How to plan WiFi in a new home?

Construction or a major renovation is the best moment to plan your WiFi network. Later, relocating the router, running cables, or adding access points can be much harder. So it's worth planning the network before the walls are finished.

1. Start from the floor plan

Don't start with the question "which router should I buy?". First look at the whole building. You need a plan showing all rooms, walls, doors, floors, and where the internet connection comes in — the building's layout will be one of the most important factors in WiFi placement.

2. Think about where the internet will enter

The spot where the provider brings in the fibre or other line matters a lot. The router doesn't always need to sit exactly there. At the design stage, it's worth deciding whether you need:

• a router in the central part of the home
• an additional access point
• a mesh system
• a wired connection between points

3. Don't hide the router in a cabinet

This mistake is easy to make in a new home. When designing built-in furniture, it's worth allowing space for network equipment, but you shouldn't automatically assume the router must be fully enclosed. It needs adequate space and the ability for its radio signal to spread effectively.

4. Plan Ethernet

If you're building or doing a major renovation, it's worth considering an Ethernet installation. A wired connection can be especially useful for:

• computers
• TVs
• consoles
• cameras
• WiFi access points
• devices that need a stable connection

Importantly, Ethernet can also serve as backhaul for WiFi points — meaning an additional access point can talk to the main router over a cable instead of relying purely on a wireless link.

5. Plan WiFi points on the floor plan itself

If the home is bigger, don't automatically assume a single router will be enough. Mark potential WiFi point locations and check what the signal path looks like between them. Pay particular attention to:

• thick walls
• ceilings/slabs
• stairs
• rooms at the ends of the building
• the garage
• the attic
• the terrace or garden, if you need WiFi there too

6. A multi-storey home needs special attention

In a home with several floors, the signal has to get through not just walls but also ceilings/slabs. So a router on the ground floor won't necessarily give good WiFi upstairs. Sometimes it's better to put an extra WiFi point on each floor — though that doesn't mean every home needs exactly one point per floor. It all depends on the building's layout.

7. Think about where you actually use the internet

Not every room matters equally. You may especially need good WiFi in:

• the living room
• bedrooms
• a home office
• a child's room
• the kitchen
• the garage
• on the terrace

If you're planning a TV, computer, or other high-bandwidth device in a specific spot, it's worth accounting for that already at the design stage.

8. Don't go by floor area alone

A 180 m² house may need a completely different WiFi system than a flat of the same size. Why? Because what matters is the number of floors, the building's shape, the room layout, the type of walls, the router's location, and the number of access points. So the question "which router for a 180 m² house?" doesn't have one universal answer.

9. Plan WiFi before picking hardware

This is a very important rule. First determine: where you need coverage → what the building looks like → how many points you need → where to place them → what hardware fits. Not the other way round. Buying the most expensive router and only later looking for a spot for it often leads to unnecessary compromises.

10. Use the floor plan to simulate options

If you already have a house design, you can analyse a few options, for example: one router centrally placed, router + one WiFi point, router + two WiFi points, or several points connected over Ethernet. Comparing such options lets you decide which solution makes the most sense.

Checklist before finishing works

Before the walls are closed up, it's worth deciding:

• where the internet connection will enter
• where the main router will go
• whether you need extra WiFi points
• where the access points will be
• where you need Ethernet
• which rooms need the best WiFi
• whether you need WiFi on every floor
• whether you want coverage on the terrace or in the garden

Summary

The best time to plan WiFi is before the home is finished. You don't need to pick a specific router model right away — first plan: the network layout → point locations → Ethernet → only then the hardware. A well-designed network can perform far better than a randomly placed set of even very expensive devices. And it all starts with the floor plan.