Light Switches

A small detail such as the choice of light switch in a room can have an enormous impact on the overall ambiance. It's this kind of attention to detail that can really make a room complete. Antique light switches might be hard to come by but there are lots of good replicas of these commercially available.

Fortunately, light switches can be installed fairly easily if you follow some basic safety procedures and are a little bit handy around the home. By following some very simple instructions, anybody can have new light switches in just a few minutes of work per switch. This will freshen up the look of your home immediately.

CAUTION: Any time you are working with live power you must be extremely careful to prevent injury. If you are not confident, please hire a licensed electrician. In some areas, performing your own electrical work may void your home insurance against damage from electrical faults. These steps are for your information only.

Before you do any electrical work you will need to turn off the power in your fuse box. It is safest to turn off the main power breaker, but be aware that this will turn off the power in your whole house.
There is a product called a Switchgrip which you can use to install a light switch, which has a built in power warning light. If you don't have one of these, there are various other mains power testers which will confirm that your wiring is not live. Never use a multimeter to test mains power.

Once you have confirmed that the mains power is off, unscrew your existing light fixture. Installation instructions will vary for different types of switches, so follow the manufacturers wiring and installation instructions carefully.

Along with every other décor item, light switches come in such a vast array of colors and styles from contemporary to traditional to antique looking. Even with so many styles to choose from, light switches can also do different tasks depending on the need of the room where the switch is installed.

A key point to consider when installing light switches is that a single switch outlet simply cannot be replaced with a three-switch model without additional work being performed, which would likely involve extra wiring. However a wireless light switch offers an interesting way around this problem. Wireless light switches transmit a signal to a separate receiver, which turns the light on and off.

Specialty styles are available for any need or decor style. Besides the standard single, double and even triple switches to control lighting in a room, there are other features that can be considered when purchasing switches.

Dimmer switches have been popular over the years. These work well for setting the ambiance of a room for anything from a romantic dinner a child's room at bed time.

Time lock switches are also a very useful concept. These switches allow lights to be turned off and on with a programmable timer. These are beneficial to those who travel so it looks like somebody is home to deter burglary. They are also utilized by people who work late so that lights will be on when they get home so as not to have to enter a dark home.

Some switches can be further customised by adding or changing the light switch plates, which come in a great range of materials and finishes. A decorative switch plate can be used to transform a dull plastic switch into a stunning feature! Look for ceramic, copper or brass switch plates for a classic look.

With new styles and vast specialty features available, searching online or asking in store is a consumer's best way to find the best light switch. Whatever style and feature combination is chosen for each room, light switches are an inexpensive way to add impact that can be changed with decor trends.