DECORATIVE OUTLET COVERS Selection, Information, Reviews

When redecorating rooms, there is one small, seemingly insignificant item in the room that cries out for a make-over, and sadly, rarely gets one. Looking around your room, you see fresh paint, new furniture, new accessories, everything needed in a room redo; but wait…something is missing…there it is, on the wall next to the door. A small, inconspicuous rectangle of white or cream plastic, housing the light switch that will illuminate all of the work you have poured into redecorating the room. Doesn’t your switch plate deserve a makeover, too?

Ever since the invention of this plain, functional piece, little had been done to jazz it up. Not so any longer, as thousands of varieties of decorative outlet covers have turned from dreary to decorative. Adding this small touch brings finesse to your redecorating, a finishing touch that can be as fun as it is satisfying.

Switchplates are generally made with single, double, triple or quad switch availability to meet the needs of all room sizes. For areas that need it, decorative outlet covers with a single switch and a plug can be installed.

The designs of decoraitve outlet covers are innumerable. From wildlife to folklore, Egyptian to retro; for every decorating style there will be a switch plate to match. In every color of the rainbow and more, in shapes that will definitely result in a double-take look, the possibilities at hand are endless. Why, you may decide to remodel an entire room based solely on the appearance of your new switch plate, making it the focal point of this space!!

Every room in the house can benefit from the inclusion of a decorative switch plate. Kitchens will perk up with decorative outlet covers imitate food, like chocolate chip cookies or clusters of luscious, ripe fruit. Or, go the extra mile and match your granite or Corian kitchen counter tops exactly with coordinating plates. Dining rooms may carry on the air of elegance you have instilled by simple scrolled wood, burnished copper, gold, silver or fleur de lis switchplates. Bedrooms for children can host their favorite animated characters, or a favorite pastime. Even laundry rooms can join in on the fun with decorative outlet covers portraying a full clothesline in a summer breeze.

If you have a themed room, whether a bedroom, den, or finished basement, you will not have a problem finding switchplates to match. Whether your theme is western, New England Lighthouse, beachfronts, southwest, or African American, a number of patterns of decorative outlet covers can bring even more life and interest to your themed room.

And don’t forget holiday decorating. Use Santa switchplates at Christmas, cherub decorative switch plates at Easter, turkey decorative outlet covers for Thanksgiving, and pumpkin switchplates for Halloween in order to bring the full effect of the holiday in your home. Buying decorative outlet covers also make truly personalized gifts, themed in the special interests of your friends.

Before you finish redecorating, add the finishing touch by adding decorative outlet covers. The next time you switch on the light in your remodeled room, you will be glad you did!

Installation of new decorative outlet covers is a great way to add your personal touch to your home’s décor. Most homes have the standard white or ivory plastic ones, but you have a large variety of custom options to choose from if you want something a little different. While you may think you are not the do-it-yourself type, this is a project that is not very difficult, and one you can accomplish with a few extra minutes.

Style & Material

Consider the current theme and design of your room when selecting new decorative outlet covers. If your room has a more contemporary look and feel, you perhaps want to consider simple metallic ones. With a more rustic country-feel to your home you would want to perhaps consider wooden versions, perhaps with a design on it to match the theme of your home.

If you are replacing the decorative outlet covers in a room with a specific theme, such as a little girl’s room with a princess theme, you are bound to find a something to specifically match the theme; giving you the ability to continue the theme in all aspects of the room.

Between intricately designed metal decorative covers and simple wooden ones with painted decorations, you have a wide variety of new selection to choose from. The limit on the variety of what you can put in your home is only limited by how much you want to look for the right ones.

Installation

The installation of your new switch plate is an easy project you can do yourself; however, you will need to follow a few tips to ensure your own safety. Be sure to follow any and all guidelines provided to you by the manufacturer of the selection. Read them over clearly before you start this project.

Before starting the installation process, turn off the power to that room at the main switch. Any time you are dealing with a screwdriver and live wires, you are in a dangerous situation. Turning off the power at the main switch will minimize the danger for you.

Carefully remove your old switch plate and set it aside. Next, line up the new one with the existing switch frame. Using your screwdriver attach the new one to the switch frame. You may want to only partially screw one part of the plate at a time to make sure everything lines up before tightly fastening it.

