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Mock up layout of light switches, outlets, lights, etc. Thoughts?

8 years ago

So I just went over my floor plans in MS Paint, very tedious endeavor to make a layout of all the light switches, outlets, lights, etc but its done. Should I take away/add anything? Hows it look? House is 2063 sq ft, everything finished in the basement except mech room.


Comments (14)

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Definitely seems to be a lot of lighting, not a bad thing to err on the side of too much. You can always dim or use a smaller lamp.

    It's hard to see the receptacle red dots so excuse me if I mention one you already drew in (by the way RECEPTACLE is the proper term for places you plug things into, outlet technically refers to anything that uses power including receptacles, lighting, appliances, etc..). Note that the various appliances need the appropriate receptacles or connections (dishwasher, garbage disposal, washer, dryer, water heater, etc...).

    Some other observations:

    KITCHEN/DINING
    Each of your kitchen countertop sections needs a receptacle. Obviously, you'll also need wiring for what I suspect some lighting fixture over the dining table.

    The little L-shaped piece of wall between the patio slider and the door to the master requires a receptacle.

    LIVING ROOM:
    While it's not required by the code, I'd place a floor outlet in that sofa area. You may have a need for a table lamp or just a place to plug in a laptop power cord or something.

    In both the living room and bedrooms where you show wall mount TVs, I'd put a receptacle (in addition to the normal wall ones) behind the TV (again your plans are ambiguous as to whether that's what you are doing). My wife detests seeing cables dangling from the TV.

    BATHROOMS:
    My wife loves her bidet toilet seat. These things need a receptacle. I'd put one adjacent to the toilet somewhere if you think you might ever want to do this.

    SPA

    It looks like you have a portable spa installed on the patio. You can't have an unrelated receptacle adjacent as shown. It needs to be 6' away. Obviously, there are specific requirements for the power feeding the spa itself.

    GARAGE

    If you're going to have an electric garage door opener, best to put a receptacle on the ceiling near where its motor unit is going to be installed.

    STAIRS

    You don't show it, but you're required to have (and you certainly will want) lighting over the stairway.

    BAR AREA

    You show receptacles on your bar peninsula on the front. Typically, you'll have an overhang, so if that is more than 12" you can't put the REQUIRED receptacle there (you could mount it to the end or on the "service" side of it somewhere.

    FRONT PORCH

    You are required to have one outdoor receptacle on the front of the house somewhere.

  • 8 years ago

    Let me be a little more descriptive about your excessive recessed lights.

    Here's a few examples:

    Little Bathrooms: Don't have recessed lights at all. Have one light source above the mirror and that's it. You want light to hit your face when you look in the mirror, not causing shadows because they're behind you.

    Little Bedrooms: Get rid of the recessed lights. Have a fan/light combo. Supplemental lighting would be from bedside table lamps.

    Closets: Little closets don't need lights.

    Laundry Room: Get rid of the recessed and put in a single fixture.

    In general, I think your recessed lights are too close together. What is it, like 4 feet apart? I'd probably go with 6 but it really depends on the ceiling height and the size of the recessed lights.

    Is there a fixture over your dining table?

  • 8 years ago

    I just noticed all the outdoor lights. Do you have neighbours? Are these just accent type lights or spotlights? Again, it seems excessive to me.

  • 8 years ago

    " Little Bathrooms: ...Have one light source above the mirror and that's it."

    I have a switched light in one bath that is very low power, for nighttime excursions. It was possible with circuit that was there when I moved in and I like it.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I have a dimmer in my bathroom for that purpose.

    I suppose if you wanted something fancy, maybe a toekick light that is on a motion sensor would be cool. Enough light to get to the toilet, but not enough to wake you up.

    I just hate excessive light switches. Especially if it's in an area where guests might have to use them.

    Just as important as the number of lights is the number of switches. In those big rooms, you probably don't want ALL of the recessed lights controlled by one switch. Especially around the TV. In those areas, when you're watching TV you'd want the lights off near the TV but maybe have the lights on over the couch and sitting area.

    Too many switches is bad, but too few is bad too.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    I'm a little confused about the laundry room area.

    First of all, the closet and hallway doors are going to be banging into each other, so I don't think that's a good design.

    There are two switches in the closet. Are they BOTH for the closet light? The one beside the door (hinge side) to the laundry room is an awkward spot.

    Is the switch for the two hallway lights on the hinge side of the door between the laundry room and the hallway? Again ... seems awkward. And is that the only switch for that hallway?

    Are there any professionals involved in this project or are you just playing around with ideas?

  • 8 years ago

    Actually, while little closets don't demand lights, I've got them in and they have sure shown to be handy at times. Turn them on or not as you wish.

  • 8 years ago

    If you did have lights in small closets, would they be recessed lights? I'd think that a surface mount light on the wall above or beside the door would be more useful for shining light at the stuff in the closet, whereas recessed lighting would be blocked by the stuff on the top shelf.

    Or maybe just move the recessed lights more towards the doors instead of centered in the closet with a gimbal trim so that they point towards the contents instead of straight down?

  • 8 years ago

    Mine are all surface mount fluorescents as that was really all the code permitted at the time.

  • 8 years ago
    last modified: 8 years ago

    Kitchen work areas get recessed lights in front of the upper cabinets by 6" or so to avoid a shadow on the counter from a person standing there to prep. A19 LED bulbs of 1600 lumens as 100w equivalents can be economical. Costco has the bulbs 10/$40. A regular 12v recessed fixture can be spec'ed. Under cabinet LED lights can help light a counter.. . . .The exhaust hood for your range will likely have downlights. And I'd put one light over the range.

  • 8 years ago

    Ok, just to give everyone a heads up, we decided to consult with a professional interior lighting designer to help us with our layout. This is our dream home and we want to make sure its done right. I'll post an update thread after meeting with her in a few weeks. Thanks!

  • 8 years ago

    Good idea to get a pro involved! Lighting can be very complicated and you usually want a mix of lighting types, not just exclusively recessed lights.

  • 8 years ago

    Right, we want the right amount of lighting in areas and not have it to harsh or to soft or not enough in certain areas. I realize int he basement its vastly overkill most likely also so they will help us selecting the right types of lighting and how much. Thanks for everyones help so far, this website has been invaluable to our process of developing our dream home so far.