Power Points, Please! - Avoiding the ‘Extension Cord Nightmare’
Plan your power outlets
If you’ve ever danced around a spaghetti monster of extension leads just to toast bread, charge a phone, and run a coffee machine at the same time… this one’s for you. Thoughtful power-point planning is the quiet hero of a happy home. At The Markon Group, we design with your real life in mind—today’s gadgets and tomorrow’s upgrades—so you’re not stuck playing “musical plugs” five minutes after move-in.
Below is a fun, practical guide to planning outlets (a.k.a. GPOs—General Power Outlets) during the design stage, with specific tips for kitchens, bedrooms, and lounge/media rooms. We’ll also flag the little things people forget, and how we at The Markon Group work with you (and your electrician) to future-proof every room.
Why plan sockets at the design stage?
- It’s cheaper and cleaner now. Moving or adding outlets after handover often means cutting walls or chasing tiles. Planning early saves money, mess, and headaches.
- Appliances are multiplying. Ten years ago you had a TV and a toaster. Now there are smart speakers, robot vacs, streaming boxes, consoles, air purifiers, and USB-C fast chargers—often all in the same room.
- Safety and compliance. Early planning ensures the right circuits, RCDs/safety switches, and dedicated feeds for high-load appliances are correctly specified and certified.
- Looks matter. Well-placed outlets hide cords, keep benches clear, and let your media wall look like a showroom, not a server rack.
At The Markon Group, we sit down with you—room by room—and map where you’ll actually stand, sit, cook, charge, watch, and work. Then we layer in dedicated circuits and smart locations so your house works beautifully from day one.
Kitchen: the benchtop battleground
The kitchen is where “just one more appliance” sneaks in. Plan for what you own and what you’ll probably buy.
Typical fixed or dedicated items
- Fridge (often on its own circuit)
- Dishwasher
- Oven (hard-wired)
- Cooktop (hard-wired; induction needs dedicated supply)
- Rangehood
- Microwave (sometimes built-in cabinet with its own outlet)
Benchtop small appliances you’ll actually use
Toaster, kettle, coffee machine, blender, stand mixer, air fryer, rice cooker, sandwich press… and someone will want to charge a phone while cooking.
Practical outlet plan
- Benches: Aim for 4–6 double GPOs spread across prep zones (not all in one corner). If you have a long run, space them so a cord never has to stretch.
- Island: At least 1–2 double GPOs, ideally in concealed pop-ups or under-bench positions that meet safety requirements.
- Appliance hutch/pantry: Add 1–2 doubles so the toaster and coffee machine can live behind a door—plugged in and clutter-free.
- Microwave cabinet: A dedicated outlet inside the cavity keeps cords invisible.
- Fridge recess: A single GPO positioned to the side or high up so the plug doesn’t foul the appliance.
- USB-C fast charging: Add one or two outlets with USB-C PD in convenient, splash-safe spots for phones and tablets (great for recipes).
- Future-proofing: If you’re wavering between gas and induction, spec the induction-ready circuit now. You’ll thank yourself later.
Design tips from The Markon Group
We look at your kitchen layout, appliance list, and daily routines, then place outlets where cords disappear naturally—inside cabinets, within appliance garages, or tucked under overheads—while keeping everything compliant and serviceable.
Bedrooms: comfort, charging, and quiet convenience
Bedrooms have become mini charging stations (and sometimes offices). You’ll want enough power without turning the room into a glowing tech hub.
Bedside essentials
- Both sides of every bed: At least one double GPO each, ideally with USB-C/USB-A. If you use lamps and charge phones, consider two doubles per side in the main bedroom.
- Smart lighting or fans: Extra points for a discreet outlet near the window for a pedestal fan or air purifier.
- Heated throws/electric blankets: Nice in winter—plan outlets so cords never cross walkways.
Storage & study spots
- Walk-in robe/linen: Add one GPO for the cordless vacuum or dehumidifier.
- Study nook/desk: Two to four outlets (plus Ethernet, more on that below) for laptops, monitors, and printers.
- TV wall (if applicable): Two to three outlets plus data/antenna so no cords dangle down the wall.
Nursery now, teen cave later
What starts as a nursery (monitor, white-noise machine, night light) often becomes a teenager’s desk and gaming zone. At The Markon Group, we’ll map a “stage-two” plan so tomorrow’s needs don’t force tomorrow’s reno.
