What would you do differently in the next house construction?

Sorry for the dumb question.

What exactly is this lighting planning and why is it necessary?
( Oh, I’m not an IT tech freak, I just need 1-2 spots under the shower and I don’t want anything automatic either. Just classic old-fashioned without gimmicks

The question is not dumb, but often neglected. Sure, it also works without it, but in my opinion the classic ceiling outlet in the middle is no longer up to date. In a corridor or stairwell you don’t necessarily need sophisticated lighting scenarios, but in the living room I want to have the possibility to create appropriate lighting for different scenarios. From a birthday with good lighting to a romantic TV evening with soft indirect lighting. In the bathroom I need sufficient light in front of the mirror and in the shower, but I don’t want 3000 lux while bathing. Children’s rooms also partly require different lighting concepts.

Of course, you can do a lot with dimmers. Then there are auxiliary solutions like desk lamps, clip-on spots on the mirrors, retrofitted under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, floor lamps, Hue lamps, etc. Most of these, in my view, are make-do solutions because people didn’t think things through enough in advance.

Automation is something else. I can understand that not everyone wants it. BUT: My wife asked yesterday: “What, we have a light switch for the vestibule here?” That made my day, because everything there runs via [PM]. Just like in the stairwell, the intermediate corridor, etc. We have easily 10 light switches in the living area that haven’t been pressed once this year. In the evening, two LED strips light up in our foyer, so there is always a slight basic illumination and often we don’t need any other light there at all. They switch off automatically when the terrace door is open (mosquitoes) or all the lights on the ground floor are off. In the upstairs corridor I “had to” retrofit an LED strip. There is also a [PM] there, but when you had to go to the toilet at night or early in the morning, you were always standing in floodlight. Now I have an LED strip above the skirting board that turns on at night instead of the ceiling light. So you can safely walk to the bathroom at night too. When visitors come (detected by smart home), they light very dimly all night so you can orient yourself (very helpful with kids). I can think of many such things that not only look good visually, but also bring me a considerable increase in comfort. Unfortunately, you can only retrofit them to a limited extent later on.

Unfortunately, you can only retrofit this to a limited extent afterward.

LED night light for the socket, EUR 3.95.-

LED night light for the socket, EUR 3.95.-

if you like it.

You don't just have to like it, you also have to be able to afford it.

At the moment, I am also considering whether a spot (directly into the concrete ceiling + installation) for €160 each is worth it for me. If you need at least 6 pieces in the hallway, then for €960 I can buy a great lamp plus indirect wall lighting and still have some money left for other wishes.

I have already lived in quite a few rental properties and based on these experiences I exclude some things that are nowadays at the top of wish lists. For example, walk-in showers.

Only very few tenants have them - what negative experiences have you had with them?

You don't just have to like it, you also have to be able to afford it.

At the moment, I am also considering whether a spot (directly into the concrete ceiling + installation) for €160 each is worth it to me. If you need at least 6 pieces in the hallway, then for €960 I can buy a great lamp plus indirect wall lighting, and there is even something left over for other wishes

that's clear, but this is the case in all areas when building a house. Besides, LED lighting doesn't have to be expensive. The 7m in the hallway cost me about €100. Floor-to-ceiling windows, higher knee walls, etc. are also not free.