Where to Put Outlets and Switches: Planning Before Renovation
Renovation planning starts long before the first hammer swing — with a sketch of where your furniture will stand and where you'll need a socket. This is a practical, room-by-room checklist to bring to your electrician, not a finished project.
4 steps to plan before renovation
Mark your furniture first
Sketch where the sofa, bed, kitchen cabinets and TV will stand before deciding outlet and switch positions — plan around furniture, not the other way round, or a socket ends up hidden behind a cabinet.
Go through each room separately
Kitchen: more outlets near the worktop and a separate circuit for powerful appliances. Bedroom: outlets on both sides of the bed. Living room: a TV/media zone and outlets near windows for curtains or lighting control. Hallway and outdoors: motion-sensor lighting.
Talk through circuit separation and protection
Good practice is separate circuits by room or function, each protected by a breaker and usually an RCD per the applicable standard — so one fault doesn't leave the whole house without power.
Think about routing and the future
Chased-in cable or surface-mounted trunking — the choice depends on wall material and how extensive the renovation is; if smart-home is ever on the table, mentioning it now is far cheaper than chasing a finished wall later.
What to think through, room by room
Every circuit — under protection
A breaker and usually an RCD per circuit, per the applicable standard — a principle worth knowing at the planning stage, not just at installation.
Kitchen
You usually need more outlets near the worktop than you'd think, and powerful appliances (oven, dishwasher, maybe a heat pump) benefit from a separate circuit — the exact count depends on your project.
Bedroom
Outlets on both sides of the bed are far easier to plan now than to fix with an extension cord later — worth thinking about a bedside light switch too.
Living room
Several outlets grouped in the TV/media zone, plus outlets near windows for curtain or lighting control if you're planning automation down the line.
Hallway and outdoors
Motion-sensor lighting at the entrance and in the hallway is a convenient, well-thought-out solution that's far simpler to wire in at the planning stage than after the walls are finished.
Future-proofing
If you might ever want KNX, DALI or another control cable, pulling a spare conduit now is much cheaper than chasing a finished wall later.
What to bring to your electrician
This checklist is a starting point for the conversation, not a finished project — the exact positions and quantities are confirmed by a specialist for your home.
- A sketch of furniture and appliance placement
- Preferred outlet and switch positions for each room
- A list of powerful appliances that need their own circuit
- Needs for wet and outdoor zones (bathroom, terrace)
- A note on any possible future smart-home expansion
Frequently asked questions
How many outlets does a kitchen need?
It depends on the site and how many appliances you have — the exact count comes from a project or quote, but a good starting point is more outlets near the worktop than you think you'll need.
Chased-in cable or surface trunking — which is better?
It depends on the wall material and whether you're planning a major renovation that opens up the walls — both have their advantages, best discussed with your electrician on site.
When exactly should I plan outlets — before or after renovation starts?
Before. Once walls are plastered or covered, changing the cable routing means extra work — planning with a furniture sketch in hand saves both time and money.
How do I know if my old wiring needs replacing at all?
Signs like a breaker that trips often, warm outlets, or a burning smell mean you need a professional inspection first — that's covered on our separate electrical inspection page.
Is it worth thinking about smart-home if I haven't decided yet?
Yes — mentioning it to your electrician at the planning stage so a spare cable gets pulled costs far less time and money than chasing a finished wall a couple of years later.
Getting ready to renovate and don't want to miss an outlet?
Tell us about your home — we'll help you put together a planning checklist and set up a consultation, no sales pressure.