It does not matter how beautiful your interior décor might be. A home without electricity would render it all practically useless unless anyone wants to enjoy a trip back to the Dark Ages. Unfortunately, all that essential electricity coursing through the wires of a beautiful home does not make for a pretty sight, which is why cables are usually hidden behind the walls.
That being said, not every piece of electrical wiring, switch or outlet can be hidden though, which brings us to the main topic for today. How exactly can we aesthetically place electrical outlets and manage electrical cables, without affecting the aesthetic appeal, residential safety, or electrical efficiency of our homes? The answer, as one can likely imagine, is not particularly straightforward and universally applicable, but there are known methods that can be applied in nearly any modern home.
Dimmer Switches: Aesthetic, Energy Efficient and Functional
Depending on your specific budget, you can get dimmer switches that either use a slider, a rotatable knob or capacitive touch controls. Aside from the usual energy-efficiency that dimmers provide, they can also further add to the aesthetic value of your home by letting the homeowners adjust the artificial luminescence, as looks best in that specific room. Touch-powered dimmers do not even jut out from the wall like classic switches and even sliding dimmers do, which practically makes these a piece of the décor itself.
If aesthetics are a priority, try getting touch-controlled dimmer switches for all of your rooms from an electrical wholesaler. If you buy in bulk it will allow you to access the wholesale price, which no retailer can sell at, without suffering losses in the process. Look for a company such as Expert Electrical, which is a trusted online electrical wholesaler that sells to both end consumers, electrical professionals and, of course, contractors. They have a complete collection of not just touch-enabled/classic dimmers and switches, but pretty much every possible electrical item that anyone could possibly need to renovate, repair, redecorate or rewire.
Manage Cables by Getting Rid of Them!
Many would argue that Apple had the right idea by getting rid of the well-loved 3.5mm headphone jacks on all their devices, as it does contribute towards the wireless look that we are aiming for here. Whether that was necessary or not, there is no denying that in terms of pure aesthetics, the best way to manage cables is to reduce them down to the least possible number. Shift to wireless chargers, wireless headphones, mesh routers, Bluetooth mice and Bluetooth keyboards to reduce the electronic wire clutter, which has become so common these days in any home.
Next, try and shift to laptops from desktops, unless that’s counterproductive to your lifestyle/work of course. However, making that switch from giant desktops to mobile laptops will not just reduce the wire clutter, but it can simultaneously pull down your monthly energy consumption as well. Additionally, multi-USB adapters, and multi-plugs are a much more practical option because they reduce the need to add an obscene number of electrical plugs on a wall! On top of that, if guests are coming over, you can simply put away the multi-plug somewhere out of sight, which isn’t an option if the wall beside your work desk is lined with a dozen plugs.
Turn the Switches and Plugs into Decorative Artwork
There are, of course, always plugs and switches we cannot hide away completely without looking like we are trying to do so! People generally try to hide them under desks, wall mounted cupboards, a piece of art, and everything in between. It is a much better and functional option to turn the switches themselves into art. Buy and install aesthetic and artistic electrical switches, plugs, cable coverings, etc. that do not need to be hidden at all. They will either stand out as focal points of the room, or they could blend in perfectly by matching the décor around it.
The plastic could be made to look like wood, for example, which can add to the aesthetic value of your home, rather than taking anything away from it. If matching the décor proves to be particularly difficult, you can choose to change the décor of that wall to suit the electrical units instead. As a safety precaution, it is inadvisable to try and hide any electrical outlet by directly placing something on top of them, such as a painting. It is a more feasible option to build a small cabinet around the switches, with ample room to access them when needed.
Finally, it is perhaps of the most importance that you consult with a professional electrician about managing your home’s internal wirings, especially before attempting any DIY projects. It is both illegal and potentially lethal to work with live wires without the necessary training and licence in the UK.
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