New Home Lighting Plan: Room-by-Room Checklist Before Electrical Work

Plan the lighting before the wiring and the false ceiling are done, because after that every change costs money. For each room, decide four things: what the room is used for, how many light points it needs and where, which type of fixture will sit at each point, and which switch controls it. Then give your electrician a one-page plan. Buy lights that match the cut-outs and the ceiling depth you have actually planned. This checklist walks through the rooms of a new house, one at a time, and shows what to decide now and what can wait.

When should you plan the lighting for a new house?

Earlier than most people expect. The usual order is furniture layout first, then the lighting plan, then the electrical layout, then the false ceiling design, and only then the fixtures. The mistake is to leave lights for the end. By then the wires are buried and the ceiling is shaped, and the electrician who asks where the lights go is already waiting for your answer. A one-evening plan, made with the floor plan and the furniture marked in, saves weeks of corrections.

What should you decide before the wiring starts?

•       Furniture positions. Lights follow furniture: the bed, the sofa, the dining table, the desk. Mark them on the plan first.

•       Ceiling type and depth. A false ceiling lets you recess lights. A bare concrete ceiling means surface-mounted lights, which need a point but no cut-out.

•       Layers. For each room plan a general layer and an accent layer, and a task layer where people read, cook or work.

•       Fixture format at each point. Panel, COB downlighter, spot, strip or wall light, because each has its own cut-out, wiring and driver needs.

•       Switch groups. Group lights by purpose, not by position, and decide where each switch sits, such as at the door or beside the bed.

•       Colour temperature. Choose warm, natural or cool white for each room now, so a room does not end up with mixed shades.

•       Power points inside the ceiling and walls. Ask for a plug point in the cove, in the TV unit niche and in the wardrobe, and for wall points at the height you want.

•       Outdoor and festive points. Plan a weatherproof point on the balcony and at the entrance, with a spare plug point for festival lights.

Read our guide to things to consider while choosing lights for your home for the basics, and use this article for the planning order.

What does each room need? A room-by-room checklist

Use this table as a starting point and adjust it to your floor plan. It deliberately gives layers and wiring points, not fixed numbers, because the right count depends on your room size and ceiling.

Which fixture formats should you plan around?

The format decides the cut-out, the ceiling depth you need and where the wiring goes, so pick it at planning time. Check the cut-out size and the installation details on the product page before the false ceiling contractor starts, and give the contractor those numbers. The prices below are as on 6 October 2026, and each product page shows the latest price.

As a sample, a living room with two recessed panels and two spot lights comes to Rs. 890 in these products: two panels at Rs. 296 each and two spot lights at Rs. 149 each. For help with the COB fitting, see our COB light installation guide, and for homes without a false ceiling, see how to use profile lights without a false ceiling. The full range is on the ceiling lights and wall lights.

Which planning mistakes cost the most?

•       Choosing lights after the false ceiling is closed, so the cut-outs do not match.

•       One switch for all the lights in a room, so there is no way to dim the mood.

•       No wall points at all, which rules out wall lights and bedside lights later.

•       Forgetting the balcony, the entrance and the pooja room until the end.

•       A single central light and nothing else, which leaves corners dark.

•       Mixing colour temperatures in one ceiling.

•       Leaving no spare point or conduit for lights you may want in two years.

What should you give your electrician?

A one-page plan per floor. For each room, mark the light points, the fixture format at each point, the switch groups and where the switches go, the wall points with their heights, and the power points for strips and lamps. Add the ceiling depth if you have a false ceiling. Ask the electrician to confirm the wiring, the load and the switch layout, and keep a copy of the plan for the false ceiling contractor and the interior designer. This article gives general planning guidance. The wiring itself is for a qualified electrician.

Lighting plan for a new house: FAQs

Q: When should I finalise the lights for a new house?

A: Before the conduits go in and before the false ceiling is closed. At that stage you need the fixture formats, the points and the switch groups. You can pick the exact models and colours slightly later, as long as you know the cut-out sizes and the ceiling depth.

Q: How should I group lights on switches?

A: Group them by purpose, such as general light, accent light, cove or strip light and the fan. A living room with these four groups lets you change the mood without climbing a ladder or switching everything off.

Q: What is two-way switching, and where do I need it?

A: It lets you control one light from two switches. It is useful in a bedroom, between the door and the bed, and in a passage or a staircase, between the two ends. Plan it before wiring, because adding it later means opening the walls.

Q: Do I need extra power points for LED strips and wall lights?

A: Yes. LED strips need a plug point or an adapter location inside the cove or the TV unit niche, and wall lights need a point at the planned height. Ask for these before plastering.

Q: How many spare points should I leave for future lights?

A: Leave a spare point or conduit in the rooms you may change most, such as the living room and the bedroom. A spare point costs little at wiring time and a lot afterwards.

Make the plan, mark the points, share it with the electrician and the false ceiling contractor, and only then choose the lights. For more ideas on rooms, see our types of ceiling lights guide, and browse the COB lights and wall lights .