Tricks to Hide Light Switches, Outlets and Toilet Roll Holders

by Yanic Simard

Embrace camouflage and other design moves

to make these eyesores virtually disappear

Electrical outlets, light switches and toilet paper roll holders are hard to avoid. Often building codes dictate where these can be placed, which can sully otherwise beautiful backsplashes and other features in kitchens and bathrooms. But all hope isn’t lost. If you prefer to preserve the clean lines of a beautiful backsplash, try some of these methods for keeping these eyesores from sticking out.

In Kitchens

Undercabinet mounting. If you’re undertaking a renovation or a new home build, you can often achieve a clean, contemporary look, such as the uncluttered backsplash shown here, with a little thoughtful positioning.

It may seem as if this kitchen has no handy outlets for modern appliances, but don’t let this point of view fool you. If you look carefully you’ll notice that the outlets and switches have been tucked into the underside of the shelf rather than in the walls. They’re easy to reach when needed but out of sight when not in use.

Similarly, the opposite wall of the same compact kitchen includes some hidden essentials built into the base of the upper cabinetry. In this case, a small amount of cabinet space was stolen to hold electrical work, which allowed space for a flush undercabinet LED strip to brighten the kitchen — a win-win.

You can create a similar effect with most stock cabinets by adding a custom built box at the bottom for electrical and using an extra-long door front to cover both the cabinet and the add-on to achieve a flush look.

Vessels and other decor. If renovation isn’t on the table, you cans still effectively hide outlets. Often all you need is one large storage vessel or attractive vase to hide your outlet when not in use.

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Or lean an attractive cutting board against the wall, and you’ve got an outlet cover and a handy place to store an often-used kitchen item.

Appliances. Electrical outlets mostly are used for countertop appliances, so often the easiest way to hide an outlet is to keep a sleek device placed in front of it, with the cable carefully twist-tied and tucked away.

In Bathrooms

Beside a vanity. Similar to in the kitchen, my favorite way to avoid clutter in the bathroom is to locate outlets where they won’t naturally be visible from most angles. During construction, outlets are typically placed above the vanity by default, but often they can be just as easily installed a bit lower, off to the side of the vanity so that they are still reachable but not immediately in your sightline.

If you’re willing to go an extra step, tuck a toilet paper roll holder into the side of the vanity (rather than attached to the outside) for a clean, hotel-chic look. Often the upper area of a vanity is already unusable for drawer storage due to the sink and piping, so it makes sense to give this empty space a new use.

With an inset or recessed toilet roll holder kit and a tiny bit of carpentry skill, this can be a relatively small DIY upgrade.

The side of a vanity cabinet is also a smart place to tuck a toilet roll holder, and it can even hold other handy items, such as a brush or an extra roll of paper, making them easily accessible but not in view from most angles.

Don’t have a box vanity? Hang a roll holder from the bottom of the sink. It can be epoxied into place or attached more temporarily with a good double-sided tape. When standing, you’ll barely notice it.

Inside a vanity or cabinet. As with kitchen cabinets, it’s possible to have a deep medicine cabinet fitted with an outlet on the bottom, side or inside the cabinet.

Placing them inside the cabinet is especially handy as you can keep devices such as electric toothbrushes or razors plugged in to charge without keeping them out on the counter.

Disguising and Camouflaging

One of the simplest ways to camouflage switches and outlets (without hiding them completely) is to coordinate the color of the switch plate with the wall or material surrounding it.

If you have white walls, a standard white plate won’t stick out, but you also can order plates or switches in other colors to match various other paint hues or materials.

Mirror switch plates work well with a mirrored or high-gloss tile backsplash, but they also can be used with other materials to create a decorative but subtle accent.

Many stone or tile manufacturers can provide “tiled-in” switch plates that are made from the same material as a tile, allowing them to be installed flush and without a jarring visual clash.

Inset switch plates also can be dressed in other materials or wallpapered over to give you more options for achieving a seamless appearance. These are most easily installed during construction (rather than added later), but they produce a very sharp result.

For a construction-free solution, you can also try painting a standard switch or outlet or having a skilled painter match the look of your backsplash. A little careful color matching can leave you with a perfectly camouflaged switch plate at a much lower cost than a material replacement. Just be sure any outlets are disconnected from power before painting.

Lastly, note that sometimes it is better to embrace that which we cannot change. Rather than hiding a light switch, consider upgrading it to a stylish, retro-styled version such as these charming button switches with a glam brass plate. At a casual glance it doesn’t even look like a light switch at all but rather a decorative feature. 

For your kitchen and bath remodeling needs, contact
Cabinet-S-Top, 1977 Medina Road, Medina, OH  44256 ~ 330.239.3630 ~  www.cabinet-s-top.com