The Places People Forget to Install Power Points
Keep your phone and tablet fully charged by installing sockets in all the right places
Penny nill
20 April 2015
Founder of renovation blog darlingstreet.com.au. I am currently renovating my semi in Balmain and am blogging about the whole process. I also write about my fun DIY projects and share all my awesome vintage finds on my online store. I am very happy to call myself a Houzz Contributor!
Founder of renovation blog darlingstreet.com.au. I am currently renovating my semi... More
We live in a technological world and rely on electricity to power our many devices. We communicate via phones and email, we get our entertainment from TVs and iPads, and we prepare our meals using food processors and ovens. So it is vital that we put thought into the locations of powerpoints throughout our home, otherwise every part of our day will become a challenge. So plug in your device and read on to discover all those places people forget to install powerpoints.
Hallways
Hallways are often forgotten in the powerpoint planning session, as they don’t count as a room on the floorplan. However, it is still very handy to have a powerpoint in the hallway, particularly long ones, as your vacuum cleaner cord is unlikely to reach the whole length of it.
TIP: Long hallways are often dark, so powerpoints can also be utilised for free-standing floor lamps to brighten up the space.
Find out how to make your hallway work its socks off here.
Hallways are often forgotten in the powerpoint planning session, as they don’t count as a room on the floorplan. However, it is still very handy to have a powerpoint in the hallway, particularly long ones, as your vacuum cleaner cord is unlikely to reach the whole length of it.
TIP: Long hallways are often dark, so powerpoints can also be utilised for free-standing floor lamps to brighten up the space.
Find out how to make your hallway work its socks off here.
Near the bathroom vanity
What did us ladies do before hair straighteners? Or you fellas without electric razors? Don’t let your morning routine be thrown out because you have to share a powerpoint with your better half! Take the time to think through what devices you use in the bathroom and how frequently you use them. Ensure you install your sockets within arm’s reach of the vanity and mirror – no one can do a good blow-dry without looking in the mirror.
What did us ladies do before hair straighteners? Or you fellas without electric razors? Don’t let your morning routine be thrown out because you have to share a powerpoint with your better half! Take the time to think through what devices you use in the bathroom and how frequently you use them. Ensure you install your sockets within arm’s reach of the vanity and mirror – no one can do a good blow-dry without looking in the mirror.
Beside the couch
The living room requires powerpoints for various reasons: plugging in the vacuum cleaner, the floor lamp, the iPad, or even the computer on those days your couch becomes your office. By installing sockets behind the couch at either end, they will not only prove to be very convenient, they will also be hidden from view. Because let’s face it, powerpoints are not the most attractive addition to your home.
TIP: Try to position your powerpoints in the middle of the room. This means you won’t have to drag wires across the floor, or keep unplugging the vacuum cleaner and moving it to a different socket!
The living room requires powerpoints for various reasons: plugging in the vacuum cleaner, the floor lamp, the iPad, or even the computer on those days your couch becomes your office. By installing sockets behind the couch at either end, they will not only prove to be very convenient, they will also be hidden from view. Because let’s face it, powerpoints are not the most attractive addition to your home.
TIP: Try to position your powerpoints in the middle of the room. This means you won’t have to drag wires across the floor, or keep unplugging the vacuum cleaner and moving it to a different socket!
Beside the bed
The bedroom is a power-hungry room in the house and providing a powerpoint for your bedside lamp is a must. But remember that many people plug their phone in beside the bed, too. Think about how many devices you require on your bedside table and install the appropriate number of sockets. If you prefer to wake up to the radio rather than your iPhone alarm, consider providing a socket for a radio clock also.
TIP: These days you can install USB sockets directly into the wall – if you use an iPhone and iPad, you might want to install these outlets as well.
The bedroom is a power-hungry room in the house and providing a powerpoint for your bedside lamp is a must. But remember that many people plug their phone in beside the bed, too. Think about how many devices you require on your bedside table and install the appropriate number of sockets. If you prefer to wake up to the radio rather than your iPhone alarm, consider providing a socket for a radio clock also.
TIP: These days you can install USB sockets directly into the wall – if you use an iPhone and iPad, you might want to install these outlets as well.
On the outside deck
Us Aussies love entertaining outside, so don’t let a lack of powerpoints stop you from throwing a great barbecue! Install some outside powerpoints for extra mood lighting, music or speakers.
Outside powerpoints are also needed for those colourful Christmas lights! So remember to install a couple more in time for the festive season.
Us Aussies love entertaining outside, so don’t let a lack of powerpoints stop you from throwing a great barbecue! Install some outside powerpoints for extra mood lighting, music or speakers.
Outside powerpoints are also needed for those colourful Christmas lights! So remember to install a couple more in time for the festive season.
In the kitchen
In this day and age, the kitchen is arguably the most power-hungry room in the house. Food-processors, toasters, kettles, coffee-machines, dishwashers and fridges are all power-hungry devices! Think about where you want to store each of these items. Some will inevitably live on your kitchen bench and remain plugged in day-in and day-out, so ensure you install sockets beside the bench for these items. If you are keeping some appliances hidden in the pantry or in a drawer, remember to install a socket on the back of the pantry wall, or in the appliance drawer – that way you don’t have to move the appliances onto the kitchen bench every time you want to use them.
TIP: If you are building a new kitchen, remind your electrician to install sockets for your dishwasher and fridge.
