Replace boring plastic switch covers
March 12, 2013
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Hey there! How are ya? Every once and a while I look at stuff that is being pinned from TDC on Pinterest and it’s fun to see what people are loving. Sometimes something “trends” – I use that term lightly, but you get the idea – and will show up over and over. And sometimes that project or photo is from my early days of blogging and every. time. I see it I gag a little at my horrible photos.
Or something.
I’ve noticed some pins in particular lately that totally surprised me – including this photo from four and a half years ago, when I blogged about the chocolate brown powder room:
It’s just a switch plate – many think it’s molding that I installed around the basic one. I mean, you know how much I love trim work, but even this would be a little much for me. ;)
These are actually just covers you can buy at the hardware store – I’ve seen them at all the hardware stores and online:
They are more expensive than a regular little plastic one obviously, I can’t even remember how much now. I think $4? Maybe $5? For that reason I only buy a few here and there over the years – I’ve been adding them to the house for about eight years now and still only have maybe half of the light switches switched out. (Har.)
They come in one, two, three and four switch sizes:
They are super thick, so the dimmer switches like we have above on the chalkboard wall above do fine. Those here with the little toggle are annoying cause the toggle falls off all. the. time. :)
You can install spacers behind the electrical box in the wall to push it out so it is flush with the cover, but that involves turning off the switch at the breaker and more work so I just deal with it.
They also sell matching outlet covers as well:
I only have a handful of these – in bathrooms mostly, where you actually notice the outlet. That would be a whole lot of moola to try to replace every plug cover in this house!
Anyway, I love how they look – it’s just a little something to class up the joint. ;) They have a few different styles too – one has a beadboard back instead of the plain. I just like this version because it does have that look of trim around the switches. They are a bit beefier and more substantial than the regular plastic ones too.
I have them in the family room:
The kitchen:
And in the foyer/living room downstairs:
I have a few more around the house but like I said, not all of them are changed out. I just pick up a couple every six months to a year.
So there you go…and yes, I just wrote a post about light switch covers. Nothing but titillating content here at the blog!! ;) But I get questions about them often so I wanted to share a bit more about where you can get them.
And of course there are a TON of other options to change out your covers too – different metal finishes, colors, designs – it’s a fun way to change things up a bit!
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Light switch and light switch covers make all the difference... In any place that I do anything, I always change the switches and the plates and upgrade them. I installed these same face plates at our last place, right now I have the screwless ones from Home Depot. Im thinking of upgrading them again!lol
ReplyDeleteI covered a few of mine in fabric and Mod Podge. The look kind of cool and seem to hold up well. They're just a little spot of color on the wall and best of all they're (wait for it...) FREE! My favorite.
ReplyDeleteGREAT idea! How fun!
DeleteI agree with Orlando....they do make a huge difference especially after seeing the old school cream and changing it over to white.
ReplyDeleteI always see those pins and think "why would you add molding when you can just buy a plate cover that way?" haha. Maybe because it seems like we are constantly taking our plate covers off for repainting and rewiring having molding caulked on there seems like a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how many times I've seen that switch pinned and wanted to comment that it's not molding! Ha! I never do, though, because I figure you might enjoy the traffic. ;)
ReplyDeleteI change my out a few at a time too. Usually when I'm updating the room they are in. I like the textured ones you can paint to match and I wrote a post about them recently when we added wood floors in the master and the family room. I use decorative ones too sometimes like on the backsplash in the kitchen. It's a great little project that can even be done by someone without a of skills. I'm also loving the Decora type switches and getting my husband to switch out the little switches when I'm ready to buy new covers.
ReplyDeleteNever noticed these before- I'm glad you posted this! Now I'll be the newest one making them trend because I just pinned this! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis actually comes at a great time for us! Haha, we need to replace the switch plates and the outlet covers at our new house - because they are currently done in a funky americana military theme (did you even know that was a thing? Yeah, me either?)
ReplyDeleteOh this is great! Yep I know what we will be doing... :) Love, love, love this! And to think it won't break the bank either! Thank you for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteI'm with ya! I own one, yes ONE because I'm so darn cheap. It's in my kitchen and I love it. Why so much money, people?? Why?
ReplyDeleteI love those switchplates/outlet covers. I'm replacing ours with a similar model from Home Depot. They are 6.99 each. Ouch!!! They sell the same ones at Target for 5.99, but Target's are off white, not white.
ReplyDeleteI think when I counted up the entire house I needed 81. I'm probably 15% done, because it is pretty pricey replacing them all.
I love this! I actually saw the pinterest version on this - cutting your own molding - and considered it! HA! I had no idea they sold these, although they are pricey. My first thought is how perfect they would be to hide your previous homeowners messy tiling job around the outlets in the kitchen backsplash!
ReplyDeleteI think it was your switch covers that prompted me to change ours out years ago! I got mine at Target on clearance for about $2 apiece. Wish I could find them on clearance again. They really do make a difference.
ReplyDeleteWhen we bought our house 7 years ago one of the first things I did was change the switch plates/outlet covers. I used the same ones that you used. I love them and they really make a big difference to the rooms. They are pricey but so worth it. Once they were pinned, they are hard to come by. I recently moved furniture around and found a couple of outlets that need updated but my Lowe's and Home Depot are sold out!
ReplyDeleteWell crud, I wanted to pick up a few more soon! Hope I can find them.
DeleteI've never seen something so darn perfect for light switches. Ours are so old they need to be pried off the walls! I'm on a quest to find some now!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
I think the easiest DIY project I ever did was cover my light switch in a beautiful thick gift wrap pattern that complimented my walls! Haven't done it yet in our home now, but what you did reminded me of that fun project, I would try it out on that chalkboard wall of yours. :-)
ReplyDeleteWow, it's amazing what a difference that little change makes! Totally makes me want to class up my covers. I'm guessing that'll be #1,566 on the house to-do list though... One day!
ReplyDeleteYou can try a drop of glue to hold on the toggle
ReplyDeleteGreat idea and cheap that anybody even me can do.
ReplyDeleteLove this....going to switch mine out today. :) Also love the blue painting in your last photo!!! Where did you get it? Love your blog!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Stephany! You can find out more about that here: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-art-reusing-old-canvas.html
DeleteThis is great! My covers are due to be replaced and I didn't even know they made these! Now I'm off to find them!! Thanks for the info!!
ReplyDelete~~Angela
I saw that Pin and thought wow, too much work! Glad to see it is made that way. I have a few POTTERY switch plate covers that I LOVE, and I have also covered them with wallpaper in years past. When we start to paint around here I will switch out some of these God awful plain switch covers too. XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteI struggle with light switches on the backsplash
ReplyDeleteI love this post about switch plates. Although we rent and move often, I have my own switch plates and change them out every time we move to a new house. It makes the house feel a little more like a home. I just keep the original ones in a ziplock bag in the kitchen junk drawer until I need them again.
ReplyDeleteDarn it, Sarah, yet another thing I didn't know I need! :D
ReplyDeleteI know...I'm good at that. ;)
DeleteThey also sell them at Target. I think they are the Threshold brand
ReplyDeleteGood to know, thanks!
DeleteSometimes it's the little things that make all the difference!
ReplyDeleteSusan
simplymodernhome.com
I love this post that is just about light switch covers. I think people tend to overlook them and its sad when you walk into a pretty room with dirty, flat, cheap light switch covers. I love the way you have done them.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that beefy light switch covers existed. Will have to check them out next time I'm at the big box hardware store!
ReplyDelete