It's generally best to place AP's as close as possible to where you expect to do most of your Wi-Fi'ing, ideally with unobstructed line of sight. However, sometimes the geography and number of AP's available and practicalities (e.g. cabling routes, power availability, aesthetics,) may dictate otherwise.
So, lounge, den, master bedroom, etc. is preferably to hall, landing, kitchen, wet room, etc.
If you can possibly wait until you have moved in, you can do an on the ground survey and/or experiment a bit before you finally commit. Even with some of the best modelling tools, Wi-Fi deployments sometimes throw up some unexpected results when rolled out.
Yup I won't be deciding their location until we move in.
I have all 3 of mine on each landing / hallway as they are all pretty central for each floor. Internally all are fine but since we had a 5m RSJ installed for the kitchen extension the coverage on my patio is none existent. I have cabled for an AP outdoors so will probably install a UniFi UAP AC Mesh AP this summer when we use the patio again. Have to say my AC Lites have been brilliant since installed. For a domestic install, they are more than adequate for most tasks. Ordered a USG 3 for my Xmas present off SWMBO, so I can finally ditch the nasty BT Home Hub.
Our new house is L shaped so I don't think centrally the APs will provide enough coverage to the ends of the house.
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Something in the cupboard under the stairs should reach all parts. Would anywhere meaningful have more than two walls obstructing the signal?
The cupboard isn't full height due to be under the stairs. The AP would have to be at an angle. All the walls downstairs are solid blockwork. Upstairs they are stud. My network cabinet will be in the cupboard upstairs opposite the cylinder cupboard. I could put on in here but not sure how far it would reach out to bedroom 1, it'll probably be OK but I will test once we are in.
My Homehub 6 works well at a range of 80 feet unobstructed line of sight and at half that distance through two 6” block walls. I suspect oblique angles reflect the signal more. Of course the Router Wi-fi is only one half of the story. The weaker link is my iPhone.Router to iPhone will not work at 80 feet plus a couple of walls. The 80 feet straight line test is down a corridor so I suppose it is possible the corridor focuses the signal.
It's quite possible that a single AP (I'm using Unifi AP Lites) would be enough for the majority of the house. The difficulty I have is that Bedroom 1 is above the kitchen - two high demand areas. The lounge is on the opposite side of the house and is another high demand area and the study is in the corner and will also be high demand (as that's my office). Also not to mention all the smart home devices that will be all over the place.
It is tempting to have multiple APs. I know I have 3 & sometimes 4 on the go. The frustrating thing is getting the iPhone to discard a useless signal in favour of a stronger one that actually works.
I have two setup in the house as I want now as we don't seem to have that problem.