A simple but fast-to-complete project, changing out the decorative outlet covers in a room can dramatically alter the look of the room; lending a whole new personal touch while allowing you to bring a little more of your personality into your home a the same time.

The outlook doesn’t substantially improve for women in the New Testament either. The author of Ephesians insists that wives should submit to their husbands in everything (5:22-24). While it’s true that the author later instructs men to love their wives and treat them well, what does a devout Christian woman do when her husband decides to break the bounds of his instructions by asking her to embrace something she knows is evil? Remember, the woman has no right to divorce the man. In addition, the author fails to mention the existence of any out clause for her in such a situation. It would appear as though she has no choice but to comply with his orders if she is to obey the words in the scripture.

The authors of Colossians, Titus, and 1 Peter all agree that women should submit to their husbands (3:18, 2:5, and 3:1, respectively). The books of Peter also forbid women to wear any type of decorative jewelry to adorn their bodies (1 Peter 3:2-6), refer to women as the weaker vessel of the couple (1 Peter 3:7), and deem Lot to be a righteous man even though he once offered his daughters as a suitable alternative for homosexual rapists surrounding his house (2 Peter 2:8 referring to Genesis 19:4-8). A man with the immoral qualities of Lot cannot be regarded as righteous unless you discount the inherent rights of all people, more specifically, the inherent rights of women.

The author of Timothy also follows suit with his bigoted opinions of women. Like Peter, he says that females shouldn’t wear decoration or try to usurp authority over their husbands. Instead, women should remain silent and fully submissive to them. As he also declares that Adam was not the one who was deceived in the Garden of Eden, Eve is clearly the party implicated as being responsible for the downfall of man (1 Timothy 2:9-15). This author isn’t particularly kind to widows either. He says we should leave these women in need because their rewards will arrive as an answer to prayer. A widow experiencing pleasure while she’s still alive, on the other hand, is already dead in the afterlife. In the author’s eyes, the only respectable widows are at least sixty years old, have had only one husband, and have been well known for their positive accomplishments in life. In contrast, younger widows aren’t worth assisting because they eventually remarry, become idle, or venture from house to house with their gossip (1 Timothy 5:5-15).

As we discussed near the beginning of this book, Paul is no doubt the single most important figure in getting Christianity to where it is today. Unfortunately, he is also one of the most sexist people you’ll find in the New Testament. Paul is very adamant in his belief that women aren’t useful for much more than sexually satisfying their husbands. He even remarks that it’s good for a man to refrain from touching a woman, but he realizes the need for a man to have sexual contact and permits each to have a wife (1 Corinthians 7:1-2).

Paul also tells a story in his letter to the Romans about men “leaving the ‘natural use’ of the woman” to have sexual relations with other men (Romans 1:27). The passage is more or less saying that the natural use of a woman is to function as a derogatory sexual outlet for a man. He continues to spread his bigoted beliefs in a letter to the Corinthians by unambiguously declaring the man to be the head of the woman, similar to the way that Jesus is the authority figure for men. Paul also says women, who are the glory of men, were made for men, who are the glory of God (1 Corinthians 11:3-9). The clearly implied chain of importance goes Christ first, man second, and woman last.

Paul also establishes a few ground rules before the men can bring their women to church. The women are to choose between concealing their heads and having their hair completely shaven. Later, Paul takes away the latter choice by declaring a shaved head to be a disgrace in need of covering (1 Corinthians 11:5-7). He also doesn’t permit women to speak in church because that also is a shame. If they have a question concerning the material, they must ask their husbands at home. Paul also reminds us once again, “they are commanded to be under obedience” according to the law (1 Corinthians 14:34-35). If you ever attend a Southern Baptist church, you will notice that its members tend to remain clung to these values in some fashion. Unfortunately, some ultra-conservative members continue to take these biblical guidelines into their homes.

i just remodeled my kitchen i have granite peacock green countertops and travertine and slate backsplash. i am looking to change the white switches and outlets, i have found many decorative switch covers but cant find the actual switch and outlet in any other color but white or off white. please advise me i am looking for a dark green or black or even brown