One Gorgeous Trick To Hide Unsightly Wall Outlets That You Don't Use

Fashion supersedes function when you have an outlet you rarely (or never) use. Outlets without a purpose become an eyesore in the room, requiring some tasteful tricks to hide them that don't risk anyone's safety or create code violations. When the outlet is hooked up to power, you can't simply remove it, drywall over the junction box, and call it a day. Meanwhile, painting an outlet or outlet cover can help it blend with the wall but won't make the box disappear entirely.

For total concealment, you'll need something clever to put in front of the outlet. Placing an item over it keeps it accessible, which will meet NEC standards and make the outlet usable on the off-chance you need it. So, what can you use? One of the simplest and most stylish solutions is to add a small picture, mirror, or hanging art over the outlet. Units in the kitchen or bathroom often benefit the most from this treatment. Thrift a small picture, going as tiny as a 4x6 frame for ample coverage, or whip up some custom DIY wall art that seamlessly fits your room's color scheme and style.

Wall art is a classy trick to cover outlets, but location matters. Elevated outlets, such as those over countertops, can be straightforward. Aside from hanging frames, you may cover kitchen outlets with wood cutting boards or cookbooks. For the bathroom sink, plants in tall pots, leaning mirrors, or baskets holding toiletries will work well.

When using small wall hangings, concern over electrical wires is understandable. Wiring often sits where you might screw a hole to hang something over an outlet, opening a risk of injury or damage to the wires if a screw hits them. You can also screw into the stud, which is safer if the builder used protection plates to cover wires fed through it. The simplest and safest route, though, is to use tacks or sticky hangers to hold frames. Command hanging strips are adhesives that stick hanging pieces to the wall, making setup and removal easy and risk-free no matter where you use them.

Outlets over baseboards around the home can be a little trickier to cover, since hanging art near the floor looks extremely awkward. You could make it work, however, if you create a gallery wall with frames spanning from baseboard to ceiling. Otherwise, you can use small stands or tall potted plants to sit on the floor in front of the outlet. A long mirror can also work, adding function, helping to brighten the room, and opening the space.