light switches and sockets - anyone else ok with white

5 years ago

Ok sorry this isn’t the usual post .. but...
I’m getting shown various sockets and switches designs I can have all over the house. Some beautiful ones I may add but me and my OH just think - the white are ok?!

Feel like a terrible bore .. but just don’t think the switches need making a feature of.

Ok I must admit there are already areas in the house which have different switches and sockets - tiled areas - the sockets match them to blend in.

Still out of all the ones I’ve seen a clean white plastic appeals. Have we lost our minds in the whole renovation project?? Do I need to pick out a shiny chrome socket or switch for our home !!?

Featured Answer

E D

5 years ago

Shuly beat me to it, but yes, white ones can really stand out too.

We have this flat plate brushed steel version which protrudes a little less.

Then again, most of our sockets are white but they are not in prominent positions.

Actually having white switches is quite cool. It shows you don’t care (in a good way). They’re non pretentious.

As for clear covers, I wonder how you hide the mess or it would look a bit like this

Ah, the industrial look!

:-)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (22)

PRO
User
5 years ago
Rest assured, you are not alone. We have very pale walls and therefore do not want the sockets or switches to stand out, they are all white!
Daisy England
5 years ago
Mine are all white too.
Related Discussions
Help choosing door handles and light switches etc.
Q
Comments (9)
So you know I bought a single 'click deco' brand dolly light switch a while back and found it to be pretty poor quality so it was returned. Ended up with these: http://www.forbesandlomax.com/the-unlacquered-brass-range.html Really good quality and they have lovely finishes too. I quite like their antique bronze range too as it contrasts nicely with chrome/nickel finishes without clashing. If you'd really like everything to match then take a look at the Jim Lawrence range. They're not the cheapest but offer both light switches and door furniture in a large selection of finishes. They also do the narrow style of light switches which I think looks really elegant in older houses. https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/door-window/door-handles-door-knobs/bromley-handle-with-bristol-keyhole-backplate-in-510201bw?returnurl=%2fdoor-window%2fdoor-handles-door-knobs%2f%3fcount%3d36 https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/1-gang-dolly-architrave-switch-in-chrome-with-3279chniz https://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk/2-gang-black-dolly-switch-bevelled-plate/
...See More
Power sockets and Light switches
Q
Comments (2)
In son’s house he had MK. Recommended by the electrician and he has been pleased with them. They were only white but I presume they’ll do colour choices too. To be honest in the whole of the renovation of his house (and it was gutted and unliveable when he purchased it) light sockets were the only thing he really insisted on choosing. Everything else he asked me or dad. Weird lad ;-))
...See More
Brass light switches with plastic plug sockets?
Q
Comments (5)
Hi I'd definitely recommend spending a little extra and having the Brass sockets to match the Togle Light switches. I worked for a client in Norfolk, who had everything matching with togle switches too,(you can see pics on my projects page) and the difference between the standard white sockets to having the matching Brass, is undeniable, and makes the space looking 'finished' as apposed to maybe changing in future. Some prefer the more discrete look of a clear sockets or white socket on a light wall, but if there's budget, and you're drawing the eye already to the togle switch and I'm assuming you like the Brass colour in this room, why not add this with other sockets and accessories etc. Hope this helps! Speak soon - Kerry
...See More
Is it ok to mix metal finishes in ablue kitchen???
Q
Comments (5)
Hi Catherine, I think it's ok to mix the two as there are lots of kitchen accessories like pots and pans and even kettles that have both copper with stainless steel finishes on them. I would say, if its only your handles that are copper, perhaps introduce it elsewhere too. Perhaps change the sockets to copper or add some copper or both copper and stainless steel accessories so there is something to bring them together. I hope this helps.
...See More
T Gray
5 years ago
I was lucky enough to win a prize on Houzz for £1000 worth of Schneider Screwless switches and sockets. All mine were standard white ones. I chose their brushed stainless steel because they harmonised with all the different colours in each of the rooms and look really lovely. Until we did this I didn't realise how much of a difference it would make to the overall finish of the rooms. Screwfix do them if you want to try them out.
Jonathan
5 years ago
I think it is to do with the quality of the materials and the design not the colour. So I prefer a socket made from metal.
I think the end result is a higher end finish. Consider if you have metal door handles or white plastic ones and then ask yourself why.
User
5 years ago
We've just changed all our light switches and sockets. Like you every room had something different and it was bugging me (probably more than it should!). I don't like to notice sockets so changed them all to good quality white ones so they blend into the background (they are all on white or off white walls or behind furniture). However, after changing a few light switches to white we realised it didn't look right. They are a bit more in your face so to speak. So we changed them to good quality antique brass fittings, which work better with the age, style and other fittings in the house. As Jonathan says I think quality is probably the main consideration. Good quality white fittings will look better than cheaper plastic ones. Also, if you don't want them to stand out you can get ones with clear covers.
Danielle H
5 years ago
I kept with white throughout mine apart from the kitchen where I went for matt black metal to match my sink/hob.

