Painting Your Light Switch Covers Is the Subtle Upgrade Your Home Needs

Simple white light switch plates or outlet covers are standard, even in wallpapered or boldly colored rooms. But, as homeowners increasingly look for ways to make their homes unique, small touches like custom switch covers can add a personalized finishing touch to a room. These micro projects are an appealing way to dip a toe into DIY design and merge the worlds of crafting and home decor.

Why Are People Painting Light Switch Covers?

Painting your switch covers is the perfect combination of easy and impactful. Though small, a white light switch cover can stick out like a sore thumb on a dark or patterned wall. Changing the cover to one that matches your room’s decor can instantly tie everything together. Or, take this small step toward larger-scale paint projects by crafting an image or scenery (as seen in the TikTok above). Wit You can paint or needlepoint on regular paper, but the permeance of creating something part of your home is enticing.

Small projects like these can also be a way to flex your creative muscles. One of the positive holdovers from the pandemic is that people have taken up handy crafts and want to display the skills they’ve learned.

What to Know Before Painting

You don’t need to source a costly new cover to create the custom look of your dreams. From an execution standpoint, the project is fairly simple, making it something that can be completed in a day with a quick trip to the hardware store.

Since most covers are plastic, your typical wall paint might not stick. There are, however, spray paints specifically made for plastics, so this is likely your easiest bet (especially if you’re new to the DIY space). You could find a color that coordinates with your room or even use metallic paint to match the accent fixtures in a bathroom or kitchen.

Once you have a base color, let your creativity show. While a solid color can update your space, if your style is more maximalist, you can decorate the covers to match your wallpaper or embellish them with everything from sequins to beads.

And if you’re busy or not into crafting, this project doesn’t have to be a DIY if you don’t want it to be. You could easily find a handyman who could complete this update at a reasonable price. Just head to online sites like Etsy for already-painted covers.