Bathroom Electrical Outlet Placement

Bathroom Electrical Outlet Placement

Learn the best places to install outlets in your home, from the kitchen to the bedroom

Does your home feel like a spider web of extension cords? Do your appliance plugs rotate through your single kitchen socket like a merry-go-round? You're not alone. The average American home has about 75 electrical outlets. The total number of outlets in a home is important. But so is their specific placement.

When deciding where to place electrical outlets in your home, remember this—all installed outlets need to meet strict electrical code requirements. We recommend working with a professional electrician in your area to ensure compliance and safety.

Ready to get started? Use our list of the best places to consider when installing outlets in your home as inspiration.

1. Living Room

The living room is where you should unwind, not an extension cord. Make sure you can power through a relaxing night by installing your living room outlets:

• On every wall

• Near the fireplace mantle (to display holiday decor)

• In the center of larger rooms with furniture away from walls (to power lamps and charging stations)

• Higher up on a main wall (to power a mounted television )

According to the National Electrical Code, an outlet must be placed every 6 feet along the floor line of any room with dedicated living space. Use this as a guide when determining how many outlets your living room needs for optimal functionality.

2. Bedroom

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When placing bedroom outlets, consider how many people will be using the room. Bedrooms sleeping two people likely need more outlets than a single sleeper bedroom.

Place bedroom outlets:

• On every wall

• Higher up on a main wall (to power a mounted television)

• On each side of a bed (for nightstand appliances)

• Inside a walk-in closet (for irons or clothing steamers)

Keep in mind that a bedroom is required to have at least one light source controlled by a switch. To maximize the functionality of a bedroom, consider installing switched outlets. These have one hot receptacle (always on) and one controlled by the room's switch. This can make it easier to control a room's lighting without turning off every device.

3. Bathroom

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Water and electricity don't mix. For safety, all bathroom outlets must be ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI).

Consider placing bathroom outlets:

• Near each sink (cords should never have to cross over a sink)

• Inside medicine cabinets (electric toothbrushes charge off the counter)

• Inside drawers (to charge hair tools and electric razors out of sight)

Knowing where to place outlets in your bathroom is important. But knowing where not to place outlets is equally valuable knowledge. Keep receptacles at least 6 feet away from showers and bathtubs. To prevent cords from getting wet, install outlets at least 1 foot to the left or right of a sink.

4. Kitchen

The heart of the home deserves extra attention when planning outlet placement. Make happy memories and delicious meals with ease by placing kitchen outlets:

• Every 2 feet along each counter

• Inside the pantry (for small appliances or cordless vacuum charging stations)

Unless you're building a custom accessible kitchen, outlets should never be placed more than 20 inches above a countertop. All outlets serving a countertop or appliance (like a dishwasher) must be GFCI outlets as well.

5. Home Office

The 2020 work-from-home surge made dedicated office space a must-have for most homeowners. For a neat and efficient workspace, home offices need outlets installed:

• On every wall

• At levels based on the height and clearance of workspaces, not necessarily uniform with other rooms in the home

• Inside drawers and cabinets (to cut down on cord clutter)

• With USB ports (for built-in device charging capabilities)

When your home office is a converted bedroom, be on the lookout for signs of an overloaded circuit. If your lights dim when the printer kicks on, you may be looking at more electrical work than just outlets. Speak to a professional electrician about updating your electrical panel if your office is having trouble keeping up.

6. Garage

Garages aren't only for storage. Make sure you can tackle your next DIY project by installing garage outlets:

• On the ceiling for a garage door opener (unless the space is already hardwired for one)

• Near parking stalls (to charge electric-powered vehicles )

• Near workspaces (to operate small tools and stand-alone machines)

Recent updates to the National Electrical Code now require GFCI outlets in garages. Whether you're installing outlets for the first time or updating current outlets to meet the new requirements, it may help to know that garage outlets can boost your home's value and give your property an edge in a competitive market.

7. Outside

Spending 120 minutes outside per week can have positive effects on overall health and well-being. Make sure your outdoor living space is fully powered by installing outlets:

• On every exterior wall (to power yard maintenance tools and holiday decorations)

• On either side of the front door (for decorative lighting or security equipment)

• Near outdoor living spaces (power lighting, heating elements, or entertainment equipment)

• In the soffit (to hide wires from holiday lights or security equipment)

Because outdoor outlets will come into contact with Mother Nature, only GFCI outlets are permitted. Installing waterproof covers for outdoor outlets is also recommended.

As you design your dream outdoor space, look for covers designed to fit over extension cords. Just keep in mind that extension cords should be used for temporary holiday displays or to power tools for projects. Never use an outdoor extension cord as a permanent source of power.

Think Strategically About Where to Place Outlets in Your Home

Ready to eliminate the extension cord for good? Properly placed electrical outlets can help boost your home's functionality and aesthetics. It's always possible to add additional outlets down the road. But this can be a costly job that's best avoided with proper outlet placement during initial construction or a full-scale remodel.

Before going with a generic outlet layout, take some time to think about what's most important to you and your family.

Bathroom Electrical Outlet Placement

Source: https://www.angi.com/articles/6-places-consider-when-installing-outlets.htm

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