If your ideas for adding a polished look to the rooms in your home are bigger than your renovation budget, there’s no need to despair, or to put off until next year your much-anticipated redo. If you break your ideas down into a room at a time and maintain a consistent look as you work on each room, you’ll soon be able to see progress. One of the least expensive fixes in any room is to switch out the old plastic, builder-grade light switches with new, stylish ones that give off the right vibe. The best part of this type of upgrade is you can tackle it one room at a time, and you don’t need to hire a crew to accomplish the changeover. You’ve already poured over magazines and watched countless home improvement shows so you know what look appeals to you. A little bit of on-line research will lead you to some great companies who sell light switch covers.
What You Need to Know
Switch plates come in a variety of materials, so you need to think about the look you want for the house before you place your order. Your style should match the style of the home, for the most part. All of the connecting rooms should have the same type and style of light switch, so plan accordingly, even if you are only replacing one room at a time. Keep in mind the bigger picture. Some of the most popular materials are nickel, bronze, copper, brass, chrome, wood, ceramic and stone. The cover can have a flat surface with edges that are slanted toward the wall, or you can opt for a stamped steel plate with fancy edging. Take you time narrowing down your choices and the look you want before you choose your finish. An oil rubbed bronze finish will provide an instant antique look, while a brushed or satin finish evokes contemporary and modern. Once these choices are made, you then need to compile a list of the configurations you’ll need for the room. Are your switches individual, or are they ganged together, two or three in a row? Are the switches rocker or toggle? Are any of them dimmer lights? Once you have the answers to these questions, you can place your order. When your new plates arrive, you’ll only need a screwdriver to remove the old plates and replace them with the new ones. A regular-sized room will take about an hour of your time. Before you know it, you’ll have a beautiful designer look in your room with new light switch covers.
