Switch plates bug me. They serve a utilitarian purpose, covering electrical outlets, but generally add nothing to the decor of a room. There is an abundance of non-descript beige and clear plastic plates covering outlets sprinkled around the EcoNest. I stopped counting after more than 20 of those boring plates starred me down.

We have one unique switch plate that was picked up as a souvenir on a trip to British Columbia a few years ago:

I notice this switch plate when I enter the room and it serves as a reminder to turn off the light.

What if you took notice of all of your switch plates? Would you be more mindful of saving energy and remember to turn off lights when you leave a room? These questions led me on a search for an eco-friendly switch plate that would make the inhabitants of my EcoNest remember to turn off the lights.

Some ramblings from my search:

• Stone switch plates are eco-friendly. These are screwless, as they attach to the outlet with magnets. Love the custom look of these natural stone switch plates, but the cost in the $50 plus range makes them too pricey.

• Here are gorgeous slate switch plates. So beautiful, but equally costly.

• A switch plate with a thermometer is kind of eco-friendly, as it will allow for a more balanced approach to noticing the fluctuating air conditioning temperature from room to room. I don’t have air conditioners, so it is not necessary around here.

• Here’s a funky design statement that makes these 3-D switch plastic plates noticeable. Still, it is not eco-friendly to buy new plates unless needed.

• These eco-friendly, eco-art switch plates made from recycled aluminum transit signs are cool. The cost weighs in at $40.00 a plate, I think I’ll pass.

• Ohhh, I love these stainless steel switch plates from Lowe’s. They are 100% recyclable and give a clean fresh look to a wall that says take notice and turn off. At about $5.00, this is what I would choose for a kitchen replacement switch plate (when the time comes).

After this exhaustive clicking and pointing session, I settled for a DIY photo project inspired by a ReadyMade project over this cute DIY project that reuses old ties to cover the switch plate. The project I chose spruces up the clear plates that already hug my walls. I like this eco-friendly solution because nothing is being replaced. It also serves as an aesthetically appealing interior design solution for my EcoNest, as it showcases some of pictures from my travels. It provides the take notice (and shut off) attitude that I want to illicit from my family and visitors. So, for now I’ll have to accept that the rest of those boring pale plates have a job to do until they need replacement.

DIY Decorative Switch Plates

What you need:

Clear Switch Plates - cost about $3.00 at Ace Hardware stores
X-Acto knife or scissor
Ruler
Pencil
Switch plate
Photos, pictures

What to do:

1. Measure and cut (with X-Acto or scissor) picture using the back metal plate as a guide.
2. Cut out a hole for electrical switch. An X-Actos works best for this.
3. Cut an X for screw holes.
4. Insert picture face up between clear cover and back plate.
5. Fasten plate onto electrical switch

Ronnie Citron-Fink lives in New York with her husband, two children (when they come home to the nest), two dogs and a cat. Ronnie is a teacher and a writer. She has been a contributing writer for Family Fun magazine. She currently writes articles about education and home design. Her writings are in four books including Family Fun Home and Some Delights of the Hudson Valley.

EcoNesting