Oak Switchplate Covers

Alison Blakely asked:


If you’ve ever been in a decorating “slump”, you’re well aware of feeling the need to do something to an area or complete room, but you’re just not sure where to start. The mere thought of trying to find an idea can put you in a tough place to begin with, but you do have to begin somewhere. Sure, there are all of those shows on cable showing you tips and tricks of the trade that are perfect for the homes of others, but your home is not anything like the ones on TV. Your home is unique, just like you are. Why not start the process where so many end: with decorative outlet covers?

The passing years have seen many different levels of both the outlet cover (sometimes referred to as the duplex outlet cover, to avoid confusion with the plastic safety inserts) and the switchplate cover. For example, many homes in the 1950’s and 1960’s saw wall coverings like wallpaper and fabric placed directly over outlet and light switchplate covers, all in an attempt to conceal what could have been a focal point on a wall. But thankfully that has all changed, and decorative outlet covers are hitting the interior décor market by storm!

While some of the more traditional interior designers are still a bit leery as to the colorful raised and sculpted outlet covers, the up and coming decorators and designers aren’t afraid to enable each room in your home make its own statement- including the details like wood-burned, metal and ceramic, and jeweled copper designs of decorative outlet covers. Most designers will agree that classic filigree and fleur-de-lis patterns are true classics and will remain in the loop for many years to come.

If you just can’t seem to get away from the boring old white outlet covers, why not break into this new trend slowly with a white, ceramic outlet cover with an inlaid pattern or design, or an interesting outside border, or a hint of a scalloped or raised edge around the non-rectangular perimeter. Or maybe you prefer a hand painted, Shabby Chic design (made popular with HGTV’s popular series) white over copper so that a bit of the material’s luminous qualities allow the cover to naturally shimmer.

Got kids? Then the word “plain” can’t possibly be in your vocabulary! What would the kids’ rubber ducky bathroom be without the coordinating duplex outlet and switchplate covers? How could you possibly have a pink princess bedroom with boring, white outlet covers? What good is the finest blue paint job in junior’s room when the bright white cover is staring you in the face? A tiny bit of design or a lot of dazzle can be the finishing (or beginning) touch in any room in your home.

Fedora girl asked:


While painting the walls, I got some paint smeared on the switchplates and trim of doors etc. How do I get it off to get a clean, neat look?
Thanks!

Alison Blakely asked:


There are no two people alike in the world, so no two people have the same taste. Why is it then that the majority of homes have plain, white switchplates?

Switchplates have been around since the days of indoor electricity. They cover an open area in a wall where a light switch is in place, making the area look neat as a pin as it covers the exposed wires, all while assisting in a hazard free area. The originals were quite hideous, usually made of a boxy style wood block, not meant for any sort of decorative purpose at all, just for practical use.

We’ve certainly come a long way, as the days of your grandmother’s tarnished, brass switchplates, with the preamble to the constitution engraved on the top seem like a past dream (or nightmare) . They can really be quite a beneficial art form, for everyone with electricity needs to have a switchplate for safety reasons, so why on earth would you want to have the same exact, boring one that everyone else has?

Traditionally, decorative switchplates have been found in children’s bedrooms, nurseries, and the occasional bathroom. But why stop there?

There aren’t many things more boring than a plain, drab wall. A solid, eggshell-colored wall with a plain white switchplate- I need to get an espresso just for thinking about it. You need a splash of color and some decorative art to give your home the character it needs- it should reflect the personality of its resident- it should reflect you. Why not combine the color and the art into a snazzy, un-boring switchplate cover?

A bathroom full of frogs or a kitchen accented with wine bottles and grapes can both easily have the finishing touch of a not boring switchplate. If you can’t find the exact pattern to match what you already have, please, at least change the color of the switchplate to coordinate or compliment the rest of the room… don’t leave it white.

At any rate, switchplates are a quick, simple addition to turn a dull and dreary room into a dazzling den that’s as easy as flipping a switch.