How do you match switch plate covers?

6 years ago

We have just installed push button light switches throughout the house. The buttons are black, so I was planning to have black switch plates to match the buttons throughout the house, while still using white GFCI outlets and switch plate covers for all three-prong plugs. I assume this is fine because the outlets are low on wall, and we can easily use a lutron claro white outlet to match the plate and make them disappear.

However... some design issues have transpired:

(1) Now that I am counting up all the plates, I am realizing that there are several places in the house where there is a combo switch plate, with both a light switch and an outlet, so now I am not sure if I should make the outlets that are part of this combo plate black as well to match the switch plate and push buttons, or keep them white to match the other outlets?

(2) More troubling, there are several places in the house where there are standalone outlets (which would normally be white) that will be at the same height/eye level as the black light switches/combo black switch plates, like, for example, along the kitchen counter (there is one combo switch plate like below, and 3 standalone outlets) and in the bathrooms.

Should I keep everything at eye height the same color (i.e. black) and everything at baseboard height white? Or should everything be the same color?

What's the rule of thumb about matching the color for:

(a) light switches and switch plates

(b) light switches and outlets

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Comments (8)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
IMO switch plates are not decor items and should diappear as much as possible also not sure the point of press buttons for switches. Also switches and plugs should bea t the same height in all spaces for their use so all lower wall plugs at the same height from the basebord etc. Push button switches are old school as far as I am concerned.
Brooklyn
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Indeed, they are old school. But so are the original parquet floors, plaster ceiling medallions, and newel posts on the stairs! The house is 110 years old, so they match the period and all the historically landmarked original detail Plus, I am romantically nostalgic about them :)

Back on the design: all plugs are at the same height - 12" above the floor - except for those GFCI plugs required by code to be at counter height in the kitchen and bathrooms. I could make all plates and outlets white to make them disappear, but the buttons will still be black - won't that look funny?
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wiscokid
6 years ago
I think that in certain houses, they can be a decor item, especially older homes. I would opt for keeping them the same throughout the home as much as possible in your case, with a possible exception in the kitchen, depending on placement....
catbuilder
6 years ago
I also like the push buttons for old houses. I would make everything black, with the possible exception of the kitchen and bathroom. I would make those match the backsplash they are installed in. If not in a backsplash, I would make them black also.
Tara
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I guess I'm not up to date on outlets. What else is there besides push button or toggle? And not everyone wants those dimmer knobs, which look so 1970 to me.
Brooklyn
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
@Tara In the US, outlets generally come in two types - rectangular and duplex, and switches come in three - toggle, rocker, push button (the last of which is less common, more old fashioned).

With a push button, the dimmer knob is the same as the button.
bpath
6 years ago
My dad's house has an interesting the of switch. It's the same size as a toggle, but it's a button that you press to turn on, and again to turn off. When it's off, it lights up! Not bright, just a warm orangey glow, easy to find in the dark. Because it's the same size as a toggle, you can use standard switch plates.
Brooklyn
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
@catbuilder thanks. when you say make everything black - do you think I should do the same for the outlets at the baseboard level, or should those low level outlets be white and just make all the switches and outlets that are at eye/counter level the same - i.e. black?