The other night, I too wondered if those basic plastic covers could be painted. Guess you can paint them, and you don't have to buy special ones to do it. Metal, sure it can be painted, not even anything special about doing those, except take them down first.

Here is a link that might be useful: how to paint switchplate covers

I mostly paint the ones that are against dark paint. Once you decide to paint you have to continue to paint or buy new ones. So if you are certain that you will always have dark paint then go ahead. When the roller is so dry that no more paint will come off on the wall you are painting, then carefully and lightly roll over the switch or socket. I have the flat switches so it is easy. Just roll once. There will be barely any paint on the switch or socket but there will be enough to see the wall colour. Stop, let completely dry. The next day do the same thing again. Continue to let dry. I usually do three coats on the wall so I always have paint in the tray ready to go. One coat each day as well as the switch or socket. It is like nailpolish, if you don't let the first coat completely dry the second coat will never be right. Then if you want you can carefully brush on a glaze to protect them. I don't use the glaze because I paint almost every two years. But if there comes a time when it turns out that I don't paint quite as often, I will then use glaze. I know this works because the time before this time I painted the bathroom I glazed the walls with pearlescence and glaze and I did the same to the switches and socket.

I would NOT paint them the wall color. If you do that you have to re-paint them every time you paint the walls and eventually they will be THICK with paint and look gloppy. You won't actually really hide them by painting them either. It will look like the painter was too lazy to remove them.

I would spray paint them a neutral dark color so that they don't "pop". I painted mine a flat gray since that is neutral and my walls are dark.

I always paint my switch covers the trim color and outlet covers the wall color. You can buy inexpensive paintable covers at Home Depot or Lowes. They are cream colored metal, but are very slightly textured so the paint will adhere well.

Take them off the wall first! When we moved into our current house, the outlets were so coated with paint it was hard to get a plug in, and DH had to replace them all. It only takes a minute with a screwdriver to get them off. Lay them flat on a piece of waxed paper and paint with a small roller (two or three light coats, drying in between). Simple!

I have always painted mine the wall color.... whether the walls are light or dark.

I always get either the paintable ones or the clear ones that can have paper underneath (I usually coat those with something that makes them less shiny but still washable.)And of course, you take them off the wall first! Don't paint over them--it never looks right. I always paint the wall color. When I'm very old and can't see, I'll regret it, I'm sure.

I know this is a tiny detail, but the bright white plastic ones just draw the eye and spoil all the hard work of decorating and arranging.

I always paint mine also. I hate the look of the white rectangles against the wall! Besides, they are cheap enough that you can always buy new ones if they get heavy with paint.

Thanks for all the input....very helpful. I think I will buy the paintable ones and paint them the wall color. I just can't picture painting these 16 yr. old plastic ones. Yep, they are cheap so when it comes time to paint again I will replace them. Thanks Mistybear for the tips on how to actually paint them and rob333 for the link. I guess I was just surprised that I was suppose to paint them...lol. Thanks again.

Even if I have to buy new switch plates because the old ones have been painted too many times, I always match them to my paint color.

I suppose I'm ticky because it bugs me that the receptacle centers and the switch part of the light switch can't be painted to match as well.

If I wallpaper, I get the clear kind so that I can do a match to the paper. For the kids rooms, I make copies of pictures or photographs and use them inside rather than wallpaper.

For that matter you could do the same thing with paint. Paint some thin card stock with your paint color each time you re-paint the room and just change out the inserts. Here's some instructions and a supply list if anybody wants to make some for a child.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kids Decorative Light Switch Plates

You may want to buy spray primer for the registers before you paint them. They will be easier to paint.

I have used the paintable ones. They work great.

Actually, you can paint the receptacle part, and the switch if you use a small brush. I used just a small brush like you get with kids watercolors. I changed out my receptacles to black in my kitchen, but couldn't find one which was receptacle/switch so just painted it with black paint. I usually use craft paint for that.

Lutron, I think, makes a whole line of designer colored switches and covers for those who don't want to paint.

Painting the registers are a bit trickier. Spray paint works best if you can find it in your color. Flat paint doesn't look as good, and catches dust like crazy. I had to strip a big one in my hall, very old house, very big air return, and then I spray painted it. It would look better if it were the wall color, but brushing or rolling it on those louvers is a pain. My ceiling ones are white, and I either spray paint, or replace when they begin to look ugly and don't clean off well. They're not that expensive either.

I'm getting ready to do this and this is a helpful discussion. One tip from another article I read: If you want to paint the receptacle too so it doesn't stand out, put a small piece of cardboard in each slot so you're not gunking up the parts that need to make contact.