Rough-in Electrical
Electrical rough-in is your one chance to get wiring right before walls close up. Every outlet, switch, light fixture, smart device, and dedicated circuit must be planned and wired now. A well-wired living room has power exactly where you need it, lighting that creates the perfect mood, and technology infrastructure that will not feel outdated in five years.
Time Required
2-4 days
Cost
$3,000-$12,000
Difficulty
Licensed electrician required
New Circuits and Panel Capacity
Dedicated circuits for major loads
A remodeled living room typically needs 3-5 new circuits: general outlets (20-amp), lighting (15-amp), electric fireplace or insert (dedicated 20-amp), media equipment (dedicated 20-amp), and HVAC if adding a mini-split or electric radiant heating. Each circuit runs back to the main panel on its own breaker.
Panel capacity check
Before adding circuits, your electrician verifies the main panel has enough capacity and open breaker slots. Older homes with 100-amp panels may need an upgrade to 200-amp service to handle a remodel plus modern electrical loads. A panel upgrade costs $1,500-$3,000 but prevents future capacity issues.
Arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers
Current code requires AFCI protection for all living room circuits. AFCI breakers detect dangerous arcing caused by damaged wires, loose connections, or overheated cords. They cost $30-$50 per breaker versus $5-$10 for standard breakers but are required by NEC code in habitable rooms.
Outlet Placement Per Code
- The 6/12 rule: NEC requires that no point along a wall line be more than 6 feet from an outlet, which means outlets every 12 feet along any wall. Any wall section 2 feet or wider needs an outlet. This is the minimum; your designer should add outlets wherever furniture needs power.
- Floor outlets for center-room seating: If your living room plan includes a sofa or reading chair away from walls, install floor outlets now. Flush-mount floor boxes with brass or nickel covers sit level with hardwood or carpet and eliminate extension cords across the room. Cost: $200-$400 each.
- USB and charging outlets: Install combination outlets with built-in USB-A and USB-C ports at seating locations. These eliminate charger clutter and cost only $15-$25 more per outlet than standard duplex receptacles.
- Behind-TV outlet placement: Install a recessed outlet box behind the TV location at the correct height for your mount. Add a second recessed box lower on the wall behind the media console. Run a conduit between them for HDMI and power cables to create a cord-free media wall.
Junction Boxes and Lighting Layout
- Ceiling junction boxes: Install junction boxes at every ceiling light location, even if you have not purchased the fixtures yet. Standard round boxes for pendants and flush mounts, fan-rated boxes for ceiling fans (they handle the weight and vibration), and rectangular boxes for recessed light housings.
- Wall sconce boxes: Wall sconces typically mount at 60-66 inches from the floor. Install junction boxes at the planned height on both sides of the fireplace, flanking artwork walls, or along hallway-adjacent walls. Running wire now costs $50-$100 per box; adding sconces after drywall costs $300-$500 each.
- Dimmer switch planning: Every lighting zone needs a dimmer-compatible switch. Plan for separate switches controlling recessed lights, chandeliers, sconces, and accent lighting. Use 3-way switches for rooms with multiple entry points. Smart dimmers require a neutral wire in the switch box, which your electrician must run now.
- Under-cabinet and accent lighting: If your built-ins or display shelves will have LED accent lighting, run wiring to a junction box behind or above each unit now. Low-voltage LED drivers mount inside cabinets and connect to the line-voltage junction box.
Smart Home Pre-Wiring
- •Run Cat6A ethernet to key locations: Even in a wireless world, wired connections are faster and more reliable for streaming, gaming, and smart home hubs. Run Cat6A cable to the TV location, media console, and at least one wall in the room. Terminate at a patch panel in your network closet. Cost: $100-$200 per run.
- •Speaker wire for whole-house audio: If you want in-ceiling or in-wall speakers, run 16-gauge or 14-gauge speaker wire from each speaker location back to a central equipment location. Even if you start with a soundbar, having pre-wired speaker locations gives you options for a future upgrade.
- •Motorized shade wiring: Motorized blinds and shades need power at the window header. Run a 120V circuit to each window group or install low-voltage wiring from a centralized power supply. Hardwired shades are more reliable than battery-powered alternatives and never need recharging.