I wanted to paint it the color of the wall but my husband nixed the idea. It's partially hidden behind an antique secretary and is not far off the floor so it's really not that noticeable. I assume I'm talking about the same thing as you. I've seen vents of varying kinds high on the walls and when the paint is dark they really stick out and in that case I would insist on their being painted.

I'd paint it.

Paging ideefixe...:)

When we first painted we didn't. Between the switches and vents ...there seemed to be a lot of white sticking out. I didn't notice it as much until I looked at pictures of my house. It was like,"BLAM!" Some people on here suggested I paint them. I did and will always do so. Make sure you prime first. I think it really does help make them "invisible".

Here is the return in question- this is only one coat of paint and to me it just sticks out. There is no way to put anything near/semi in front of because it is in a walk-path.

I would paint that, yes.

Absolutely!

It's big. I would paint also, but before you paint it do you know where you can find a replacement.

You can only prime and paint those things so many times before they start to look all gunkied up in the corners, etc. and eventually it may need to be replaced.

Make sure it's clean, maybe use a spray primer to save you some time and labor, then paint in thin, careful coats keeping in mind that you or someone else might want to paint it a couple more times.

Here's a pic of mine before and after.

I still want to paint the receptacles but didn't get around to it yet.
{{!gwi}}
please ignore my beautiful art thermostat. I'm in the process of hopefully having it moved.
{{!gwi}}

Unless they are antique brass or decorative iron work, by all means paint them.
Air ducts, light switches, electrical receptacles and down spouts are not design elements and should be made as inconspicuous as possible.

funcolors- this is a new one and has not had any paint. When it comes time to change it we are going to have something smaller and a little more discreet installed. Thank you for the painting tips!

sheesharee- thank you for the picture- that does look much better. I would like to add you have a lovely home!

Well looks like it is a go for the wall thingy to get some paint. Not sure what color comes out on your monitors but it looks like tan on mine. The color is the green mint color on Andes chocolates. Our local paint store had mistint paint for $5 a gallon today and I needed green. My dining furniture is getting dropped off tomorrow and has been painted snow white- the chairs need upholstered so hopefully by the end of the week I will be sharing some pictures!

Thanks to all of you for your help!

shesharee: I saw this blog recently in which the woman put something over her thermostat to hide it. Link below!

Here is a link that might be useful: Hiding the Ugly

Thanks for the compliment Groomingal.

Anele - Thanks! I thought I remembered reading somewhere you shouldn't cover those because it messes with the system? Hers still works which is good! I'll keep this in mind if moving it becomes an issue.

Ok, I'll be the odd man out here, but no I wouldn't paint them. Every time I see them painted I think someone was in too big of a hurry to tape them off i.e. crappy paint job. The only exception would be if they were taken down and painted separatly with a metal friendly paint. Painting with the same latex paint while they're still on the wall makes them a nightmare to clean and difficult to take off the wall if you ever need to.

Painted, but as Lukki says, take them off and paint separately, as you'd do if you're painting electrical outlet covers. You want to easily be able to take them off, say, if you're cleaning/vacuuming behind it, without ripping into the wall paint.

I painted mine and I am glad I did.

Painted. As a choice would you put a white metal vent hanging on your wall as art? I am guessing not, because you would not consider that a decor item to be used in that way. Hence, you want it to disappear. Same with outlet covers and switchplates, unless they are of a special finish, like wood to match the trim, or iron to match the metal in the room, etc.

I actually have decorative iron air returns (and love them!) but even so, three of them are painted (the ones on painted walls) and I did one in black iron because it's high up on a walnut wood panel wall. None were painted in place, that's a huge mistake. You need to use a high quality brush and thin your paint with water. More thin coats verses trying to make it happen with a thick coat, or take it into a paint shop and a painter will spray it quickly in your color. (Call first and make sure they have a latex sprayer).

