Power Is Everything in a Home Office
A web developer's office runs on electricity. Dual monitors, a desktop or laptop, router, speakers, phone charger, desk lamp, heater — it adds up fast. Getting the electrical right isn't optional.
Important note: In the UK, electrical work in outbuildings should be done by a qualified electrician or inspected and certified. I had a qualified sparky handle the supply run from the house and sign off the consumer unit. The internal wiring I ran myself to their specification.
Planning the Circuit Layout
Before running a single cable, I mapped every socket, switch, and light position on paper. The key principle: more sockets than you think you need, exactly where you need them.
What I installed:
- 8 double sockets — desk area (4), general wall (2), equipment corner (2)
- Dedicated circuit for the heater/air con unit
- 2 USB-A/C integrated sockets at the desk for device charging
- 3 LED downlights on a dimmer for ambient lighting
- 1 LED panel light directly above the desk for task lighting
- Exterior light with PIR sensor for dark winter mornings
Cable Routing
Running cables is easy when the walls are still open timber frames. Drill through studs, clip cables neatly, and label everything. Once plasterboard goes up, you'll never access these cables easily again — so get it right now.
I used 2.5mm twin and earth for socket circuits and 1.5mm for lighting. All runs go back to a small consumer unit with RCD protection, fed from the house via an armoured SWA cable buried at 600mm depth in the garden.
Lighting Design
Good lighting makes or breaks a workspace. I went with:
- Cool white (4000K) task light above the desk — sharp, focused, reduces eye strain during long coding sessions
- Warm white (3000K) ambient downlights — softer, more comfortable for calls and general work
- Dimmer control so I can adjust based on time of day and what I'm doing
Natural light comes from a window on the side wall, positioned so it doesn't cause glare on the monitors but still provides daylight.
Testing Everything
Before closing up the walls, I tested every circuit, every socket, and every light. Finding a fault now takes five minutes. Finding one after plasterboard and paint takes hours.
The Web Design Connection
Electrical planning mirrors UX design. You need to anticipate how the space (or site) will actually be used, not just how it looks. A beautiful office with two sockets is as frustrating as a gorgeous website with a buried contact form. Function drives the design.
Part 4 of 6 in the TsvWeb Office Build series. Next up: interior finishing — plasterboard, painting, and flooring.