THE OUTLET GAME IS NO JOKE
Funny, I thought I was being “practical” too—then my wife started running an extension cord across the dining room for her laptop, and I realized we’d totally missed the mark. Everyone warns you about things like closet space or fancy appliances, but nobody talks about the everyday stuff like outlets and ethernet drops. We went a bit overboard in the garage (my idea) and still managed to miss the one spot where I wanted to plug in a shop vac.
I get the appeal of just trusting the pros, but honestly, I’ve found they’re thinking about code, not convenience. Walking through with a phone charger is actually genius. If I could do it again, I’d probably take a day to just “live” in the blueprint—pretend to make toast, charge my phone, whatever. It’s wild how much those little annoyances add up over time.
Outdoor outlets… yeah. Christmas lights taught us that lesson real quick.
THE OUTLET GAME IS NO JOKE
You nailed it—builders are all about code minimums, not how you actually live. I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on finishes, then end up with a tangle of power strips because nobody thought about where the coffee maker would go. It’s wild how overlooked this stuff is. Did you guys ever consider adding floor outlets in the living room? I always wonder if those are worth it or just another thing to trip over...
FLOOR OUTLETS: SMART OR JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN?
You’re spot on about the power strip mess—drives me nuts when you spend all that money and still end up with extension cords everywhere. I actually debated floor outlets for ages. On paper, they seem genius for floating furniture layouts, but honestly, I worried about tripping hazards and how they’d look long-term. Ended up skipping them and just mapping out wall outlets like a maniac instead. It’s wild how much planning goes into something so basic, but it’s worth obsessing over—fixing it later costs way more than getting it right upfront.
FLOOR OUTLETS: SMART OR JUST AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN?
You nailed it—planning outlets is way more stressful than people think. I’ve seen folks regret skipping floor outlets, but I get the hesitation. If you’re not sure, mapping wall outlets like you did is a solid move. Better to overthink now than rip up floors later... trust me, that gets ugly fast.
THINKING ABOUT BUILDING A CUSTOM HOME—WORTH THE HASSLE?
- You’re not kidding about the stress of outlet planning. I’ve been in so many meetings where folks are just exhausted by the number of decisions, and outlets always sneak up as a pain point.
- Floor outlets can be a lifesaver if you’ve got open spaces—think floating sofas or rooms without many walls. But yeah, they’re not for everyone. If you’re worried about tripping or spills, sometimes it’s just not worth the anxiety.
- Mapping out wall outlets is underrated. I’ve seen people end up with extension cords running everywhere because they didn’t think through furniture placement.
- Honestly, it’s way easier to overthink now than regret it later. Ripping up floors to add outlets is a nightmare (and expensive). I’ve had clients do it and they always wish they’d planned ahead.
- Don’t feel bad for sweating the small stuff. It’s your space, and these little details make a huge difference in how you live day-to-day.
- Quick tip: walk through with tape or string where you think furniture will go. It sounds silly, but it helps visualize where you’ll actually need power.
It’s a lot, but you’re definitely not alone in overthinking this stuff... pretty much everyone does.
