I'm going to have to buy the following cabinet www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10134848
it's the only one that will really house everything we need it to house (DH will be sharing the office when he works from home) but I much prefer the old-style thinner, taller filing cabinets. If I'm stuck with that one can anyone think of a nice way to jazz it up (urgh, sound like DM) - what I mean is that I don't want the place to feel too cold/clinical, we already have a lot of black & white in the house. Any ideas?

decent-sized desk, decent-sized filing cabinet, good chair, set of 'in-trays' or whatever they are called, loads of box files & cut-flush files...

A lock on the door, so that you can get up, walk out and not worry about visitors/children getting into confidential or important stuff.

Music.

Thanks, youcantteuchthis - v helpful all round.

Anyone else?

Ikea do fairly large flower transfers - you could stick a couple across the drawers.

Good lighting.

Decent writing/work area.

Printer within swivle and reaching distance.

Phone within stretching distance.

Mobile phone signal - I have to lean out my velux!

and this place

Biggest tip is keep children's toys/stuff out of the office. When I was a child, my father had a study and it was exclusively a study and guest room. I was not allowed to play with toys there, not even at weekends. The funny thing is, my father worked in an office - this was his study for when he needed to work outside of office hours. I think it was his space to be himself and get away from it all, really :-)

So I've taken his lead. My study is just that - a study and guestroom!). I'm not anal like my dad was so my DD can play in it when I'm not working, but we don't store her toys there and she knows now, at 2.3 years old, that this room is a place to work.

I love it. It's such a sanctuary for me: a lovely large wooden desk, uncluttered, nice looking Sony VAIO laptop and Cannon printer, two deep bookshelves. All my paperwork is stored in lovely looking storage boxes eg bamboo boxes from Heal's and metal boxes from Muji - this is very important for me. I've even put my printing paper in a nice bamboo box!

The guest bed is covered in a gorgeous silk throw. I've made a real effort to put nice pictures (framed photos from my travels) on the wall.

DH also uses the study when he needs to work at home on weekends and evenings (I only need to use study during the weekdays) so we ensure his stuff is kept entirely separate from mine - so he has different boxes, filing cabinet.

Definitely do not skimp on the chair. I made this mistake and had to buy a new one for considerably more a year later by which point I had back problems to boot. You don't have to go mental, I only got mine from Staples, but try lots and go for the best and most comfortable you can afford.

Shut away storage for all the desktop paraphenalia is a godsend too, otherwise, like me, you will find yourself constantly retrieving your sellotape/stapler/markers/pencils/pens from the kids. Also helpful when you need to convert the room back into a bedroom as can tidy it all away neatly.

And thanks YouCantTeuchThis for that recommendation for that link- what a lovely shop! Bang goes my profit this month....

I have an oak sideboard that is stuffed with boxes of envelopes, labels etc (as well as music scores and CDs I have to store). Works very well as my office is also our dining room, so it doesn't look too offic-ey.

I think my back is telling me its time to invest in a new chair though . . .

Yes, definitely do not skimp on the desk chair and make sure it's the correct height for you to sit at and type comfortably.

Great post orissiah I love the sound of your office and will be trying hard to recreate that vibe (ours is also a spare bedroom) and keep it free of toys etc

Thanks for all the other posts too. I have a decidedly dodgy back so the chair is pretty crucial