I chose this dilemma because it's so real-life. Lots of us deal with similar walls in our own homes, and they're just plain frustrating:
I have this wall that's just awkward, and has too many switches on it. Help! I don't know what to put there. The picture is way too high because of all the switches, and I do not even care to have that picture there.
I would love to hear what you think!
Charity
I have a very similar wall in my house, that just happens to be one of the first things you see when you enter the front door. I'm still working on mine, so I'll save it for later. As for Charity's wall, this is what I would do:
(And, go ahead and make fun of me now for my lack of PhotoShop skills. . .Maybe one day!)
Much like we girls dress ourselves, treating this wall all comes down to the art of distraction. In other words, focus on the good parts and do your best to disguise/ignore the rest.
First, I would lose the picture. At the height it's currently hanging, it's only drawing more attention to the switches, thermostat, etc.
Second, I would take advantage of the fact that it is a tall wall and draw the eye up by staggering a grouping of sunburst mirrors (in various sizes) up the wall. Sunbursts are a better alternative than round or square mirrors because their shape makes them easier to place closely to those unsightly wall plates. (And, they look great in an asymmetrical arrangement.)
And, finally, I would further distract from the wall switches by using some patterned throw pillows on the sofa. It just gives you more pretty stuff to look at and makes you forget about the not-so-pretty stuff. (How do you like that for fancy designer talk?!)
Sources: Sunburst mirrors are from Wisteria, and the pillows are from Elegant Touch.
I know you've got some great ideas for this one, so what would you do?
Emily you have such great ideas.
ReplyDeleteReally.
You do.
Perhaps the homeowner can invest in a few glass front covers for the switches and outlets.
This will give them the power to do what ever they desire as far as paint colors or wall paper and just place a glass front cover on the switch.
Perhaps?
Rashon aka Mr. Goodwill Hunting
I hate light switches! It seems like mine are always right in the way to hang something up! I have a gallery wall around one of mine. All of my frames are black, so I painted the outlet cover black to make it blend in. It's hardly noticeable, now that it's black and has so much around it to draw people's attention away.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea, Emily, and if the covers were the same color as the wall, I don't think they would be so obvious.
Distracting the eye is a good direction to go in. I had two thoughts for future fixes. One, is could the two higher switches be something that could be switched to remote controls, and could therefore be covered? A second solution could be moving the two higher switches down to be beside or over the other two so they aren't spread out.
ReplyDeleteI love your solution...and would add that it is easy as pie to paint out those light switches to match the wall, thereby making them far less distracting! I learned this trick from my mother-in-law!
ReplyDeleteFirst if moving them entirely is not an option is at least condensing them all onto one switch plate an option? If not...then at the very least paint them all the same color as the walls...right now they are a total eye sore....the key is to draw the eye away...so I think a collection or grouping of prints above going up fairly tall (to take advantage of the height) would look great and draw the eye away..and love the pillows, softens the hardness of the black leather....light switches are a necessary evil..one day someone will come up with a clever solution!
ReplyDeleteI saved this photo (from a House Crashing episode on Young House Love) as inspiration for how to deal with a similar problem in my house. Hope it inspires others!
ReplyDeletehttp://images.younghouselove.com.s3.amazonaws.com/2011/03/Church-Hill-Upstairs-Hall.jpg
And here is a link to the entire related blog post:
http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/03/house-crashing-steller-for-sale/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YoungHouseLove+%28Young+House+Love%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
There are some beautiful options available on line. Also, she could use fabric or wallpaper to add a fun shot of pattern and make them more of a feature, not an eyesore.
ReplyDeletePaint the switch covers!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pain I know! Not seeing the rest of your space and just looking at that pic/angle, I might suggest getting a tall indoor house plant/tree to place in the corner/left and then use one or 2 of the sunburst mirrors -maybe a larger one close to the switches and a smaller one closer to the corner? Or forego the tree and get a Tall framed picture/pc of art and place it more towards the corner and a sunburst mirror or two closer to the switches? Best of luck-I'm sure it will look great whatever you decide!
