It's also possible to use ethernet-switched lighting, operated from a central controller. Jonathan Oxer has built an interesting Adrino-controlled system, documented on his Superhome website - for example here: https://www.superhouse.tv/25-arduino-home-automation-light-switch-controller/" >

No doubt commercial alternatives exist.

Socket positioning/5a socket positioning
- most rooms in most houses have a fairly obvious way of being furnished. At the very least you should or could already have a very good idea of how you're going to furnish the house. Put sockets in the right places...

- pretty much the only sockets that are regularly in temporary use in our house are for the vacuum cleaner (and that's rare now as have cordless. Think about where you'd want to plug that in. Not many other sockets actually need to be visible.

- unswitched sockets in some or even most places (singles in hallways). There's no requirement to have a switch (just need to be able to disconnect circuit - pulling plug counts), no other country bothers with switched sockets and white sockets are just that little bit less obtrusive without the switch. (There are very very few items I ever switch off at the socket)



Stuff that I've installed in houses that's been worthwhile
- DAB radio aerial distribution. Nice not to have rod aerials sticking up from radios. DAB still a lot more convenient than internet.
- Ethernet from point of entry to a few key places - 'office/desk', main tv/living room, kitchen tv. Also, best place for wireless acccess point is unlikely to be where you want to stick the router and you may need more than one to cover the house. I'm using small wall mounted, "power over ethernet' access points mounted centrally.
- 5A lighting sockets in living rooms
- bedside lightswitch in (master) bedroom
- movement sensors for lights in places like utility rooms, downstairs toilet, coat cupboards (where lights often get left on if switched)
- conduit to tv
- conduit for phone cable entry to router location (fibre to the home is coming pretty quickly now)


Stuff I've installed that wasn't/mistakes
- ethernet sockets to every room. It's much harder to get ethernet sockets in the right place.
- TV/Satellite to every room. We're not far off the day when most TV (and radio) is going to be over the internet.
- phone sockets. Do you really need a landline phone now? Unlimited minutes on mobile are so cheap (and phone calls on landlines so expensive) why bother. Only reason i now have a landline phone is to check the connection.
If mobile reception at home is not great then use a provider/phone that supports wifi calling.

Stuff from comments above that sounds a really good idea
- neutral to light switches. Works now, flexible for the future.

Posted By: djhSimon's post just illustrates to me how much of this is simply a matter of opinion.........................And different socket types are just a pain when I change my mind about where I want to plug in a lamp or whatever.

I like 5A sockets for lamps because I like lamps to be switched wholesale with a switch by the door. If 13A sockets are used then sooner or later someone will plug in an iron, toaster, fan heater or what ever which may be beyond the capabilities of the switch.

I know "they" said you can never have too many sockets, but they *were* wrong.....

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65826048.html

There appear to be spotlights mounted in the walls next to each bank of sockets. And in the base of the Velux windows, shining into the sky....