One of the necessities of homeownership is the need for electricity. You might have a radio that needs to be plugged in, a hairdryer, the television, appliances, etc. This means that electrical outlets will be needed and placed in a way to make them easily accessible. Depending upon where you need them, they might distract from the look you were planning for your room. What can you do? There are many ways that you can minimize or hide your outlets. Here are some options for hidden outlets.
Pop-Up Outlets
One option that you have is the pop-up outlet. When not in use, these outlets are hidden within the countertop, table, or wall where they are installed. When an outlet is needed, you can push a button or press on the outlet holder to have the outlets come up/out so that they may be used. When you are finished, you just push them back in or press the button again.
Flush With Wall
Another way to minimize the look of your outlets is to have them flush with the wall. These types of outlets do not have a wall plate because the outlet is skim-coated into the wall itself. In this instance, the only thing you see is the actual circular outlet. Due to not needing screws, you will need a special tool to access these if any type of work or removal is needed.
Wall Cover
Yet another way to hide the outlets is to have the actual outlet be recessed into the wall a little and have a moveable cover placed over the outlet. When you plug in an appliance, you can lift the cover and insert the plug and replace the cover, so that the wall remains smooth. The cord would hang down from the wall, but you would not have the issue of furniture rubbing against the actual plug. This is a great idea if you are low on space and need as much room as possible.
Placement
Usually, when you look at a wall, the outlets will be in a readily accessible place along the wall, either above the counter or close to the baseboards. Why not switch it up and see if you can place the outlets along the baseboard or have them installed directly under cabinets? Instead of being on the wall, they would be part of the underside of the cabinet. When you look directly at the space, you would not be able to see the outlets, unless you looked for them.
You can also create a uniform look by placing outlets behind fake cabinet panels. When you need the outlet, you can pull down or over the cabinet panel to expose the outlet, and when you are done, just close it up again.
For any of these choices for hidden outlets, you will need to check the wiring of the house and review your electrical needs first before you make changes.
