If outlet placement is handled poorly - whether in the bedroom or living room - it can interfere with furniture arrangement; in the bathroom or kitchen, it might even necessitate chiseling into the tiles later on. My hard-won conclusion is this: unless you have calculated the exact position with absolute precision, remember this one rule - you generally can't go wrong by placing outlets as close to the edges (corners or baseboards) as possible. Conversely, if you position an outlet awkwardly - neither quite centered nor quite at the edge - it runs the risk of clashing with future furniture placement or appliance installation.
When selecting locations for "outlets with built-in switches," two main factors should be considered: first, the "standby power consumption" of household appliances; and second, user convenience. In my own home, I've installed five such "switched outlets," located as follows: one for the washing machine, one for the electric water heater, one in the study to power a computer-connected power strip, and two spare outlets on the kitchen countertop.
1. Almost all household appliances consume power while in standby mode. Therefore, to avoid the hassle of frequently plugging and unplugging cords, consider using "switched outlets" for appliances with relatively low usage frequency - such as washing machines and electric water heaters.
2. If you find it tedious to constantly plug in and unplug appliances like rice cookers or electric kettles between uses, consider utilizing "switched outlets" for the spare sockets located on your kitchen countertop.
3. Connecting your study computer to a power strip can effectively manage that tangle of plugs and cables. To avoid having to bend over daily to reach under your desk just to toggle the power strip's main switch, consider installing a "switched outlet" on the wall opposite your desk.
