Kitting out a home office for work... where to start!

[Clippy]

So, I'm going to be redesigning my room into an office to help me deal with the added work of running a company and carrying out my work on days I'm working from home; looking to pretty much make my room the office with a bed in the corner. Anyone know any places to shop that stock both technology as well as decent furniture (chair, desk, vesa mounts, lamps, etc), as well as technology (laptop, speakers, keyboard, printer, scanner, the storage).

I'm on the FRS for VAT and I'm anticipating the total bill > £2500 (£500 more than the £2000 threshold where VAT becomes reclaimable), so would be good to get this on 1 invoice and help me out on the cashflow side of things as I'll be able to claim back the VAT on the investment in assets.

I'm an IT contractor, so I have on my list the following items to purchase:
- Printer/Scanner
- Notebook/Laptop, probably the former
- Speakers (do I need to justify the business-need for speakers??)
- Desk
- Peripherals (mouse, keyboard, backup storage)
- Chair
- Desk lamp
- Kindle (for reading books related to IT/work-related PDF's)

Anyone have any other suggestions, not sure if I'm missing some obvious items off the list that'll be useful a few months down the line (i.e. some packs of paper would be good as I'll be printing a lot, and perhaps some toner)?

Thanks all!

Box of tissues.

[stek]

Personally, I would manage with existing old shiit until the warchest has built up, sounds to me like you're getting a bit carried away...

[MarillionFan]

Get a good chair as well. I had my office done a few years back but have not replaced the chair and it's uncomfortable.

Anyone have any recommendations on office chairs???

[Zoiderman]

Kitchen table for me. I agree about making do until you've built the chest up. Took me 8 years ot work out that this was the bst way; plenty of time to get all the kit.

[d000hg]

Get a good chair as well. I had my office done a few years back but have not replaced the chair and it's uncomfortable.

Anyone have any recommendations on office chairs???

In client offices they have standard chairs, and I don't have issues... with my back... so nothing different at home. Some old twirly chair; red.

Other than 3PCs I have:

• 2 shelving units
• Filing cabinet
• Shredder
• Giant desk*
• TV
• Oil radiator (coldest room in t'house)

* Desk is a standard table on one wall, and a spare kitchen worksurface made into a table with these to form a big corner unit. Simple, but sturdy and provides a LOT of surface area - one side for computer, the other a writing area.

[Paddy]

Backup device for your data!

I also have a UPS that runs a PC and router.

The PC runs VM and ISS..

Two ISPs (One is down today thank you BT for a messup at the exchange) I can work with the second line.

[odm]

Appreciate all the responses folks! Very helpful. Prob won't be splashing out on a HM chair though, I've had them in my last two workplaces and whilst their amazingly good IF you set them up properly, I just can't justify £500 on a seat. Might go for something midranged instead, but not keen on it breaking after a year otherwise I may as well have bought the HM one!

I might come across as eager, but the sooner I can setup the environment the more productive I'll be, it'll pay for itself I believe. I find that the right environment can really improve efficiency.

[SueEllen]

Have a look at ebay for office furniture as you may be able to get decent ex-office furniture for the same price as new tulip stuff. I managed to get a large desk on ebay due to that.

Also get a laptop raising thingie from Amazon alternatively you want to get yourself an external monitor, external keyboard and external mouse. All this is to stop you getting back and neck ache.

Also don't scrimp on the shredder. The cheap ones over heat really quickly and if you are like most people you only shred paper in batches.

[d000hg]

I might come across as eager, but the sooner I can setup the environment the more productive I'll be, it'll pay for itself I believe. I find that the right environment can really improve efficiency.

Sounds a bit like Rimmer's revision timetables to me but different strokes and all that.

[Pondlife]

Box of tissues.

WCS

Rather than turning your bedroom into an office, why not put the cash towards getting your own place or building up the warchest.

It's never going to be that productive working environment you want with all those boyzone posters and you mum telling you it's bathtime.

Just my £0.02