The happiness of buying a new house may be disturbed by the decoration trifles like bargaining with decoration companies, studying design drawings, selecting & buying furniture … particularly the layout of the household appliances and relevant facilities relating to the living experience. They are really annoying.

It is believed that many people concern the layout of the switches. After all, this process and water pipe modification, etc. are concealed works. The poor early arrangement will result in hard modification in the future. 

So, as we often say, sometimes, details are essential.

Before decoration, be sure to look through these complete tips on switches!

Something you must know

Types of switches

Switches may be classified into one-position, two-position, three-position and four-position ones, depending upon the quantity of the controllable lights.

Conversely, based on the quantity of the switches controlling one light, switches can be classified into single-control, double-control and multiple-control ones. For example, single-control means one to one, double-control means two to one, and multiple-control means three or more to one.

IMPORTANT: a multiple-control switch may be used as the double-control one, and the double-control switch may be used as the single-control one; but the single-control switch cannot be used as the double-control or multiple-control one. So, upon arrangement, make sure to know the following tips.

Be proactive

Firstly, list those must-have household appliances, or those that 80% are very probably bought in coming years, and reserve a place for them.

Secondly, determine the positions for some switches according to the habits of the family members. For example, if there is a member who moves with a wheelchair, it needs to consider lowering the switch position for easy operation. 

Thirdly, determine in advance which are those standby household appliances, like washer, water heater, microwave oven, baking oven, etc. It is better to prepare an integrated switch socket for them.

Small Tips:

Such tools as forms may be fully used to indicate the appliances reserved in individual areas in advance, as per the functional areas like porch, kitchen, toilet, bedroom, living room, balcony, etc., while making notes of the habits of using appliances, position, etc. In this way, it is convenient to find those omissions and communicate with the wiring engineers.

Switch brand selection

It concerns long-term use of household appliances, and the lighting works at home, so the quality of switches is essential. Remember to choose those CCC certified products. More budgets for high-end brands. In fact, although there is a gap in the total price between the imported high-end brands and ordinary domestic brands, if we choose the basic models of some high-end brands, for example, Simon, the performance/price ratio is super high.

How many switches and sockets are installed in a house?

1. Hallway

Traditionally, the direct ceiling light is adopted. But now the multiple-light coordination can be realized to create a bright porch.

Of course, if you have no plan to install the lights at the porch, one double-control switch may be designed to connect with the lights in the living room or dining room. At least, at the moment of opening the door, you may turn on a light at home, giving yourself a home with warmth.

2. Living room

The switches in the living room shall be determined according to the brands and quantity of the lights. For a more comfortable living, you may consider installing spot lights/downlights, decorative lights, hanging lights, etc.

For the living convenience, the double-control switches may be considered at the porch. Generally, one multiple-position switch may be set up in the living room. 

In addition, if the living room directly connects to the balcony, one switch for the balcony light shall be additionally reserved.

3. Kitchen

Generally, there are many household appliances in the kitchen. Comparatively, the switches here are corresponding to the sockets. It is particularly true for those standby appliances.

Except for the switches for the ceiling light in the kitchen or the hanging light on the counter, other switches may be arranged according to the quantity of the appliances, and the socket switches may be installed.

4. Dining room

Here the switches shall be configured according to the settings of the lights. Typically, one double-loop control switch for the hanging light and one switch for the decorative light are installed.

5. Bedroom

The switches in the bedroom shall be designed to consider looking after children and getting up in the middle of the night. 1~2 double-control switches and 1 decorative light switch shall be installed at the head of the bed. 1 double-control switch for the hanging light or ceiling light and 1 decorative light switch shall be set up near the door of the bedroom.

6. Toilet

In the toilet, one switch used to separately control the toilet facilities like wind heater or light heater, etc. One multiple-position switch may be separately installed for the mirror light, ventilating fan and ceiling light. In this way, the dry and wet areas can be divided for the use of lights, convenient for use.

7. AC switches

If affordable, you may consider installing the central AC, even fresh air system. In fact, this is more cost effective than the floor AC. The heating supply facilities may also be installed, depending upon the home needs. Switches can be set up according to the position of the specific wiring and heating supply pipelines, more convenient and safer.

Details greatly affect the living quality and experience. If you are annoyed at the setting and quantity and layout of the switches in the house, and you are not willing to spend more time on it, you may turn to the brand electric enterprises for the one-stop lighting solution, labor saving and free of worries.