ReplyDeletereally...that is such a common problem. See...if a woman would have been in charge of the switch/ thermostat placement we would not have these problems!!! IM JOKING. (well, only a little) I currently have a gallery wall strategically laid out in order to hide the switches...but fortunatley the switches that I covered do not get used often so it worked out to my advantage. good luck!! im sure something amazing will happen!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I agree with Jessica (lol!) that a woman would never cluster those pesky switches like that! Agree also-- paint the covers to match the wall. Then I would use interesting iron scroll work art -- great for awkward spaces and not too expensive.
ReplyDeleteWonderful suggestion Emily! Lots of other great ideas here as well, most important, get those switch plates painted!
ReplyDeleteAnother option would be to pull the sofa away from the wall a bit and place a tall folding screen behind it with enough room to reach in and work the switches. like this:
http://www.overstock.com/Worldstock-Fair-Trade/Botanic-Shoji-Screen-China/828122/product.html
or this:
http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3909375&green=1147051115&clickid=mybuys_prod_cs
Add pillows to pull it all together and viola!
Love, love, love the "What would you do Wednesday" articles!!!
ReplyDeleteI would probably paint the covers to match the wall, so they blend in as much as possible. Or you could get an electrician to combine them in one location. Just a thought! Good luck and great suggestions Emily!
ReplyDeleteSaw this on Tobi Farley's site: 'Invisible Light Switches'
ReplyDelete(well, almost invisible)
http://www.forbesandlomax.com
grrr I hate those dang light switches- and why of why do we have to have 10 million of them on one wall? you would think in this day of wireless tech they would invent wireless switches. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love the sunburst mirrors!!! another idea would be to do a photo & art collage and cover up the switches with small canvases that are easy to remove when you want to use the switches.
You are right this is such a realistic issue! Great solution first off! I especially like your tip about the way we girls dress ourselves by distraction.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone's comments covered every suggestion I would have, especially about painting the switches to match the wall or putting them all into one plate.
If anything I recall a genius idea of a laundry design from Sarah Richardson on an episode of "Sarah's House." She used the art of disguising. She covered the fuse box with a picture using magnets and piano hinges!
Here is the photo of the laundry room with her tip:
http://www.sarahrichardsondesign.com/tips/tip/laundry-room-art
Here is where she explains how she did it:
http://www.hgtv.ca/sarahshouse/BlogPost.aspx?sectionID=61&postID=10132
After looking at the problem area for a minute, a brilliant idea came to my mind. Since there are two rows of light switches and whatnots, you don't even have to remove them. My idea is to disguise them. How? Easy!
ReplyDeleteJust install two long wall shelves. Both under the light switches. Then lean some artwork strategically against the wall. You can't see the light switches anymore but it's there for easy access. You can also rotate your art from time to time. Kill two birds with one stone? Absolutely!
Jessie
www.mixandchic.com
I always always always have them painted out so that they disappear(as much as is possible!) And if the client if lucky enough to have a lutron system, that can be handled, too!
ReplyDeleteI think it's been said already but painting the switch covers will not make them so obvious, and your idea of the 3 sunbursts is great
ReplyDeleteI love your blog. You have great style.
ReplyDeletei agree i would lose the photo too.. and maybe a new couch? i am not a fan of leather sofas. i love the idea of mirrors, i would also be open to a small collage of framed personal photos :) xoxo jcd
ReplyDeleteI would go all out on a gallery wall - all white frames, all sizes. The switches would blend right in.
ReplyDeleteI would do some type of collage...pictures, art, mirrors, etc. She could maybe do some shelves for photos and other accessories. I would definitely paint the outlet covers the same color as the wall. I do this when I am painting a dark color. You will still have the actual switch white but having the outlet color the same as the wall helps it be a little less noticeable. She could prime them with a plastic spray paint primer and then use her wall paint to paint them out to match.
