What do I need to think about when deciding where plug sockets go?

[isodontknow]

That basically. Got the plans for our new place and have to discuss with the electrician what we want where. What do I need to think about?

Have more than you think. We have 11 double sockets in our kitchen and they're nearly all in use constantly.

Think about what you'll plug in in each room, where those things will go, e.g. lamps of what sort and where, where will the TV go, etc, etc. You want to avoid trailing cables and using extension leads.

Definitely charging points for phones. We had a plug point with usb connections put next to our kitchen island and it’s a great place to charge devices. Also plug points either side of the sofa for easy charging. And plug points at various places on kitchen worktops for any appliances you may want out in future. blender, air fryer, slowcookers.

If you think you'll have an Alexa or radio on your kitchen window sill, put a socket in the reveal of the window so the lead doesn't trail.

Key thing is furniture placement to avoid trailing wires, critically, TV, beds (bedside lamps) , desks (computers and monitors), plus where you might have shelves or console tables with lamps/speakers on, or floor lamps etc. You can get lamp sockets that enable you to switch lamps on from wall switches rather than having to go round and turn them on manually. If you are wall mounting the TV, get the aerial and socket put half way up the wall so you don't see the wires trailing down. Kitchen- just get loads and loads.

Will leave it to someone more tech to understand the technical limitations

How high up they are, will you have problems reaching down to them in old age if they're really low.
Where is furniture going to go? Are you planning on putting a TV on the wall?
How many things do you have to plug in? If you have a lot of things I'd get some usb plug sockets so you can charge phones etc while the main plug is free.
I'd personally put them in the corners of rooms.

In the kitchen I'd have them spread out around the worktops, I have 8 double sockets all within 6 foot of each other so appliances have to be moved around.

Things to consider:

Put more sockets in than you think you will need.
Do you want plug + USB sockets
Kitchen - how many appliances will you need to plug in? Fridge, freezer, kettle, microwave, coffee machine, slow cooker, blender, alexa, etc etc
Living space - where are you putting TV, stereo, lamps, chargers, routers, speakers etc.
Garage - what tools/appliances are you likely to need sockets for?
Utility - washing machine, tumble dryer, iron
Bedrooms - lamps, chargers, hairdryers etc
Where are you going to want to plug in a hoover?
Are you likely to move furniture around? Will this impact on where you want sockets? (Eg putting bed against different wall, will you still be able to plug in bedside lights)
Xmas lights (indoors and outdoors)

One thing we wish we'd done when our lounge diner extension was built was to put a couple of recessed sockets in the floor under where the dining table is located as it's frequently used for working on the laptop and phone charging. Like the ones that are used in offices.

Double socket in the corner of every room as a base level. Then think about any areas where you know you’ll need to plug things in eg, dressing table etc and whether you’ll need more.

Its relatively easy to swap internal wall sockets single to double if they are stud walls in modern houses. Ones in the outer wall can be more difficult because you may have to chip out the blockwork.

For USB charging, don't let them supply the cheapo sockets that only allow 2.1A max shared.

You can get faster charging from the type C sockets that run at 20W. More expensive but worth it if you are charging big devices like tablets.

Think about having an outside socket on its own breaker for plug in hybrid charging if you are going to go down that route, and if you are thinking of a big cookers might be a good time to upgrade to heavier gauge wiring on the cooker circuit as someone had issues with that on another thread.

Most houses are really short of sockets in the kitchen.

Sockets in the bathroom are really useful for electric toothbrushes and shavers, but these I think can only be installed by qualified electricians.

😮my Christmas tree! I'd forgotten to plan where that might be able to go!

DH is talking about a home kit.

I've been thinking about how to have furniture, but that's a good point, I'll need to check if the bed/cupboards will still fit if it's in a different place.

As others have said - have more than you think you’ll need. Bear in mind the regulations specify the height - they have to be between 450 and 1200mm from the ffl.

I would love to have some in the floor in our sitting room/diner.

And outdoors, if your house is detached seriously consider power points on all 4 sides.

What do you have as bedside lights? This is what the architect has suggested - a socket where the green cross is. The one by the door will have the light switch for the main light there too.

Am I understanding that he is suggesting only two double sockets in that room? And, not one next to the bed or desk?! Seems like he is suggesting the most inconvenient places. If there is no room for a bed side table next to the bed then I suggest you put a shelf behind the bed that can have room for a side light and charging phone etc, so personally I would put two double sockets on that side and two but the desk

Not just your Christmas tree, think other Christmas decorations too. Will you want to have garlands on top of your upper kitchen cupboards, if so it might be worth putting a socket up there. Or somewhere close to your stairs, if you want Christmas lights on your banister.

In larger walk-in cupboards it can also useful sometimes. But do think about where you don't want them, where will it be a problem to put furniture because it would be blocking a key socket?

If it is relevant too, think about outside for external sockets. Again for Christmas lights, power washer etc.

You'll use your house differently at different times of the year and different life stages, so walk yourself through that.

In addition to the ones suggested, I would add them under the desks and one behind the headboards. Mine have a little shelf above their headboard with a little flexible neck LED lamp they use that to read but is also the light they put on before they get into bed. Also consider above the wardrobes if you ever want to install lights inside the wardrobes at any stage. Will they have mirrors anywhere? Will they need a plug socket for drying their hair?

Yes to Christmas tree positioning indoor and also outdoor sockets for Christmas lights, extension lead plug in for any gardening/power washing.

Kitchen, above the top cabinets for plugging in under cab lights and the extractor fan. Inside a cupboard next to an appliance so my American Fridge Freezer plug is accessed inside the larder unit next to it, this also has the combi microwave plugged in too into the same socket.

Any fused spurs or switches do not need to be above the worktop level I don't believe. I saw a renovation chap put all his cooker switches etc in the back of a base cabinet all labelled up so the wall just had the sockets. I saw it about 8 years too late for my kitchen.

Glad the Xmas tree will get a plug. My builder said he didn't think of it and they had to use an extension cable that his short arsed dogs kept falling over.
Put them in cupboards things like vacuum cleaners and vibrators to charge (maybe one downstairs and one upstairs...?)

Ah, and even if they aren't running the cables now, they can put the routing in for a charging port for an electric car

Plug +USB will date, I reckon, and be less useful in ten years or so.

Am I understanding that he is suggesting only two double sockets in that room?
Yes. It's not enough, is it?

Have twice as many as you think you'll need, because some will inevitably end up behind a massive wardrobe or some other item of furniture that needs to be flush against the wall, like bookshelves or a dresser or whatever.

Do things like counting up how many devices are likely to be plugged in at that same time in each room. They soon mount up. And don't forget to have at least one near where you are likely to want to plug in the Christmas tree and/or outdoor festive lights.

Choose how many you think you need and double it.

you won’t regret it

a double socket for each stretch of wall between a window or door. so you never have to run an extension cord around. in our house, each room as 4 double sockets but all on the same wall so you can't plug things in at the desk on the other side of the room. idiot architect.

also put a floor socket under the middle of the dining table / living room coffee table for laptops / chargers.

don't bother with USB sockets unless they are the new USB-C because in a few years the old ones will be redundant.