I also preferred the cheaper square edge white ones to the rounded edge, my electrician thought I was mad!
Tani H-S
5 years ago
Oo following this as my electrician apparently only quoted for white plastic everything so upstairs cost us a small fortune as white plastic against dark grey walls didn’t look grey. I didn’t swap all of them so I’m now I’m stuck thinking I might sand and paint some of them perhaps?!?

White sockets at low level are preferable to me on lighter coloured walls (also cheaper square edge as hate the round edge ones!!) . Metal against dark walls.

Switches though .... metal always looks nicer to me. It’s the first thing you need to see when you open the door so they kind of need to stand out more I think?
Tani H-S
5 years ago
Oh meant to add that I’m having the same dilemma choosing a finish for our new room as well. Brushed is nice but not sure if the black ones wear well :0/
suebrockbank
5 years ago
I certainly would not want switch plates to stand out - make a feature of things you want to display, not the 'nuts and bolts'! So although we have been very fussy about detailing we kept to plain white switches on white walls. If we were using a colour or paper I wouldd probably choose transparent ones.
smac232
5 years ago
Absolutely stick with white. Chrome or stainless steel can often look like commercial office space rather than a home. Spend your money elsewhere.
kikiamack
5 years ago
I prefer white against pale walls so they don’t stand out. Funnily enough, like a couple of the others I prefer the square edge switches as well. In our kitchen we went for brushed steel with a grey edge to go on our mid grey tiles. These were from MK and we had to wait for over a year for one of the matching sockets with USB ports to become available. The white socket we used in the interim really stood out (in a bad way). I don’t necessarily agree that metal equals better quality than white plastic. I’d rather have a decent MK plastic than a “cheap” metal any day. So as we always find, budget plays a big factor.
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
Very interesting hearing all the different views - although a similar conversation has gone on in my head I think - I still can’t decide
Nina Edgewood
5 years ago
Can you remember what light switches any of you friends have in their houses? If not you’ll probably not notice/ mind if you decide to stick with the cheaper white ones. We stuck with white except in the kitchen where the walls are dark blue because we really couldn’t justify the cost.
minipie
5 years ago
We are having a mixture. Brushed steel in the kitchen to go with the appliances, as they are quite visible at worktop height or in the sides of the island. White flat plate in the hall and drawing room. White plastic upstairs.

I agree that it’s better to get white plastic from a reputable supplier which won’t go wrong, than a cheap metal socket or switch which looks the part but will give up within a year, or be a nightmare to fit.

Also bear in mind the flat plate ones require a deeper back box (35mm) so if you already have standard 25mm ones you won’t have the flat plate option.
G Arnold
5 years ago
White are fine... except if you are going for dark walls. Since we moved into the new house we have gone darker in most rooms now after living with all white walls for 5 years in the previous... as such we are replacing the visible ones (light switches mainly) with either brushed brass screwless with black toggle switches, or black with brass or stainless steel toggles (different rooms have different primary metal finishes so need that flexibility).
Ribena Drinker
5 years ago
Because of the style and age of the house, we went for solid brass dolly/toggle switches or dimmers where appropriate and double brass switched sockets.

However in the kitchen we have brushed stainless steel which look better with the tiles, appliances and cabinets. We had a nifty six switch compact light switch put in the kitchen, with long elegant switches which replaced 2 three switch switches.
Juliet Docherty
5 years ago
The white switches aren't white, they are darker than white and if they blend in to a pale wall in my opinion they look innocuous and that's perfect. For me it's about visual clutter, I don't like seeing things stand out that aren't attractive. Dark sockets on dark walls, pale sockets on pale walls. I also have a thing with the colour of flexes......and plugs.
Sonia
5 years ago
Mine are all white and they are fine. I was too tight to have any other sort! They kind of blend into the background........
hapiak
Original Author
5 years ago
We are going to stick to white.

If we go dark in the separate living room we may have something else in there

The steel with white I’ve never liked but I’ve just realised why and it’s because they are the hospital sockets and switches.

Again it’s down to personal taste.

Thank you all for your comments.
Rose Williams
5 years ago
You do right, a lot of the fancy fangled things may look pretty with a price tag to boot, but not as hard wearing (eg they scratch easy), or dont have very strong terminals
cheryl w
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I feel like white sockets look standard. I feel like polished chrome sockets look great. But make sure that your light fixtures, other fittings and interior door handles are the same. That way it all looks well put together.

light switches and sockets - anyone else ok with white

E D

Comments (22)

User

Daisy England

Related Discussions

T Gray

Jonathan

User

Danielle H

Tani H-S

Tani H-S

suebrockbank

smac232

kikiamack

hapiak
Original Author

Nina Edgewood

minipie

G Arnold

Ribena Drinker

Juliet Docherty

Sonia

hapiak
Original Author

Rose Williams

cheryl w

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

light switches and sockets - anyone else ok with white

Comments (22)

Related Discussions

hapiakOriginal Author

hapiakOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

hapiak
Original Author

hapiak
Original Author