Insider Info: The Top 3 Electrical Upgrades You Should Consider for Your Remodel!
I have my opinions about the latest and greatest features for homes, but this time, I went straight to the source - the electrician! I’m happy to share the top 3 features he thinks should be included in every remodel!
When demo is complete, the walls are opened up and your home has become a construction site, it might be messy but it’s also your opportunity to upgrade the ‘guts’ that can make your daily life easier, more comfortable and more convenient - if you take the time to make these top three electrical upgrades!
#1: Outlet(s) at the Toilet(s)
In my designs, I always try to hide the toilet, so it feels weird to show a nice close up of one, but - the number one upgrade recommended by the electrician was to add outlets next to your toilets. Bidet seats require them and even if you don’t plan to have a bidet seat for your current bath remodel (if you’re remodeling a bathroom), it doesn’t mean you won’t change your mind later - and if you don’t have the outlet, you’ll have to rip open your wall to put one in… I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it - and guess what - this was one of our regrets after we completed our own home remodel in 2015!
Toilet with bidet seat - see that little outlet designed to be hidden behind the toilet??
#2: Add Outlets Under Your Roof Eaves
The advice I would add to this is add more outlets under your roof eaves than you think you need! We have a couple of them and it makes life so much easier to plug your Christmas lights into an outlet that is along the edge of the roof - plus then you don’t need to have a string of lit up lights running down the side of your house to an outlet! It’s not only Christmas lights that plug into these outlets - think about security cameras - they need power too and outlets under your roof eaves are a perfect spot for plugging those in as well!
Add outlets under your roof eaves for plugging in Christmas lights!
A nice clean strand of Christmas lights along a roof line, plugged into an outlet at the roof eave.
#3: Add Toe Kick Lighting to Your Vanities!
LED lighting can be installed under the toe kicks of your vanities and can be connected to a vacancy sensor so that it turns on automatically when you enter the bathroom - the advantage with this installation, is it allows you to enter the bathroom in the evening, when it’s dark, and the toe kick lighting will act as a night light so you don’t have to turn any of the brighter overhead lighting on! This not only provides a lighted footpath for your access into the bathroom, but it helps keep you in a more restful state after using the bathroom so you can return to a calm slumber. You’re welcome! ;-)
The soft glow of under-cabinet lighting installed on the bottom of a floating vanity
#4: A Bonus Tip From Me… Run Extra Wire for Floor Outlets!
Remodeling and not sure exactly where your living room furniture will go in the new layout? No problem! Have your electrician run some extra wire in the crawl space (under the floor) for floor outlets that you can cut in once you’ve finalized your furniture layout! These floor outlets are ideal for plugging in table lamps and floor lamps and avoiding those long wires tucked under rugs, causing tripping hazards! The best part is if you ask your electrician to run the wire and let them know that you’re not exactly sure were you’ll need the floor outlets, they’ll be sure to leave enough available so that you have options once you’ve got your furniture set!
Consider running extra wire for floor outlets once you’ve finalized your furniture layout!
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