How to Decorate an Outlet Cover
Outlet covers can be an eyesore in an otherwise stylish room. Totally utilitarian, the plastic covers usually yellow with age and can draw attention when seen against a darker wall. An easy craft application can turn a negative into a design element. Using collage techniques and decoupage glue, you can make a one-of-a-kind outlet cover your visitors will covet. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic outlet cover
- Screwdriver
- Magazine pictures
- Old book pages
- Photos
- Miscellaneous collage materials
- Decoupage medium
- Paint brush
Instructions
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1
Clean the outlet cover. Remove the outlet cover from the wall by removing the screw with a screwdriver. Clean the surface of the outlet cover with warm, soapy dish liquid to remove fingerprints and smudges. Dry with a paper towel.
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2
Pick your design elements. Think about the style of the room the outlet cover is part of and try to find a creative element that relates. For example, if the cover is for a child's bedroom, you might want to cover it with favorite cartoon characters. A kitchen might call for the use of an old recipe book page or food illustration.
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3
Lay out your collage materials and cut the base picture or image to fit the cover. Your base picture will totally cover the outlet cover and provide a common tie to the rest of your collage materials. Lay the cover on the picture and trace around it and include markings for the outlets as well. Cut with scissors, allowing a small margin around the cover to wrap about the edges.
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4
Apply glue to the outlet cover and lay the base piece over the cover, wrapping the edges around the edges of the cover and switch. Apply a thin coat of decoupage glue over the entire surface with the paintbrush.
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5
Cut additional elements if you want to layer your design. For example, a nice kitchen collage outlet cover may use an old recipe as the background piece and use smaller images of cooking utensils on top as an accent.
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6
Glue your decorations onto the cover using the decoupage media. Brush a coat of glue on top of each additional piece you add to adhere it to the base.
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7
Seal the entire outlet cover by applying two additional coats of the decoupage glue, allowing drying between coats. Once dry, reinstall the outlet cover.
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Tips & Warnings
Lay out your collage before gluing and assembling on the outlet cover to allow you opportunities to play around with your design.
Don't apply three-dimensional elements with decoupage glue. If you want to attach buttons, seashells or glass beads to your outlet cover, you'll have to use hot glue to adhere the heavier, three-dimensional pieces.
