Are you currently renovating your apartment? Or have you bought a shell of a property? Then you should take time in the initial phase of the renovation to plan the number and position of the sockets and light switches. After we have explained to you what you are looking for when...Bedroom wiring diagramIf you should pay attention, we will now give some tips and examples on how to place the sockets in the living room according to the arrangement of the furniture and your needs.
Sockets in new buildings must be planned in advance
Problems with electrical systems occur more often in residential buildings than in private houses. Residents rarely receive an electrical installation plan when moving into a new city apartment. However, it is a mandatory document for the approval of the residential building project by the relevant authorities. The electrical installation plan provides information about how many sockets, circuits and lighting and communication connections are provided for different rooms in residential buildings. However, these depend on the equipment planned by the builder.
Since each of us now has several devices that need to be charged frequently, there is also often a shortage of power outlets. To save yourself the hassle of tangled cables later, analyze the necessary requirements in advance and hire an electrician to plan the power distribution properly and in accordance with today's standards. If necessary, he can also record the new positions for the cables and connections schematically so that they are not forgotten in the future. This is particularly important when drilling.
When planning electrical work, it is an advantage if the placement of various living room furniture has already been determined. However, if you have bought a property as a shell and you find it difficult to imagine where exactly the furniture will be, find some sort of “nodes” or “meeting points” in the room where you would need sockets and switches. Then it will be easier for you to decide how to place the sockets in the living room. Below we give you some examples.
Sockets around the sofa
As in the bedroom, sockets are needed near the seating in the living room - primarily the couch and armchair.
First, a few words about the types of sockets. If you want to charge your smartphone or tablet, you need a USB port. Modern socket variants offer various combination options. This means that three sockets in a common frame look much more elegant than three individual ones in a row.
At what height should you plan the sockets on the sofa?
- At waist height (75-90 cm from the floor) – the advantage of this solution is convenient access to power for all devices: for charging a phone, tablet, laptop or connecting a desk lamp.
- Above the skirting board (30cm from the floor) - recommended for floor lamps or near a side table
- in the skirting board: practical for occasionally used devices such as a vacuum cleaner. This solution is impractical for frequent use because you have to bend over too much.
Tip: If you have children of kindergarten age, a child lock is necessary for low-lying sockets.
How do you correctly place sockets in the living room?
Nowadays you can never have too many sockets! Plan electrical outlets on both sides of the sofa and next to the armchairs. Even if you don't have a floor lamp now, that doesn't mean you won't need one in the future.
In-floor sockets are practical for open living areas
That's itSofa in the middle of the room(e.g. in a kitchen-island-living room arrangement), where should you connect a floor or desk lamp? If the furniture is sufficiently far away from the walls, floor sockets should be provided. You may have seen such special floor-mounted sockets at airports.
Another good idea for using floor sockets is in a one-room apartment where theBed also placed in the living roomshould be. In this case, various options are chosen to separate the two areas from each other. As shown in the example above, the floor socket proves to be a clever solution for a rotating room divider with a TV.
Sockets for furniture installation
There are various technical solutions for furniture sockets. For example:
– Socket on the worktop
– Install a pull-out power strip in a chest of drawers
– Install a socket in a drawer (The disadvantage of this option is that you cannot make optimal use of the available space in the drawer.)
– Install a socket in the couch
Tip: The number of sockets for gadgets can be reduced by using a USB socket. It allows you to charge multiple devices at the same time, which significantly reduces charging time and does not spoil the appearance of the room.
Plan sockets for the television
The correct height of the power strip allows you to mount the TV as close as possible to the wall (it is not for nothing that manufacturers try to reduce the thickness of the screen), avoid problems with installing the bracket, as well as ensure easy connection between the TV and any To ensure entertainment electronics - antenna cable, HDMI, hi-fi system, game console, etc. This means that you need several sockets to connect. In this case, the best location of the TV connectors in the living room depends on the type of device and its mounting.
If theTV on the wallmounted and mounted on a bracket, the best height for sockets in the living room is approximately 130 cm from the floor. The key word is “approximately” because the most important thing is that the sockets are hidden behind the TV. Additionally, you should consider the type of mount used to mount your TV to the wall.
If yourTV on a lowboardYou should consider the height of the piece of furniture so that the sockets are not visible. In this case, the sockets cannot be integrated on the wall, but directly into the furniture or into the floor.
To connect a television, you need 2-3 standard sockets as well as a TV and a network connection - the latter is simply necessary for a modern smart TV. It also makes sense to have several sockets for oneMusic and home cinema systemprovided, if available. Check carefully how and where the speakers are connected (if they are external speakers).
Sockets in the work area: above or below the desk top?
The height of the sockets in yourWorking corner in the living roomdepends on several factors.
- If you are using a desktop PC, have the sockets mounted at a height of 30cm from the floor.
- However, consider whether power is also necessary for the speakers and webcam - sometimes they are connected directly to the computer, but most often they are also powered via a socket (better placed above the worktop).
With a laptop or graphics tablet, it is also more convenient to have a power outlet nearby. In this case, it would make sense to plan the socket at a height of 10-15 cm above the table top. The standard height of a desk is 75 cm, so the height from the floor would be 90 cm.
How many power outlets do you need at your desk?
Count the required number of outlets for your home office and add at least a few additional outlets - for example, for charging devices, a desk lamp or a cooling pad that your notebook might need in the hot summer.
But that's not all.
The positioning of sockets on the sofa, television and even in the work corner is important, but you shouldn't forget the “little things” either:
- Have you always dreamed of an electric fireplace?
- Friends gave you a digital photo frame and there is no place to connect it in a visible place?
- And what about the humidifier/exercise bike/treadmill/aquarium?
- The air conditioner was installed and, as it turns out, it needs an outlet 30cm below the ceiling?
The question "how many sockets in the living room” can only be answered once you analyze your usage needs. Make a complete list of all the electronics you own and plan to purchase in the next five years. Plan a route for the vacuum cleaner in advance. If the room is long and narrow, it makes sense to install sockets at the entrance and at the other end of the room so as not to overstretch the device's cord when trying to reach remote corners.
Where should the switches be placed?
DieStandardhöhefor light switches is 105 cm above the ground or at adult shoulder height. However, for more comfort, you can move it slightly downwards - about 75-90 cm from the floor, or depending on the height of the user.
Regarding thePositionIt is important that the light switches are installed on the correct side of the door. Use the door handle as a guide. If you are standing IN the living room, it should be right next to the light switch.
For the living room areMultifunction light switchalso a very good solution. Several light sources and various devices are controlled by one strip. Skylights, LED strips, shutters and even the TV can be turned on and off with a single press.
If the living room is also to be used as a guest bedroom, one canChangeover switchat arm's length next to the sofa - so that guests don't have to get up to turn off the lights before going to bed.
