The Best Sockets and Switches for a Living Room

The living room is where most people spend the most time — and where the finish and style of your sockets and switches is most likely to be noticed. It's also one of the most demanding rooms practically, with televisions, lamps, phone chargers, gaming equipment and audio systems all competing for plug sockets.

Getting it right means thinking about both sides of the equation — how many sockets you need and where they should go, and which finish and style will look best in your room. Here's a guide to both.

How Many Sockets Does a Living Room Need?

This is the question most people underestimate. The average living room in a modern home has far more devices drawing power than most people realise — and the frustration of not having enough sockets in the right places is one of the most common complaints we hear from homeowners after a renovation.

As a starting point, think about everything that needs to be plugged in:

• Television
• Set-top box, games console, streaming device
• Sound system or soundbar
• Table lamps — typically two, one each side of a sofa or fireplace
• Phone and device chargers
• Smart home devices — speakers, hubs, routers

That's easily eight to ten devices in a typical living room, and that number tends to grow over time rather than shrink.

Our general recommendation for a living room:

• Behind or beside the TV — a minimum of two double sockets. Most people have more devices behind a television than they expect, and running out of sockets in this spot is one of the most common frustrations. A double socket with USB ports alongside a standard double is a particularly useful combination.
• Either side of the main sofa or seating area — a double socket on each side for lamps and device charging. USB sockets are particularly useful here.
• Near the main door or entrance point — useful for phone charging and smart home devices.
• One additional double on a spare wall — for flexibility as your needs change.

That typically means six to eight double sockets as a minimum for a well-equipped living room. If you're renovating, always install more than you think you need — adding sockets later is significantly more disruptive and expensive than getting it right first time.

Where Should Sockets Be Positioned?

Placement matters as much as quantity in a living room, where visible cables are particularly unwelcome.

Behind the television — position sockets at the height of the TV bracket or cabinet rather than at standard skirting-board height. This keeps cables short and tidy. If you're wall-mounting the television, consider having sockets installed directly behind the mounting position so cables disappear into the wall entirely.

Beside seating — sockets positioned at the end of a sofa run or beside an armchair are far more useful than sockets on the opposite side of the room. Think about where people actually sit and put the sockets within easy reach.

For floor lamps — if you know where a floor lamp will stand, position a socket nearby rather than running a cable across the room.

Avoid positioning sockets directly behind where large furniture will stand — a socket behind a built-in bookcase or a heavy sofa that can't be moved is effectively useless.

Which Finish is Right for Your Living Room?

The living room is where the finish decision matters most — these fittings will be seen every day, in natural and artificial light, from close up and across the room. It's worth taking the time to get this right.

Period and Traditional Living Rooms

If your living room has period features — cornicing, picture rails, a fireplace, original floorboards — the finish should feel sympathetic to the age and character of the property.

Brass is the natural starting point for most period living rooms. Antique brass has a warmth and authenticity that feels genuinely at home in an older property. Polished brass makes a more formal statement and suits grander rooms — hallways, reception rooms, formal sitting rooms. For something with more character, aged brass or unlacquered brass (which develops a natural patina over time) are both beautiful choices.

Bronze is worth considering if you want something less common than brass. Medium Bronze Victorian or Georgian has a richness and depth that works exceptionally well in a period living room, particularly against dark painted walls.

Antique Nickel in the Victorian plate style is one of the most period-authentic options in our range — a fitting that looks as though it could genuinely have been there for a hundred years.

Victorian Cast in matt black is a bold choice for a period living room — the ornate plate shape references the period while the black finish gives it a more dramatic, contemporary edge.

For plate style in a period living room, Victorian and Georgian profiles feel most in keeping. The rope-edged Georgian and the beaded Victorian are both rooted in the decorative traditions of British architecture and sit naturally alongside cornicing, dado rails and other period details.

Modern and Contemporary Living Rooms

In a contemporary living room the priorities shift — the fitting should feel considered and design-led without competing with the overall aesthetic of the room.

Satin brass is one of the most popular choices for modern living rooms that want warmth without a period feel. It works particularly well in open-plan spaces with dark cabinetry, warm timber flooring and pendant lighting.

Matt black suits bold, design-led contemporary interiors. Flat Matt Black or Spectrum recede against a dark painted wall, while Victorian Cast Matt Black makes a statement in a room with strong decorative ambition.

Brushed steel is the most versatile choice for a contemporary living room — clean, neutral and hardwearing. It works across the widest range of modern interior styles without demanding attention.

Satin nickel has a quiet sophistication that suits contemporary living rooms with a more restrained, considered aesthetic. The Deco style in satin nickel is one of the most versatile combinations in our range.

For plate style in a contemporary living room, Flat and Contour profiles work best — clean lines that complement rather than compete with a modern interior. Screwless plates are worth considering if you want the most refined finish possible — the absence of visible screws makes a noticeable difference in a room where you're paying attention to every detail.

USB Sockets in the Living Room

USB sockets are increasingly popular in living rooms — particularly beside seating where phones, tablets and other devices are regularly charged. We stock sockets with both USB-A and USB-C ports across a wide range of finishes.

If you're installing new sockets as part of a renovation, it's worth including at least one or two USB sockets beside the main seating area. The convenience of charging without a separate adaptor is something most people appreciate very quickly.

USB-A is the older, larger connector — still the most common for older phones, tablets and accessories.

USB-C is the newer, smaller connector now standard on most modern phones, tablets and laptops.

Many of our USB sockets include both, which is the most future-proof option.

A Note on Dimmer Switches

Most living rooms benefit from dimmer switches — the ability to adjust light levels for different times of day and different activities makes a significant difference to how a room feels. If you're having new switches installed, it's worth specifying dimmers for your main lighting circuit at the same time.

One thing to check — not all dimmer switches are compatible with all LED bulbs. If you're using LED lighting (which most people are), make sure the dimmer you choose is rated for LED use. Our customer service team can advise on compatibility if you're not sure.

Frequently Asked Questions — Living Room Sockets

How many sockets does a living room need? As a minimum, six to eight double sockets for a well-equipped modern living room. Position them behind the television, either side of the main seating area, and at least one spare on an additional wall. Always install more than you think you need — adding sockets later is significantly more disruptive than getting it right first time.

Should living room sockets match throughout the room? Yes — consistency within a room looks considered and intentional. Mixing finishes on the same wall or within the same room tends to look unplanned. If you're using brass sockets in the living room, use brass switches too.

Can I have sockets at different heights in a living room? Yes — it's common and practical to have sockets at skirting-board height for floor lamps and general use, and at a higher position behind a wall-mounted television. The key is to keep the finish consistent regardless of height.

Are USB sockets worth having in a living room? Yes, particularly beside seating. The convenience of charging devices without a separate adaptor is something most people appreciate quickly, and USB sockets are available across our full range of finishes so there's no compromise on appearance.

What is the best finish for a living room with dark painted walls? Several finishes work particularly well against dark walls — aged brass, antique copper, tarnished copper, medium bronze and matt black all have qualities that suit a dark, atmospheric interior. Polished nickel and polished brass catch the light beautifully against a dark background. The right choice depends on whether you want the fitting to stand out or blend in.

Should I use screwless sockets in my living room? If you're investing in quality fittings for a living room, screwless plates are worth considering — the absence of visible fixing screws gives the fitting a cleaner, more refined appearance that's particularly noticeable in a room you spend a lot of time in.

Browse our full range of sockets and switches, or get in touch if you'd like advice on the right finish for your living room.