Why plan points before the works start
Moving a socket after the walls are painted and the cabinets are in is disruptive and often costly. Planning where you need power, lights and switches before a renovation starts is one of the simplest ways to avoid extension cords behind the sofa, a desk with no nearby socket or a switch hidden behind a wardrobe door.
This article walks through the points to think about room by room, then covers labelling the DB box, briefing the electrician and keeping records. It does not cover how to choose an electrician: the electrician guide for HDB flats explains what to ask and compare for flat renovations.
Start with how you live
Before you mark anything on a floor plan, think about how each room will be used. Where will the bed, sofa, desk and TV go? Which appliances will stay plugged in all the time and which are used now and then? Will anyone work from home, charge a scooter or use a home gym?
Walk through a normal day and note every place you plug something in. Then add a little spare capacity, since households tend to gain devices over time.
Kitchen and service yard
Kitchens usually need the most planning because many appliances have fixed positions.
- Built-in or fixed appliances: hob, hood, oven, dishwasher and fridge each need a point in the right place, often hidden inside or behind cabinets.
- Countertop sockets: enough for a kettle, rice cooker, microwave, coffee machine and blender without unplugging one to use another.
- Lighting: a main light plus under-cabinet lighting over the work surface if you want it.
- Service yard: points for the washing machine and dryer, and a light for evening laundry.
Confirm appliance positions with your cabinet maker before the electrician starts. A socket inside a cabinet is useless if a shelf or drawer ends up in front of it.
Living room and TV wall
The living room often has a TV wall, which needs more points than people expect.
- Sockets behind the TV for the TV, a set-top box, a soundbar and a router or mesh unit.
- A data or TV point if you want wired internet or a cable connection.
- Sockets near the sofa for lamps and phone charging.
- Light switches at the entrance and, for long rooms, at both ends.
- A point for the aircon fan coil unit at the right height and position.
If the TV is going to be wall-mounted, plan the socket height so the cords can be hidden behind the screen.
Bedrooms, study and bathrooms
Bedrooms and a home office benefit from points placed exactly where furniture will go.
- Bedside: a socket on each side of the bed, and a switch for the main light within reach of the bed.
- Desk: several sockets at desk height for a computer, monitor, lamp and chargers.
- Wardrobe: a light inside if you want one, and avoid putting switches where wardrobe doors will cover them.
- Aircon: a point for each fan coil unit.
- Bathrooms: a point and isolator switch for the water heater, and lighting suited to a damp room.
Read HDB's guidance on electrical works if you live in a flat, since it explains what to check before electrical work in HDB homes. The socket installation guide and the light installation guide explain what affects those jobs.
NEXT STEP
See what to ask and compare when planning electrical work in a flat.
Read the HDB electrician guideThe DB box and labelling
The DB box, or distribution board, holds the breakers that protect each circuit in the home. Renovations that add many points or heavy appliances may mean the electrician suggests changes to it, such as adding circuits or replacing an old board. The DB box replacement guide explains when that is usually considered.
Whatever is done, ask for every breaker to be clearly labelled with the room or appliance it controls. Clear labels make it much quicker to switch off the right circuit when something trips, when a water heater needs work or when you need to isolate a room in a hurry.
Briefing the electrician
A good brief helps you get comparable quotes and reduces changes on site.
- Share a marked floor plan with every socket, switch, light and appliance point.
- List appliances that need their own circuit or isolator, such as the hob, oven, water heater and aircon.
- Say whether points are new, moved or replacing existing ones.
- Ask what is included: trunking or concealed wiring, making good the wall, and testing.
- Ask who will do the work, and whether they hold the relevant licence.
EMA's page on engaging licensed workers explains which electrical work needs a licensed electrical worker and how to check one.
What light installation costs, from published rates
Light installation is a common part of renovation electrical work, and several companies publish their rates. The table shows the lowest matching rate each company publishes, with its source and capture date. These are advertised rates with conditions, not quotes, and they may not include the light fitting itself.
FROM THE HOMEZYPRO DIRECTORY
Published light installation rates
For the most common unit (per job), the lowest published rates from 4 companies run from S$15 to S$97. Each figure is one company's own advertised rate with its conditions, not a market average or a quote.
See 7 published light installation rates and sources
| Company | Service as listed | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sembawang Lighting House Pte Ltd | LED light installation | From S$8 per light | sembawanglightinghouse.com |
| AVV Engineering Pte Ltd | Labour to Replace / Install Light | S$15 per job | avvelectrical.com |
| Lito Electrical Service | Light Installation | From S$20 per job | litoelectrical.com |
| Mr Electrician Pte Ltd | Installation of Ceiling Light | S$30 | mrelectrician.sg |
| Repair.sg | Light supply and install | From S$55 per job | repair.sg |
| 1st Electrical Services | Install / replace down light (light fitting provided by the owner) | From S$97 | sg-electrician.com |
| Spower Electrician Services | Install hanging or deco light (owner supplies fitting), with existing point | From S$97 per job | spower.com.sg |
Keeping records
Once the work is done, keep a simple record. Save the final floor plan showing where every point is, photos of the walls before they were closed up or painted, the electrician's invoice and any test or completion documents. Keep a photo of the labelled DB box too. These records help with future repairs, further renovations and, eventually, when you sell the home.
NEXT STEP
Area pages list the electricians that name your town on their own websites.
See electricians serving TampinesQuestions
How many sockets should I plan for each room?
There is no single answer. Walk through how you use each room, count the devices that need power and add a little spare, since households tend to gain devices over time.
Why should the DB box be labelled?
Clear labels let you switch off the right circuit quickly when something trips or needs work. Ask the electrician to label every breaker with the room or appliance it controls.
What should I give an electrician before they quote?
A marked floor plan showing every socket, switch, light and appliance point, a list of appliances that need their own circuit, and a note of which points are new or moved.
Prices come only from the sourced company rates in the HomezyPro directory, shown with each company and capture date.