Light switches are all over the house and most of them are pale, white and boring. Why not brighten the room and add some flare to a mundane routine? Coordinate your switch plates to match the theme of each room and enhance your décor.
Supplies Needed To Decoupage A Switch Plate
- Decoupage glue
- Foam brushes
- Craft knife
- Screwdriver
- Scraps of wrapping paper, fabric or magazine photos
- Scissors
- Electrical tape
- Sponge, soap and water
Preparing The Switch Plate
Using the appropriate screw driver, remove the old switch plate from the wall and set the screws aside. For plastic switch plates, clean the plate with soap and water or household cleaner. If the plate is wooden, wipe clean with a damp cloth and allow it to dry.
Decoupage The Switch Plate
Once you have decided how to decorate your switch plate, cut out the design(s) from your wrapping paper, fabric or photos. If you plan to cover the entire plate with one design, like in the sample photo, cut out a rectangle that will cover at least ½” beyond the edges of the entire plate.
Paste the design onto the center of the switch plate, covering the light switch hole. Fold the edges over the back of the plate and glue them down as if you are wrapping a present, folding the corners in on an angle to keep them sharp and tidy. Glue the edges down to the back of the plate.
Once the design is in place, use the craft knife to cut open the design through the light switch hole. Cut diagonally from corner to corner in the shape of an “X” through the center of the hole. You should now have 4 flaps inside the hole. Fold each flap to the back of the switch plate and secure with a very small piece of electrical tape. You can try gluing the flaps to the back, but with such a small piece of paper or fabric to work with, it may not hold properly; tape is easier.
Now that the design is secured onto the plate, cover the entire design and the back edges with a layer of decoupage glue using the foam brush. Allow this to dry and then add another layer of glue to seal the design.
Once dry, your decorated switch plate is ready to hang back on the wall. Gently put the light switch through the hole and screw the switch plate back into place. Experiment with different mediums and designs to match the theme of each room and above all, be creative!
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