Light switch covers are such a small detail in your home. But, as most people know, the little details can often make a massive difference in the style and décor of your room. There are many different style options out there for switch plates, but if you want something genuinely customized, you can also try making your own. Here are a few ways you can design your custom switch plates.
Cutting Them Yourself
If you have some woodworking skills, cutting a light switch cover is not overly complicated. You’ll need a relatively thin piece of wood and the right power tools to get the job done—a jigsaw cutter and a drill. Be sure to carefully measure the size of the cutout behind your light switch, as well as the dimensions of the light switch itself. Cut your piece of wood to the size of the outer dimensions, then carefully cut out the insert for the light switch in the middle.
If you want to cut your switch plate in a unique shape:
- Ensure that any embellishments (cutouts, curls, etc.) do not come so far in that it will show the cutout behind the switch plate when mounted.
- Once you’ve cut the general shape of your plate, hold it up to the light switch to determine the placement of screw holes.
- Mark these with a pencil, then drill the holes into the wood.
You can now paint or embellish the surface of your switch plate however you wish.
Painting Them
Whether you cut the plates or buy paintable switch plates, you can still add your own custom touch to your wall plate covers. Wood is generally the best option if you plan to paint your switch plates. However, there are some other materials out there that can be painted. Use quality paint to decorate your switch plates, let them dry, and be sure to apply a sealant to preserve the paint’s appearance.
Adding Vinyl
Vinyl can be a fun and easy way to add a custom flair to any switch plate. Because vinyl adheres well to smooth surfaces, you can even add decals to inexpensive plastic light switch covers. If you already have a vinyl cutting machine, then you can probably imagine the process for this. Just create a design, cut the vinyl, peel, and apply to the switch plate! It’s fun, easy, and not permanent, so you can change them whenever you want to.
Using Wallpaper
Whether you want your light switch cover to match the wallpaper in the room, or you want them to stand out against painted walls, wallpaper is a fun way to give your light switch a completely new look. While wallpaper can be applied to standard plastic switch plates, it will adhere better to plates designed for wallpaper application, so keep this in mind.
If you’re trying to match the wallpaper on your plate to the wallpaper on the walls, be sure to carefully align the patterns so that the light switch doesn’t disrupt it at all. If the light switch is the only thing with wallpaper on it, you don’t have to worry about this. Just cut a piece of wallpaper to be slightly larger than the plate cover and cut in from the corner so you can wrap the excess around the edge. Cut an opening for the light switch and make small X-shaped cuts for the screws. Apply wallpaper glue, press the paper on, and let dry before attaching it to the wall.
With a bit of creativity, you can easily decorate your own custom light switch plate cover.
