In this Post
–Electrical Outlet Placements
–Electrical Safety Tips
Electrical outlets, switches, and sockets are among the most frequently used things in our homes, which is why installing and positioning them properly is very crucial for homeowners. Wrong placements of electrical sockets can make your day-to-day life difficult and in the worst-case scenario, it may lead to dangerous electrical hazards, especially if you have children and elderly household members around. So, if you are wondering where to position electrical outlets in your home to ensure safety and practicality, we’re here to help. In this blog, we’ll discuss the best ways to position electrical sockets in a home.
So, let’s begin!
Where to Position Electrical Outlets In Your Home: Best Placements to Consider
Positioning electrical switches and outlets in your home can be a crucial task, which is why we have listed down and discussed some of the best ways to do it.
- Near Kitchen Countertops
- Outside Bathroom
- Beside Your Bed
- At the Entrance of Living Room
- In Your Study Room
- In Garage
- Outside Storeroom
- At the Entrance of Basement
Near Kitchen Countertops
Let’s start with the kitchen, which is one of the most important parts of your home. The right placement of electrical sockets here matters a lot. However, the power sockets in your kitchen should always be installed away from the sink and other parts of your space that remain exposed to moisture to ensure electrical safety. One of the best places to position your electrical switches in your kitchen is on the countertop, where you put most of your electrical appliances so that it would be easier for you to reach out to them when needed. On a side note, you can also take a look at our blog to learn more about the necessary precautions you need to take while working in the kitchen.
Outside Bathroom
Since the light in your bathroom is usually turned off when it is not in use, it usually stays dark. So, having the light switch outside the bathroom is the best thing you can do in this regard so that anyone using the bathroom can easily light it up before entering. Positioning electrical switches and outlets outside the bathroom or toilet area will also prevent you from the incident of electrocution since water droplets may be everywhere in such places. Even if you have an exhaust fan installed in your bathroom, make sure you have a switch for it installed outside the space. Meanwhile, if you are looking for some bathroom cleaning tips, you can check them out here.
Beside Your Bed
Keeping up with our day-to-day routine these days, we sometimes have to work from home or take online classes. We often do most of these tasks lying comfortably on our beds. Such tasks may take hours and the batteries of our phones or laptops may not last that long, which is why we need to charge them on and off. So, having electrical switches beside your bed increases the practicality of your bedroom space. Moreover, such an arrangement also allows you to light up the table lamps placed right beside your bed, However, the light switches for your bedroom should always be at its entrance, so that you won’t bump into things entering into a dark room. Well, these are among the best ways to position electrical sockets in a home.
At the Entrance of Living Room
A living room is usually the hub of household activities so it must have more than one electrical outlet. People often keep television sets and music systems in their living rooms. Moreover, the size of the common area of your home is usually larger than all the other rooms, which is why it requires more lighting and more lighting means more switches as you cannot overload a single switch or run extension cords in this high traffic area. However, the main light switch of your living room should always be placed at its entrance to facilitate the mobility of the household members and guests. Correctly, positioning electrical switches and outlets in your home is extremely for each part of it.
In Your Study Room
If you have a dedicated study room, then you need to pay close attention to it when planning the placement of electrical switches in your home. Your work desk where you read, write and use a laptop or any other form of projection equipment should be close to an electrical outlet. This will help you easily connect your table lamp and electronic devices with electricity supply. Clever placement of electrical switches in your study room will prevent you from using extension cords.
Note: So, if you are still confused about where to position electrical outlets in your home, especially in the aforementioned common areas where children freely move around, then you should try positioning them at least at the height of 4 feet (48 inches) above the ground. The hands of toddlers and young children can’t reach that height. Electrical outlets installed anything lower to that height can always be covered when not in use to ensure safety.
In the Garage
Correctly positioning electrical switches and outlets in your garage is as important as any other part of your home. Your garage area may also house the main power supply switch of your home. However, you need to keep away from it in your routine and touch it when needed while taking necessary precautions. Moreover, install the electrical socket and light switch in your garage, which you will be using on a daily basis, away from the main switch of your home to ensure safety. Many homeowners also prefer to have an electrical door installed for their garage. However, the switch for your electrical door must be installed separately and should be a part of your garage’s electrical socket, which you use to power up the lights and other electrical equipment in your space. Meanwhile, if you are planning to redo your garage, then these garage organisation ideas might be of some help to you.
Outside the Storeroom
A storeroom is a place in your home, which you don’t use often in your regular routine. However, this doesn’t mean that you neglect this very important part of your home when planning the placement of electrical switches in your home. It depends on the size of your storeroom and how much light you require to light up each part of it properly. Storerooms are usually constructed away from the common areas in a home, the parts that usually remain dark. So, it will always be a good idea to have a light switch installed outside your storeroom so that any of your household members can conveniently use it when needed. However, a properly arranged storeroom will be even more convenient to use than the cluttered one, which is why we bring you these useful tips to declutter your storage space and make it look and feel more organised.
At the Entrance of Basement
Putting a light switch at the entrance of the basement area is considered among the best ways to position the electrical sockets in a home. Since basements are constructed underground, it usually remains dark there and you always have to climb down the stairs to enter it. So, using the stairs without the lights on can be extremely dangerous for you, which is why it is essential for your basement area to have a light switch at its entrance. However, you can install the rest of the electrical outlets anywhere in your basement area as per your usage and convenience. Make sure that they are installed away from the area that is exposed to moisture due to any possible leaks or dampness caused by pipes.
Note: To get rid of the dampness and water leaks in your basement space, you can take a look at our blog in which we have discussed tips to waterproof your basement.
Electrical Safety Tips for Your Home
Some of the key electrical safety precautions for your home have been listed as under:
- Avoid touching electrical outlets and equipment with wet hands
- Cover or replace all open or damaged electrical wiring
- Minimise or abandon the use of extension cord since excessive electrical loads on an extension cord can be extremely dangerous and may result in an electrical fire incident at home.
By following the above-mentioned tips, you can stay safe from different types of electrical hazards. Read our blog to learn more about these electrical safety precautions for your home.
Now that you where to position electrical switches in your home, it’s time for us to wrap up this piece. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our blog, feel free to reach out to us at blog@zameen.com. We’d be glad to hear from you.
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