FouMost homes have standard plastic contractor wall plates for electrical switches and outlet covers, but you can change these for a more stylish and customized décor. There are two easy ways to search for wall plates: by plate material or novelty theme.
Four Materials for Wall Plates
The first thing to decide before setting out to shop for new wall plates is the style of your room(s). Is your décor modern or is it Tuscan? You want to select a compatible style for your overall room design. Some materials are better suited for specific design styles.
#1 Ceramic Floral Garden Wall Plate
SwitchHits.com features a Mediterranean ceramic hand-painted wall plate that comes in several switch plates and outlet sizes. The covers are a deep royal blue color that lend a touch of the Mediterranean to almost any room. You can find this type of wall plate in Greece where blue is often used to create a sharp contrast to traditional white stucco homes.
- Colors and finishes: Besides deep royal blue, other colors of nature are used in the painting of these switch plates, such as green olives, new green figs, russet, the turquoise and sapphire colors of the Aegean Sea, yellow sunflowers, and white fluffy clouds.
- Sizes: Single, double, triple, single duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker, triple GFI rocker, and single toggle/duplex outlet cover sizes are available.
- Rooms and décor: This wall plate style can be used in all rooms to add continuity to a Mediterranean design.
- Price: $21.50 to $27.50
Each plate comes with unique nylon screws that can be cut to length with scissors.
#2 Faux Metal Styles in Four Finishes
Wall Plates Online presents wall plates made from resin with an Old World charm that is featured in three different designs. You can choose from antique white, pewter, copper, or bronze finishes.
- Colors and finishes: The antique white features a scroll and Fleur-de-Lis border with two middle double rings stacked on top of each other and a flower in each center. The antique pewter and copper are fashioned in a stylish Amiens motif. The antique bronze has a hand-rubbed finish with double rosette motif.
- Sizes: Single, double, triple, single duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker and single duplex outlet cover sizes are available.
- Rooms and décor: These outlets are excellent choices for French, Old World, and eclectic Boho room designs; they can be used in any room.
- Price: $7.76 to $10.38
#3 Stone and Slate Wall Plates
Wall Plate Warehouse features several faux-stone wall plates that are great choices when you need to coordinate wall plates with a stone backsplash. These resin and die cast wall plates offer an authentic texture of stone and slate.
- Colors and finishes: The stone and slate designs are available in almond, beige, cream, ivory, and Noce (nut) finishes.
- Sizes: Single, double, triple, quad, single duplex outlet, double duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker, triple GFI rocker, quad GFI rocker and single toggle/duplex outlet, cable jack, phone jack and blank wall plate sizes are available.
- Rooms and décor: This type of wall plate is an excellent choice for kitchens, baths, and other rooms that utilized stone or slate wall tiles. Décor styles of Old World, contemporary American and European, and modern often feature various stone and slate tile work.
- Price: $5.49 to $13.99
#4 Wood Wall Plates
Wall Plate Warehouse sells "well-refined grain pattern" made from real wood to give your home a stylish and high-end look. A smooth and beveled frame make these wall plates extra special.
- Colors and finishes: They are available in oak wood with light or medium oak stains or unfinished Ash or Adler so you can customize with stain or paint of your choice.
- Sizes: Single, double, triple, quad, single duplex outlet, double duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker, triple GFI rocker, quad GFI rocker and single toggle/duplex outlet, cable jack, phone jack and blank wall plate sizes are available.
- Rooms and décor: These wall plates are ideal for a rustic, cabin, country, woodland, or Americana décors. You can use these in every room.
- Price: $5.99 to $15.99
#5 Brass Wall Plates in Nine Designs
Baxter and Ash gives an elegant choice in their brass wall plates that are available in various styles. Each wall plate has a specific design. All the designs can be used in most rooms in your home and are considered suitable for a more formal setting. You may decide to mix the designs from one bedroom or bathroom to another, but main rooms and hallways are better served by using the same wall plate design.
