WiFi in a new-build flat — what to plan before finishing works?

A new flat is the best moment to plan your home WiFi network. After the renovation is finished, moving the router, running Ethernet cables, or adding network sockets can be much harder and more expensive. That's why it's worth planning WiFi before the finishing works even start.

1. Get an accurate floor plan

Don't settle for just the floor area. You need a plan showing:

• the room layout
• walls
• doors
• hallways
• where the utility connections come in
• any service shafts or risers

The layout of the flat is exactly what your network planning should be based on.

2. Find out where the provider will bring in the internet

In new flats, the endpoint of the provider's installation is often already fixed at the design stage. That doesn't mean it's the ideal spot for the router, though. If the point sits by the entrance, in the hallway, or in one of the flat's corners, it's worth considering whether you need an extra WiFi point in a more central location.

3. Don't assume a single router will be enough

Many new flats have a relatively small floor area, but their layout can strongly affect WiFi propagation. A long flat, thick walls, or several separated rooms can cause problems even when the square footage doesn't seem large. So it's worth analysing the whole layout before buying hardware.

4. Plan Ethernet

If you still have the chance to run cabling, it's worth considering Ethernet in the most important spots. Sockets can be especially useful near:

• the TV
• the desk
• a games console
• a desktop computer
• a WiFi access point

Ethernet can also connect an extra WiFi point to the main router.

5. Think about WiFi already at the built-in furniture design stage

The router often ends up inside a TV cabinet or built-in furniture. That can look tidy, but it isn't necessarily optimal for WiFi. If you're planning built-ins, allow space for network equipment so it isn't needlessly enclosed or surrounded by materials that hinder signal propagation.

6. Think about where you need the best WiFi

Not every room has the same requirements. Think about where you'll have:

• a TV
• consoles
• computers
• a workspace
• bedrooms
• smart home devices

If you plan to regularly use demanding internet services in a specific room, it's worth factoring that into your network planning.

7. Account for the walls

In new flats, the wall layout can matter just as much as square footage. Thick structural walls can limit the signal far more than light partition walls. So the router's location should be judged in the context of the whole flat.

8. Plan for a possible mesh point or access point

You don't have to buy an extra device right away. It's worth allowing for the possibility of installing one, though. If after finishing works a single router doesn't give good coverage, Ethernet cabling prepared in advance can make expanding the network much easier.

9. Don't choose a router based on floor area alone

Slogans like "router for a 60 m² flat" are convenient, but they oversimplify reality. Two 60 m² flats can have completely different requirements. What matters includes:

• the shape of the flat
• the number of rooms
• the walls
• the router's location
• the number of devices
• the coverage you expect

10. Make a network plan before starting the renovation

It's best to prepare a simple plan: internet → router → Ethernet → WiFi points → devices needing the best connection. This helps you avoid ending up, once the renovation is done, with the router in the worst possible spot and no good WiFi at the other end of the flat.

Example scenario

Say you have a 70 m² flat. The internet connection comes in by the entrance. The living room is on the other side of the flat, with several walls in between. The simplest solution is to put the router by the entrance. That doesn't have to be the best option, though.

Instead, you could:

• plan Ethernet to a more central spot
• place the main WiFi point more favourably
• allow for an additional access point
• use mesh

The best option depends on the specific floor plan.

What's worth doing before starting the finishing works?

Before closing up the walls and doing built-ins, it's worth having answers to a few questions:

• Where will the internet come in?
• Where will the router be?
• Do I need an extra WiFi point?
• Where should the Ethernet sockets go?
• Where will the TVs and computers be?
• Do I need WiFi on the balcony or terrace?
• Will the router have open space around it?
• Will I want to expand the network in the future?

Summary

A new-build flat gives you a big advantage: you can plan the network before finishing works make later changes harder. Don't start by buying a router. First analyse: the floor plan → the walls → where the internet enters → where you use it → Ethernet → WiFi points → and only then the hardware.

Well-planned infrastructure makes it much easier later to get stable, even WiFi coverage — without constantly moving the router, adding random extenders, or hunting for dead zones.