Louisa Buckley, Residential Segment Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric, looks at the creative ways you can use electrical accessories if your client is in need of a style upgrade.
When designing a room, the details can make all the difference, from the perfect paint colour to that dreamy flooring. It can be frustrating when essential fixtures and fittings, such as plastic light switches, affect the end result. Wouldn’t it be great if these electrical fittings were part of a solution and not the problem?
Step forward innovative stylish switches that stand out for all the right reasons. But how can you use these to turn what may appear a simple electrical accessory into a cool interior ‘must-have’?
Be creative with colour
Busy family homes are often packed full of colour, which changes on a daily basis depending on what toys are being played with or the latest craft project on display. So, wouldn’t it be great if you had versatile electrical switches that could mirror this playful vibe?
Opt for a light switch that has interchangeable cover plates and you’ll be able to change up the look every time the surroundings evolve.
Make it a feature
Turn a colourful switch into part of the backdrop by giving it a role in an exciting gallery wall display of prints and photographs.
Go for a classic chic vibe
Often overlooked as a significant part of a room scheme, designers are now rethinking the role of the light switch as a stand-alone interior feature thanks to the many new styles and finishes available.
If you’re looking to complement a classic, high-end interior, then an elegantly designed switch is a sleek and sophisticated solution. Featuring a chic metallic finish, a charcoal steel frame combines perfectly with dark tones and raw textures, while its simplicity will ensure it blends into the backdrop.
Embrace the simplicity
For added efficiency, look for a switch that features a simple push-button operation for an extra streamlined finish.
Choose a design that blends in, yet also stands out
Whether you choose to make a feature of an elegant switch, or give it a quieter role in your scheme, it will still make a design statement in any space.
Take a super-sleek and simplistic design, for example. With clean lines, matt finish and LED-lit push buttons, it will fade into the backdrop of a soothing living space, yet will bring a designer elegance that a basic plastic switch just couldn’t match.
Show it off in a prominent position
Forget having to hide switches behind doors or curtains where they won’t be seen. With a sophisticated collection, you’ll be encouraged to fit them in eye-catching spots that not only pull focus but are also convenient to use.
Encourage some coastal calm
The laidback look of a simple switch fits in with a neutral palette of weathered timbers, natural linens and calming greys – perfect for a coastal interior.
And to encourage that easy-living vibe further, the switch could feature pictograms that clearly indicate each operation.
Design a bespoke switch layout
Before choosing any electrical accessories, consider how you use each room so you can pick the right combination of switches to suit the function of the space. For example, dimmer switches are great for living spaces where you may want mood lighting, while USB chargers are going to be essential in study spaces, bedrooms and above kitchen benches.
Download Schneider’s latest wiring accessories catalogue here.