Lounge & media rooms: the tangle-free theatre
This is where extension cords go to die—if you plan it right.
Behind the TV
- Allow 6–8 outlets on the media wall: TV, soundbar or AVR, subwoofer, streaming box, games console(s), PVR, smart speaker/mesh node, and one spare.
- Recessed plates & brush plates let power and HDMI cables vanish behind units.
- Ethernet ports (at least two): One for the TV/streamer and one for a console or AVR. Wired beats Wi-Fi for 4K/8K streaming and online gaming.
Speakers & subwoofers
- If you’re planning a sub or powered rears, place GPOs at those positions (front corner for sub; rear walls for powered surrounds).
- Thinking of a projector? Add ceiling power + conduit for HDMI/fibre and a power point near the screen for a motorised drop.
Seating power
- Recliner lounges often need floor or skirting GPOs beneath or behind the seats. We’ll position these so mechanisms don’t pinch cables.
Smart home & network
- We’ll help centralise the NBN box, router, and patch panel in a ventilated cupboard, then run Ethernet to media, study, and home office zones. Mesh Wi-Fi is great; a few strategic cables are even better.
Small places people forget (but you won’t)
- Hallway or landing: A spare GPO for seasonal décor or a stick vacuum charge dock.
- Under stairs: Power for a wine fridge or network gear.
- Garage: Two or more GPOs—one near the workbench, one for an extra fridge/freezer, and consider a heavier circuit if EV charging is in your future.
- Alfresco: Weather-rated outlets for a BBQ rotisserie, outdoor heater, or festive lights.
- Entry console: A tidy charging spot for keys, phones, and earbuds means fewer cables on the kitchen bench.
At The Markon Group, we run a whole-home checklist with you so these “oh, we forgot” locations get handled before the slab is poured.
Safety, standards, and good sense
- Licensed electricians only. We design with you, then our qualified sparkies install to code.
- RCDs/safety switches on all final sub-circuits are a must in modern homes.
- Aesthetics + access. We’ll balance symmetry with practicality—hidden where you want them hidden, obvious where you need easy reach.
- Load planning. High-draw appliances (ovens, induction, split systems, heat-pump dryers) need dedicated circuits and the right cable sizing. We coordinate all this in the design documentation.
Our process (how The Markon Group keeps it simple)
- Lifestyle mapping: We walk your daily routine—coffee corner, homework spot, binge-watch zone, makeup mirror, vacuum dock.
- Room-by-room mark-up: We print the plans and place outlets, data, and conduits where they’ll work best (with spares where change is likely).
- Future-proof pass: We layer in Ethernet, spare conduits to key walls/ceilings, and capacity for upgrades like induction, battery storage, or EV charging.
- Final check with your electrician: Everything is reviewed for compliance and tidy cable paths before we sign off.
It’s your home, your routines, and your tech—The Markon Group just makes it all play nicely together so you never fight over the last free socket again.
Quick Room Checklists
Kitchen
- 4–6 doubles across benches
- 1–2 doubles in appliance hutch/pantry
- Island outlets (in compliant locations)
- Dedicated circuits for oven/cooktop; fridge GPO positioned right
- One USB-C PD outlet for fast charging
Bedrooms
- Bedside doubles (both sides) + USB-C
- Desk/study outlets (2–4) + Ethernet
- Walk-in robe GPO for cordless vac
- TV wall outlets/data if needed
Lounge/Media
- 6–8 outlets behind TV
- 2+ Ethernet ports at media unit
- Sub/rear speaker power where planned
- Ceiling power + conduit for projector if needed
- Seating power for recliners
The bottom line
Power points aren’t glamorous, but they’re the difference between a home that’s easy to live in and one that’s constantly negotiating with a power board. Plan them early, plan them generously, and plan them around how you live. With The Markon Group, you’ll get a thoughtful, future-ready layout that keeps benches clear, cords hidden, and movie nights blissfully tangle-free.
References & Further Reading
- Standards Australia — AS/NZS 3000:2018, Electrical Installations (Wiring Rules)
- Queensland Government, Electrical Safety Office — Home electrical safety & RCD/safety switches
- Australian Government — Your Home: Electrical & lighting planning
- NBN Co — Residential in-home wiring & network equipment placement
- ACMA — Cabling Provider Rules (CPRs) for in-premises communications cabling
