Adding New Power Outlets to Your Home: How to Ensure They’re in the Right Place

With the world now glued to electric devices, homeowners are looking to upgrade their home wiring by adding new outlets. There are many debates on the origins of power outlets in the UK, but a little Google search will tell you that the plugs used in the UK today became commonplace in 1984. Many homes haven’t had a wiring update to accommodate new technology habits – like charging phones from the bedside. When placing a new socket, position and practicality need to be considered, and it’ll often call for a professional.  

Type of Outlet 

Times have changed since electrical outlets were first rolled out, with some easily controlled by a smartphone. Before choosing a location for your new outlet, you need to decide which type to install. To do this, spend time considering its purpose. For example, if you’re plugging a TV and games consoles into it, you’ll only need a basic socket because you can easily invest in an extension cable. Whereas, if you’re charging your phone overnight, a socket with an in-built USB port is a good idea.  

Location 

Choosing the location for your new electrical outlet will call for layout visualisation. If you’re completely stripping a room and starting again, create a plan and decide on furniture placement. For example, if you’re placing a bed in the corner of the room, you won’t want the socket positioned on either wall behind the bed. Below, we’ll walk through electrical outlet placement in the bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom.  

Bedrooms 

A bedroom revolves around the bed, with everything else placed to function around it. Therefore, it’s important to decide where the bed will be before deciding on your new outlet placement. Typically, beds are positioned in the middle of a master bedroom, and there’s a socket located behind the headboard or next to the bed. However, on the day of charging smartphones, you may wish to have a power outlet installed on either side of the bed.  

Living Rooms 

If you know where your sofa and TV will be positioned, you’re off to a great start. In the living room, you need to complement your TV’s position with an outlet and many people like to have power options next to the sofa. Considering the size of most living rooms, you’ll need at least one power outlet on each wall.  

Kitchen 

Kitchen outlets are split into two different parts – white goods appliances and countertops: 

• Countertops. Outlets must be fitted to accommodate toasters, kettles, blenders, and other appliances.  
• Main appliances. Kitchens need cookers, washing machines, refrigerators, and in some cases dryers and microwaves. There must be enough outlets to accommodate these, placed beneath and above counter level.  

Bathroom 

Logically, most people don’t have plug sockets in their bathrooms. However, you may wish to install a socket above the sink to accommodate razors. If your bathroom is large enough, and you wish to place a washing machine in there, you will need a secondary outlet because of the higher voltage.  

Height 

Height is a tricky parameter to nail down because there are no strict regulations on placement. However, the UK Building Regulations state that electrical outlets should be easily accessible within their dedicated room. In the absence of strict regulations, the general rule is that an outlet should be no lower than 4.5cm off the ground and no higher than 120cm.  

Installation 

Any new electrical outlet must comply with Part P of the Building Regulation, meaning they need to be installed by a qualified electrician or be checked afterwards. To look for electricians near me, head to MyBuilder.com, where you can search for a fully vetted professional to complete the installation.  

If you do choose to carry out the installation yourself, you need to follow these safety guidelines: 

• Switch off your home’s mains at the fuse box. Remove the circuit fuse for the location you plan to work on.  
• Alternatively, power down the breaker and lock it. You should put a clear note on the breaker to advise other people that you’re carrying out work.  
• Before getting started, use a voltage meter to ensure the circuit is completely dead.  

Depending on the type of outlet you’re installing, you’ll need a different set of materials and tools, which typically includes: 

• Wire strippers 
• Voltage meter 
• Drywall saw 
• 4-in-1 screwdriver 
• Wire connectors 
• Needle-nose pliers 
• Remodelling box 
• Outlet (receptacle) 
• Electrical cable 

In some cases, you will need additional tools including pipe detectors. The last thing you want when installing your new outlet is to burst a pipe, which will be extremely expensive to repair.  

Many homeowners are installing additional outlets to accommodate new tech habits. You will need to consider practicality before deciding on the layout. Any new outlet needs to adhere to Part P of the Building Regulations – we recommend hiring a licensed electrician.