Is there an actual building code minimum for power points?

Yes, but it's exactly that — a minimum, set for a much lower-device era than most households actually live in now. Meeting code and having enough points for how you actually use a room aren't the same thing.

Can extra power points always just be added to an existing circuit?

Often, if there's spare capacity — but not always. Some circuits are already close to loaded, in which case a new circuit is the safer option. That's a five-minute check, not something to assume either way.

Are double adaptors and power boards a fair substitute for more points?

As a permanent setup, no — they're fine as a short-term fix but not a real answer to a room that's genuinely under-pointed. It's a sign to add points properly, not a long-term solution.

How Many Power Points Does a Room Need?

Most Australian homes were wired for a world with far fewer things plugged in than we actually run today. Here's a realistic number for each main room, based on how people actually live now, not the bare minimum a building inspector once signed off on decades ago.

Kitchen: 6–8, Minimum

Kettle, toaster, microwave, mixer, phone chargers, maybe a coffee machine — kitchens run more devices simultaneously than any other room, and it's the room where "just use a double adaptor" becomes a permanent, slightly risky habit rather than a temporary fix. Bench-height points near where appliances actually sit matter more than a high total count in the wrong spot.

Living Room: 6–8

TV, sound system, gaming console, streaming box, lamps, phone and laptop charging — living rooms accumulate devices over time in a way that outpaces however many points the house came with. Behind the TV and beside the main seating are the two spots that matter most.

Main Bedroom: 4–6

Bedside lamps on both sides, phone charging, a TV if there is one, and increasingly a home office setup for anyone working from the bedroom occasionally. Two points per bedside table is the realistic minimum, not one.

Home Office: 6+

This is the room most likely to be genuinely under-pointed in an older home, simply because home offices didn't widely exist when the house was built. Computer, monitor, printer, charging, sometimes a second monitor — six is a reasonable floor, not a generous number.

Bathroom and Laundry: Fewer, But Specific

Bathrooms need far fewer general points (and what's there needs to meet specific safety requirements for wet areas), but laundries often need a dedicated point for the washing machine and dryer separately, not sharing one point between both.

The Real Signal You're Under-Pointed

If a room has a permanent double adaptor or power board that's never actually removed, that's not a workaround — it's the room telling you it needs another point installed properly. It's a small job, and it's the difference between a house that works and one that's mildly annoying to live in every day.

Our Power Points, Lighting & Fans page covers what this job actually involves, or get a quote for whichever room's been bothering you the longest.