A great way to give your kitchen a new look is by replacing your old light switch covers with new ones. Most homeowners and renters have never even thought about replacing the wall plates that were already in place when they moved in. The result is that many people find themselves with cheap, plastic wall plates that crack easily and fade over time and don’t even realize they can do so much better by shopping for new ones. Once you’ve made the determination that it’s time to update the switch plate covers in your kitchen, here’s the best way to proceed.
Determine What You Need
It might seem like a simple thing to pick the right switch plate, but if you take a look around your home, you’ll realize that wall plates come in all kinds of configurations. There are switch plates that account for toggle switches, rocker switches, outlets, and combinations incorporating all three. You want to order the correct ones, so walk around your kitchen and make a note of the different types of wall plates you require.
Pick a Style
If you haven’t shopped for switch plates before, you might be shocked at the immense variety that’s available. Switch plates are available in several different materials, for instance. You can choose different metals such as nickel, bronze, and copper or go with simple, classic ceramic. Among each type of material are several additional styles ranging from modern and spare, to filagree, and brushed metal.
Blending or Contrasting
The big question you’re going to have to consider when upgrading your kitchen switch plates is whether or not you want your new plates to blend seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen. Depending on the style of your kitchen, you might want to match — or nearly match — the walls. White or light almond steel shaded wall plates can add a warm, contemporary feel to a white-themed kitchen. You may prefer, however, to feature new wall plates that really pop compared to the rest of the room. If that’s the case, you might want wall plates that contrast with the walls but match other elements in the room. If you have a stainless steel refrigerator or appliances, for example, a polished chrome steel wall plate might work best.
Test It First
Do you have a style of wall plate that you’re fond of but aren’t sure if it’ll work in your kitchen? There’s an easy way to test it. Since wall plates are roughly the size of your cell phone, find the image of the wall plate you’re considering online and capture in on your phone. Blow it up so that it fills your entire screen, then hold your phone up to the wall plate you’re replacing. While you’re at it, have a friend or partner hold it up while you look at it from afar. This should give you a good idea of whether a particular switch plate is the kind that will give you the look you desire for your kitchen.
If you haven’t started shopping for your new wall plates yet, start by browsing the selection at Wallplate Warehouse. We’re the leading providers of wall plates online with dozens of different styles to choose from. Check out our selection today!