ReplyDeleteIf she really really really hates the switches she could get an electrician to move them around the corner.
I was going to suggest the same 'cover up' idea via Sarah's House as The Sister Sophisticate just mentioned.
ReplyDeleteAlso love Jessie's idea about wall shelves, you could do the shelves and incorperate the sunburst mirrors AND framed art/pictures :)
What about a gallery of white frames? It might make the white switches blend in since they would be the same shape and color as the frames.
ReplyDeleteHired an electrician the cost to have those switches moved down to match the others would be very small. Fortunatly I am married to an electrician so our light switches are all placed properly. If that is not an option I would paint them or wall paper that wall and wall paper the switches to match. Go to your local hardware store there are so many different ways to make it functional and pretty!
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with the others that they should all be painted the same colour as the wall. If she has the space to pull the sofa out from the wall a bit she can hang a shelf and place objects high and low to cover the switches that are used less frequently. Can I just say it is shocking that a builder would be so thoughtless and dare I suggest it was a man:)
ReplyDeleteI think you can hang pictures and accessories in a collage on that wall. It will help hide the light switches. I did it on a wall in my house...here is a link to the post so you can see the difference..http://thepricesdaybyday.blogspot.com/2010/08/dressing-up-walldeployment-project-7.html
ReplyDeleteI would buy some really cool fabric and hang it from a rod or a piece of wood and make it an art piece. This way you are covering up the switches but you can still stick your hand under the fabric when you need to use them. Also, I would take one of the red pillows away but add a couple of pillows with some patterns.
ReplyDeleteGood luck
Depending on how badly you need those switches, I would cover them. With a regular canvas, the switches fit easily between the stretcher bars. I know - I've done it in my own house! ;-)
ReplyDeleteInstead of plastic wall switch covers, I use wooden ones and paint them my wall color. They virtually disappear.
ReplyDeleteI routinely paint all the switch and outlet covers in my house. To do so you just need to make sure they are clean, then spray primer, then spray or brush your wall color on. I do the same thing with the return air vents on the walls.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have had wallpaper I matched up the pattern onto the plate or vent cover so that it was camouflaged.
Oooh! Idea! What if she did a gallery wall with pics, etc? That way she could just cover the whole darn wall in frames and photos and then those switches will be hidden. It'll be a fun game when guests come over - find the switches!
ReplyDeleteI remove and prime all the switch plates,outlet plates and return air vents then paint them with the wall paint.
ReplyDeleteWhen I have used wallpaper in a room I use scraps to match the wallpaper pattern. They totally disappear!
I think a gallery wall would be a great solution here. You could even "incorporate" the offending switches as part of the gallery. I'm thinking about using an empty frame hung on the wall, to include the switches and additional art pieces on display. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh when you commented about your lack of photoshop skills, because I did the EXACT same thing in trying to visualize throw pillows on my new sofa. No judgment here. :-)
I also am a fan of the gallery/collage wall...with white frames the switches really would blend in. I am however not a fan of painting the switch plates. We are in the process of switching out our switches that the previous home owners painted. They look grungy and dirty quickly. Nate Berkus was just saying that a collage wall worked best if all black and white pics with different frames, or color pics need to have similar/same frames. Good luck, hope to see the after pic!
ReplyDeleteI had this very issue in my kitchen. I ended up hanging a chalkboard right over the switch. It's not one we use often anyway, connecting to the recessed lights way up high (ie. worthless) in the family room. The first time my husband attempted to find a way to turn on those lights after I'd hung the chalkboard was hysterical, to me.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is how things work in this house. :)
Janell
Ok, so I haven't read through all the comments to see if this has already been suggested but here's my idea... based on smaller wall in our kitchen on which my wonderful husband decided to mount the thermostat. And not to one side, mind you, but right, smack dab in the middle at eye level. Builders never think of these things, bless their hearts.