More: 7 Super-Practical Things to Remember When Planning Your Kitchen
In this day and age, the kitchen is arguably the most power-hungry room in the house. Food-processors, toasters, kettles, coffee-machines, dishwashers and fridges are all power-hungry devices! Think about where you want to store each of these items. Some will inevitably live on your kitchen bench and remain plugged in day-in and day-out, so ensure you install sockets beside the bench for these items. If you are keeping some appliances hidden in the pantry or in a drawer, remember to install a socket on the back of the pantry wall, or in the appliance drawer – that way you don’t have to move the appliances onto the kitchen bench every time you want to use them.
TIP: If you are building a new kitchen, remind your electrician to install sockets for your dishwasher and fridge.
More: 7 Super-Practical Things to Remember When Planning Your Kitchen
Electric gates
If you are planning to install electric gates for your driveway, or an electric door for your garage, don’t forget the powerpoint! Although the remote control is battery operated, the gate is not, so provide the power.
TIP: If your gates or garage are in the backyard, the electrician will need to dig up your yard to run the cables underneath. So try to time the installation of your gates with laying new lawn or fixing up your plumbing underground. It’ll save you tearing up your garden more than once.
If you are planning to install electric gates for your driveway, or an electric door for your garage, don’t forget the powerpoint! Although the remote control is battery operated, the gate is not, so provide the power.
TIP: If your gates or garage are in the backyard, the electrician will need to dig up your yard to run the cables underneath. So try to time the installation of your gates with laying new lawn or fixing up your plumbing underground. It’ll save you tearing up your garden more than once.
Charging station
Perhaps the most vital area to install powerpoints is in the home office. Lamps, computers, printers, iPads and phones all need juice to keep your business running smoothly, so over-order on the sockets for this room.
TIP: Most sockets are hidden down low so no-one can see them. However, in the study, this is not necessarily the most useful place for them. If you install them just above desk height, it is much easier to plug and unplug portable devices, like laptops and tablets.
More: 10 Ideas for Keeping Your Tech Organised
Perhaps the most vital area to install powerpoints is in the home office. Lamps, computers, printers, iPads and phones all need juice to keep your business running smoothly, so over-order on the sockets for this room.
TIP: Most sockets are hidden down low so no-one can see them. However, in the study, this is not necessarily the most useful place for them. If you install them just above desk height, it is much easier to plug and unplug portable devices, like laptops and tablets.
More: 10 Ideas for Keeping Your Tech Organised
Garage
Vacuuming cars is a tough job at the best of times. So make it easier on yourself by providing a power outlet in the garage. Outlets in the garage will also be useful for attempting DIY projects that require powertools.
Vacuuming cars is a tough job at the best of times. So make it easier on yourself by providing a power outlet in the garage. Outlets in the garage will also be useful for attempting DIY projects that require powertools.
Television
If you are wanting to mount your television on the wall, a good rule of thumb for the height of your powerpoint is 1.2 metres. Then, whatever height you decide to hang your TV, it will cover the powerpoint. Consider installing more than a double socket, as you may want to use a separate DVD player and separate speakers.
TIP: Online streaming is the way of the future, so install an internet cable next to the powerpoint for your TV.
How to make a flat screen TV blend in
TELL US
Where did you forget to install a powerpoint?
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7 High-Tech Home Improvements You’ll Thank Yourself For
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If you are wanting to mount your television on the wall, a good rule of thumb for the height of your powerpoint is 1.2 metres. Then, whatever height you decide to hang your TV, it will cover the powerpoint. Consider installing more than a double socket, as you may want to use a separate DVD player and separate speakers.
TIP: Online streaming is the way of the future, so install an internet cable next to the powerpoint for your TV.
How to make a flat screen TV blend in
TELL US
Where did you forget to install a powerpoint?
MORE
7 High-Tech Home Improvements You’ll Thank Yourself For
10 Ideas for Keeping Your Tech Organised
Over-the-Top (but Seriously Sexy) High-Tech Home Improvements
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Depending on the size and shape of your kitchen, it's worth considering putting a bank of powerpoints on the side of the end cupboards rather than along the top on the splash back. If it's practical (it would be in my small-ish kitchen) then it removes unsightly and dirt-catching powerpoints from the splashback makes it easier to clean. I would need to find a way so they are covered, maybe with individual flaps or a flat, concealed cupboard with a door, so they would be hidden when not in use. I don't have anything permanently plugged in on the bench so that would work for me.
Powerpoints in or near bookshelves are useful, especially built-ins. I have built-in shelves in one room in the alcoves on either side of the chimney breast. They were pre-made hanging shelves and about 4cms narrower than the space but they looked like a design feature so we put them in. By chance there was a powerpoint underneath one side and it's ideal. I can run the cord up the gap and it's barely visible and only when you're virtually standing in front of it. So we can have a small pebble lamp on there, in a corner that would otherwise not have space for a lamp. It's also a handy place to recharge phones etc.
If you were starting from scratch you could put the powerpoint on the wall and hide it behind books etc.
Lights in some kitchen cupboards that are difficult to see from just the central room lights. My old Edwardian floor to ceiling pantry cupboard has no light. It's only about 50cms wide x 50cms deep but quite dark at night due to the direction it faces away from the main lights so I have put a simple battery light in there, not ideal but works when needed.
Be mindful not to overdo this, no need to waste energy.