Two of mine are on walls I had textured and then specialty painted. I just did the registers in the same paint and they really do disapear quite a bit. The switches and recepticals are also done in the same finish.

There is one on the right floor here...much like yours it's a larger one at floor level:

Unless you think it's attractive and a focal piece? by all means get rid of it by making it the same color, so it fades away into the wall....how hard is that to figure out?

It's better to have them sprayed. We do that on high-end jobs-- you get the paint store to custom-mix an aerosol can in the same color unless the painter has an HVLP setup.
Casey

Anele- thanks for the link- that was a great idea to hide the thermostat, think I may try that.

Igloochic- I like the decorative covers and tried to find one but our vent is huge and I couldn't find that size. BTW, I love your paint color it feels very cozy.

Susieq07-
"...how hard is that to figure out?"

Do you think that was a necessary comment? We all come here to ask questions about things we don't know the answer. I have never seen a return vent painted, yes I think they stick out and that is why I asked if others painted theirs.

Thanks to everyone that has offered useful information- I will be taking it off and taking it outside to paint. I have a sprayer that hooks to my air compressor, sounds much easier than trying to paint it with a brush.

Sorry I'm hijacking for a moment but those of you that paint your light switches do you paint the actual switch or also or just the back plate?

I painted mine too so it would blend in. Igloochic are your walls plaster?

....Jane

Curious if those of you who paint switches and receptacles do the same with security system keypads.

Except for one all the air returns and exchanges are on my ceilings. I painted them the ceiling color. A friend's house in this same neighborhood didn't and hers really stick out. She is putting her house on the market and I suggested she paint them. I also painted my doorbell the same color as the wall.

My husband moved our thermostat from a very noticable spot on our living room wall to a less noticeble spot around the corner in the hallway.

I paint them all!!! LOL! :)

When I have a paint brush in my hand -- even the cats keep moving ....... LOL!

Jan :)

I paint everything as well. (Teacats, LOL...)

For wallpapered walls, I sometimes use clear plastic switch plates with the paper behind them. I have also used clear plates with all kinds of pictures and patterns behind them, if painting is not an option. One weekend years ago I went a little bonkers, and put clear switch plates backed with cut-out magazine ads for oriental rugs in all my closets.

I paint them all...and have been known to actually paint the cats (mine are slow moving LOL and one walked through a paint tray...gad what a mess).

Yes Jane they're plaster. Real stuff, hand done. The guy who did them is a fabulous artist of his trade. The flash on the camera makes the colors on the wall look more splotchy than they really are...they're fairly well blended, but many colors are involved.

Ok back to switches...In my dining room I used model car paint (it's more permanent) and painted the switches (the plates are gold as is the wall. I did the same for the recepticals on my stainless counter. The white stood out with the silver really badly. I like them so much better this way.

Teacats and I should get together and paint the town red :oP It might actually turn out red! An entire town, grass, cars, houses and all (and of course the cats LOL)

I don't paint the switches, just the surrounds.

Ooooooo -- red, red, red -- a sexy kind of town!! :)

((including toenails, great lipstick and high heels ....hey -- a great handbag color too!))

Yes -- its true -- once that paint can is open -- I always try to use it all ...... similar to my feelings about a good bottle of wine or a cheap bottle of champagne ....

Jan ((willing and able .... just hand over the brush .... and keep moving!))

Thanks Parma--but see, I've converted many followers. Go forth and prosper.

Yes, paint it, get paintable switchplates and sockets and do the same.

Browynsmom--Love the rug idea! I used wrapping paper in one house.

Groomingal and shesharee: Glad the link helped . . .I stumbled upon that blog recently and found so many useful things!

This is a timely topic. DH just asked me yesterday if I wanted the vent painted, and I didn't know ...it's right by the white trim (set INTO the trim, if that makes sense, not in the middle of the wall, so I didn't know which would stick out more, so I left it to match the trim. Now I'm wondering if that was wrong. Hmm. I'm glad to know how to do it right, if we do repaint!