ReplyDeleteAnyway- my answer is a frame riser from PB. As long as it's a switch or thermostat that you don't have to mess with much, it think it'd work. I plan to employ the idea when I get around to it... :) In the meantime, I'm dreaming up a fun little gallery wall.
I LOVE your "WWYD" posts...such a great idea! The starburst mirrors look awesome. That's a great idea. I like the gallery wall idea too, but you can only have so many of those in your house. This is a lovely idea to distract the eye. I have a delima in my home and I can't wait to hear what you would do....I just have to get around to sending it to you!
ReplyDeleteI saw once on the Centsational Girl blog she used a Canvas style hanging to go over her thermostat since you don't typically fiddle with that one too much and canvases are hollow. Good luck Charity.
ReplyDeleteEmily I love this series and this is quite the dilema. I read through the comments and before I read them I thought paint, camoflage those switches and your way of distraction is perfect. I once did a basket gallery wall and hung a easy to remove basket over a switch. One commenter mentioned a gallery shelf with art over the switches and another mentioned remotes I use those a lot to turn certain lights off and on.
ReplyDeleteI was totally impressed with your photo shop skills, I don't know how to do that or polyvore for that matter, so you impress me a LOT!!! Kathysue
I love your WWYD series. I think the starburst mirrors are a great idea, as well as painting the light switch covers the same color as the wall. Looking forward to seeing more of your wonderful posts!
ReplyDeleteI was going to say the same thing Katie said about the PB extender. Create your gallery, but have a few on the extender rods and conviently your switches would be behind one of those bad boys!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all of these suggestions I am out of ideas! There are some great ideas here and what a fantastic series - fun for us all to read to use in our own homes, to help friends/family and/or clients. Great!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your solution! I also think Cathy Walls idea would also work. A great way to deal with those switches.
ReplyDeletePottery Barn sells a picture mount that allows you to overlap pieces, not only would this give the wall some dimension, the mirror could be placed on this bracket covering the switch plate and you would still have access to it. Check out their pictures of some gallery walls on their website to see examples. Not sure if it is available online but I know they carry it at my local store.
ReplyDeleteI just had our awkwardly-placed thermostat moved yesterday! Our builder did it by cutting a hole in the sheetrock and moving the wires to the other end and re-installing it. Your solution with the mirrors and pillows is a perfect alternative to any construction work!
ReplyDeleteI had this exact problem, at our old house. I used shelves, and leaned pictures against, seen here:
ReplyDeletehttp://havenfromtheworld.blogspot.com/2011/02/before-and-after.htmlhttp://havenfromtheworld.blogspot.com/2011/02/before-and-after.html
(Family room after, second pic). The switch was actually operating the gas fire place, but people were always "faked out" when we reached back behind the picture to turn on the fire! Good luck!!
I love all the suggestions! I don't know why I didn't think to paint the switches!! And yes, mirrors would look great there! It would bring more light into my living room. And distracting pillows would look great. I will have to see what I can find and let you know what becomes of my space. Thanks Emily for your suggestions and everyone else's. I am sure I can come up with something now.
ReplyDeletep.s. I love the fact that someone suggested I get new couches!! haha, trust me it's on the list!!
i didn't read the other comments, so i'm sure someone else already suggested this...paint the switch covers the wall color. then do your collage.
ReplyDeleteOh, I hate awkwardly placed light switches like that! Some great ideas here.
ReplyDeleteIf the higher light switches don't need to be accessed daily, you might be able to cover them by hanging a large canvas on the wall.
ReplyDeleteNow Emily -- Would I make fun of your photoshop?!?!?!
ReplyDeletethat is a great suggestion...and Wisteria has great mirrors. Did you know there is a road trip Wisteria Outlet road trip here?!?!
And I paint my switches the wall color if they are in an awkward spot. I think they are also fairly easy to have moved.
I have a similar wall with a rather large light switch and thermostat. I chose to do a few picture ledges around them and covered up the ones I don't use regularly.
ReplyDeleteI also liked the clear plate covers or paint the white ones so they are less noticeable.