Kitchen renovation Outlets - under cabinets or in backsplash ?

[Anonymous]

We are fully renovating our kitchen and have the opportunity to put outlets in the backsplash or under cabinet. Electrician seemed to recommend (maybe based on what others are doing now?) that we put them under the cabinets while our main contractor suggested keeping in the backsplash. We are doing a simple white tile backsplash so it won’t show a ton. We will be leaving out our coffee maker (nespresso) and toaster. When we use other things they will be put away afterwards. WWYD?

I am thinking of doing the ones for the nespresso and the toaster in the backsplash, but the others under cabinet….but seeking advice so I don’t get it wrong.

[Anonymous]

There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

[Anonymous]

I did under and don’t really like it. Better is to put them in normally bit more toward the corners. That way appliances you leave plugged in won’t show the cord.

Things I don’t like: it’s hard to get up under to plus in and things that stay plugged in have the cord hanging down against the wall.

[Anonymous]

I only put them under the cabinets where Outlets were required per code but I didn’t want to see them in the backsplash. Definitely put them in the backsplash where permanent appliances will be going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

Just because you wouldn't find a feature useful, doesn't make it stupid. I'm also surprised you have learned by now that not everyone does things they way you do. Clearly, my teens aren't using things the same time they're charging them otherwise I wouldn't dislike the way it looks on the kitchen counter. Power packs, Kindles and Switches have to charge somewhere while they're using their phones - and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

I agree. A waste of a drawer and an uncomfortable plug in situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

Just because you wouldn't find a feature useful, doesn't make it stupid. I'm also surprised you have learned by now that not everyone does things they way you do. Clearly, my teens aren't using things the same time they're charging them otherwise I wouldn't dislike the way it looks on the kitchen counter. Power packs, Kindles and Switches have to charge somewhere while they're using their phones - and vice versa.

lol. You think their things would fit in that drawer?

[Anonymous]

We have a no phones in the bedrooms at night rule and so all devices go in our kitchen to charge at night. I see a drawer like this being useful when they are charging at night. Also we have iPads that are used intermittently during the day so having them in a drawer fully charged would be a benefit versus plugged in sitting on the counter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

We have that exact drawer in our kitchen and my wife loves it.

I only charge my phone when I'm sleeping so I have a charging station in the walk-in closet. To each their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

Just because you wouldn't find a feature useful, doesn't make it stupid. I'm also surprised you have learned by now that not everyone does things they way you do. Clearly, my teens aren't using things the same time they're charging them otherwise I wouldn't dislike the way it looks on the kitchen counter. Power packs, Kindles and Switches have to charge somewhere while they're using their phones - and vice versa.

+1 love the idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's so much personal preference in this! Don't worry about getting it 'wrong', it'll just help you make the decision next time you have a choice!

My preference is to have the outlets under the top cabinets because I think it looks cleaner - unless you have an appliance that has to be plugged in all the time or one that will remain plugged in (like the coffee maker). You'll have to make sure, though, that any under-cabinet lighting you have doesn't get hot because you don't want to accidently burn yourself when going to plug/unplug something.

If you have the room, I'd suggest a drawer with a plug so you can charge device/power packs in it. I wish I had one. With 3 teens, we have a lot of stuff that needs charging and I hate how it loks on the counter.

This is stupid no one puts their stuff away to charge they are using it at the same time

We do.

[Anonymous]

We have under the cabinet and you have to crane your head down to see the plug to plug things in. Also, there is then a dark code leading up to the plug. Not a fan.

[Anonymous]

I'd go for backsplash - even if you think undercounter might work for now, you probably will have the outlets a lot longer than current phone sizes and technology. Don't lock yourself into that space when your needs might change.

You might look into an appliance garage type setup for your charging station, so you could pull down a cabinet door to hide the space when it's not in use or overnight for a cleaner look.

[Anonymous]

Backsplash