- Colors and finishes: All the designs, except the Arts and Crafts design, are available in either polished or antique finishes. The Arts and Crafts design is only available in a polished brass finish.
- Sizes: Single, double, triple, quad, single duplex outlet, double duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker, triple GFI rocker, quad GFI rocker, single toggle/duplex outlet, cable jack, phone jack single pushbutton switch plate and double pushbutton switch plate sizes are available.
- Rooms and décor: The Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and Victorian wall plates are excellent choices for home décors done in one of these specific period styles. The Weave and Diamond patterns can go with many other designs where you want a brass element. The stylized patterns featuring the Peacock, Maidenhaire Fern and Gingko are suitable for formal décors as well as eclectic and contemporary room designs. The Fleur-de-Lis is ideal for French décor or Antebellum décor.
- Prices: $12 to $27
Three Novelty Wall Plate Designs
Novelty designs for wall plates can be fun and are a great way to express individual enthusiasm for sports, colleges, and various themes. A novelty switch plate on a nursery or child's room can add to a creative design approach that's whimsical and cute.
#3 Sports and Games Themes
Kyle Switch Plates offer a sophisticated and unintrusive sports theme design for your wall plates. Each plate can be color accented. The metal plate is etched with a sports or game design. This is a customized product and therefore non-returnable. Designs feature ballroom dancers, basketballs, bicycle wheels, bowling pins, golf clubs, horseshoes, and tennis, among many others.
- Colors and finishes: You can customize your choice by selecting a plate finish in either silver or gold and then choose an accent color from 35 color selections.
- Sizes: The standard sizes of single, double, triple, quad, single duplex outlet, double duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker, triple GFI rocker, quad GFI rocker, single toggle/duplex outlet, cable jack, phone jack single pushbutton switch plate and double pushbutton switch plate sizes are available. Other sizes are also available up to five toggle switch plates, GFI rocker, and duplex outlets.
- Rooms and décor: This wall plate style is ideal for a sports or game enthusiast. These stylish plates can be used in a den, bedroom or game room to further express a love for a specific sport or game.
- Price: $19.95 and up
#4 Favorite Team Switch Plates
Fanatics lets you show your support for your favorite team in this ultimate wall plate, whether it's a college team, or professional-level team from the MLB, NHL, NBA, or NFL. These plates are very fashionable for most homes.
- Colors and finishes: These switch plates are highly stylish in school color(s) and are made from art glass.
- Sizes: Switch plates are available in single or double size. Some are available in only one size.
- Rooms and décor: For a team enthusiast, a whole house coverage with these wall plates isn't out of the question. However, the ideal places are typically a game room, den, or bedroom.
- Prices: $12.95 to $14.95
#5 Novelty Kids' Wall Plates
Switchplate Gallery offers 46 wall plate designs suitable for a kid's room. The designs are generic enough to fit with a similar design theme and include Ragged Ann dolls, teddy bears, carousel, dragonflies, Cinderella, fashion, space, butterflies, pets, and more.
- Colors and finishes: Each switch plate is distinctive in theme and colors. Each plate is handmade using a découpage technique and has several coats of acrylic sealer. Each screw is hand-painted to match the background.
- Sizes: Single, double, triple, quad, single duplex outlet, double duplex outlet, single GFI rocker, double GFI rocker, triple GFI rocker, quad GFI rocker and single toggle/duplex outlet and more are available for a total of 21 configurations.
- Rooms and décor: These designs are ideal for a child's playroom, baby nursery, and toddler and older child's bedroom and bathroom.
- Prices: $9.95 to $22.95
There are many other novelty wall plates for children suitable for nurseries, bedrooms, and playrooms in many patterns, such as music, super hero themes, Disney characters, and summer flowers.
Using Wall Plates for a Decorative Touch
Wall plates can be used as decorative elements in any room design. The key to success in using this type of design element is to make sure it blends with your existing décor.
