drapery - floor to ceiling

Small Space Residence · More Info

I would hang something behind it like an oriental rug

We can't see the rest of the wall where the window is, but I'd probably do a wall of draperies to include the window and the elec. box. Someone's going to pop in here and say you're not supposed to cover them. I don't think it's a danger from being covered as much as having them accessible. But I never worry about it as long as you and others in your household know where it is and can reach it if you need to snap off a breaker.

You cannot hang anything over it, especially not fabric. An electrical panel must have 36" of clearance. Just paint it the same color as the wall and ignore it.

Your electrical box has to be able to be gotten at easily but I can’t see why drpes would not work and would really be the same as a pianting. If you have a fire the drapes will be the least of your problems. The 36” is so that there is clearance rto reach the box not becuase someting will catch on fire. I think the wallpaper idea would also work.

You aren't supposed to hang a painting over it either. You are supposed to have 36" clearance in front and 30" to the sides.

As has been suggested, just paint it the same color as the wall and don't stress about trying to disguise it. It is what it is. We all have evidence in our homes of their electrical systems. A breaker box is just a breaker box - not an eyesore.

Maybe each electric company is different. Ours is inside a 24 inch deep cabinet and only inches from the corner of the wall. A electric company employee was in and out of our fuse box when our outside line went bad and he never said anything about the placement of the box.

Supposedly, the reason they are to be uncovered and visible is so emergency people (fire department, etc.) can see where it is right away. What if you were incapacitated or not at home, thus not being able to tell them where it is?

Mine are uncovered and visible, but not easy to find in a good size house and how would they know that they have to look for 3 of them! Oh and they might not even be able to get to them if the dogs are freaked out. Firemen would be stupid to go looking for them if the house was on fire.

The utilities get turned off at the street, which is the safest for everybody.

A gas stove too close to a combustible wall is a fire hazard. A decorative hanging in front of an electrical panel is not.