The electrical and lighting plans for a home are usually made early in the process – after the framing is complete but before the drywall goes up. The homeowner will walk through the house with the builder and/or electrician and discuss where fixtures, outlets, and switches will go.
Considering your electrical and lighting plan well before you get to this stage will give you the benefit of more time. It will allow you to consider what fixtures you want and where you want them. It will also decrease the chances of you forgetting an outlet or a light switch. It can be helpful to sit down and consider each room in the house and how you want the electrical plans to be arranged.
Keep some things in mind as you make your plans to make sure that your house’s electrical and lighting is as convenient and safe as possible.
Plan Your Furniture Layout
You don’t have to plan everything right away, but giving some thought to where your bed, couches, chairs, appliances, built-ins and gadgets will be going will help you determine how to place outlets and switches for optimal convenience. Also consider what you do and do not like about the lighting and electrical setup in your current home. This is your chance to keep what you enjoy and avoid what you don’t like.
Consider touches to make your life easier, such as hanging small chandeliers, hanging pendants, or wall sconces to act as bedside lights to free up space on your bedside tables. Place outlets between your nightstand and bed, as opposed to hard-to-reach places like behind your nightstand or bed.
More Outlets
If you’re not sure how many outlets you’ll need in a specific room, add more than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have more than you’ll need than not enough. Try to consider where you’ll want to use your phone and consider adding USB ports to those outlets to free up even more space. Keep in mind that too many outlets is unsightly and likely against code, so you’ll still want to be strategic.
Light Switch Placement
Imagine taking a walk through your new home and visualize where you’ll want to place light switches. Most average-sized rooms will only need one light switch, though you will likely want one at each end of a hallway. Place a light switch at each exterior exit to your home: not just the front door, but side doors, patios, garage doors, etc. These switches should control both interior and exterior lights. Light switches to garages, pantries, attics, closets, and basements should be placed outside of the entrance so you don’t have to fumble for a light switch when entering a dark room.
Plan Lighting Based on Your Needs
When it comes to lighting, plan what you’ll need and where based on your own preferences. Decide where your dining table will go, for example, and place ample lighting or a fixture in that spot. Try not to overlight your house, but keep in mind that dimmer switches are options if you occasionally need to brighten things up.
Plan for the Future
If you are working within a budget but know that you’ll have plans for down the road, such as finishing your basement, putting in solar panels, or adding an outdoor kitchen, ask your electrical contractor to run wires and cables to the places where you have plans. This will make future projects much easier.
Take Photos
Once your wiring is installed but before the sheetrock goes up, go through your home and take pictures of the wiring and switches in each wall. This will come in extremely handy if you ever need electrical work done on your home.
Ask Your Contractor
An experienced electrician has seen it all and will likely have ideas that you never even considered when it comes to your electrical plan. If you have questions about codes, safety considerations, and other aspects of your electrical plan, don’t be afraid to ask! Our electrical contractors have years of experience educating our clients and providing important information that can be beneficial to consider during pre-construction services. At Wittburn Electric, we hope each of our existing clients and potential clients feels comfortable and trusts our local electricians to ask them any questions they may have.
