Wall sockets colour for white walls

I am moving into my new home this weekend.  The entire house needs a re-wire and looking to replace the old existing wall sockets.  

Planning to paint all walls white as a starter for 10.  The house does have 
dado rails, so going to paint these also white until I decide on what colour to paint these at a later date. 

What colour wall sockets go with white walls these days?
Should I go for plastic or metal?
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Comments

  • sew_what
    sew_what Posts: 264 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper
    Sockets and switches are something you touch all the time, so something that looks good, feels nice and can be easily cleaned and still look as good would be my target
  • Personally I would go for metal, probably stainless steel.
  • Mnoee
    Mnoee Posts: 951 Forumite
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Posts Photogenic Homepage Hero
    edited 18 December 2024 at 11:18PM
    I've never looked at a white socket and thought it looked weird. I have seen houses that had gold sockets put in when they were 'in', then walls painted grey when that was the trend - and I'm not a fan! Doing what's fashionable now will always leave you open to future clashes. 

    Whatever you end with, It's a pretty quick and fairly easy DIY job to change a faceplate or three, if you do end up with a boldy decorated room and want coloured sockets in that room to match. Gold, silver and black are fairly common as well as white, but every colour you can think of is available. Get bright green and pretend brat summer never ended! Or don't. Probably don't. 

    Most importantly - you have thought about if you want network cables, extra sockets, shaver sockets, better placement etc? If you haven't, that's way more important than picking a colour! 
  • Mr.Generous
    Mr.Generous Posts: 3,945 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    edited 19 December 2024 at 12:01AM
    White in most of the house, brushed steel in Kitchen and Lounge. Don't go bright shiny they show every finger mark. Think about where a USB socket or two would be handy, and get some with USB C for faster charging.
    Mr Generous - Landlord for more than 10 years. Generous? - Possibly but sarcastic more likely.
  • Bigphil1474
    Bigphil1474 Posts: 3,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Our leccy said not to go overboard on USB power sockets - they use more electricity even when not in use apparently. I've no idea, but he's always been bob on for us, so no reason to doubt him. I'd always go white as they go with pretty much any decor. Maybe paint every wall something off white rather than white to start with?
  • Albermarle
    Albermarle Posts: 27,395 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Sixth Anniversary Name Dropper
     The entire house needs a re-wire and looking to replace the old existing wall sockets.  

    Personally I would be more concerned about the making good after the rewire. If they have to chase out plaster and then replaster for example.
  • EssexExile
    EssexExile Posts: 6,423 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I am moving into my new home this weekend.  The entire house needs a re-wire and looking to replace the old existing wall sockets.  

    Planning to paint all walls white as a starter for 10.  The house does have dado rails, so going to paint these also white until I decide on what colour to paint these at a later date. 

    What colour wall sockets go with white walls these days?
    Should I go for plastic or metal?
    I wouldn't worry about fashion. White plastic everywhere, it's never "out".
    Tall, dark & handsome. Well two out of three ain't bad.
  • Eldi_Dos
    Eldi_Dos Posts: 2,113 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Suppose it would depend on what colour plugs and leads you intend to use.
  • DullGreyGuy
    DullGreyGuy Posts: 17,760 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    Our leccy said not to go overboard on USB power sockets - they use more electricity even when not in use apparently. I've no idea, but he's always been bob on for us, so no reason to doubt him. I'd always go white as they go with pretty much any decor. Maybe paint every wall something off white rather than white to start with?
    A fire safety expert said to get none at all... there are some very poor quality ones out there and if they fail and start smouldering its much harder to deal with when its in your wall rather than something you can pull out a socket. 


    I am moving into my new home this weekend.  The entire house needs a re-wire and looking to replace the old existing wall sockets.  

    Planning to paint all walls white as a starter for 10.  The house does have dado rails, so going to paint these also white until I decide on what colour to paint these at a later date. 

    What colour wall sockets go with white walls these days?
    Should I go for plastic or metal?
    Are you talking just plug sockets or light switches too?

    Plug sockets to me should be flush fit and white as they're not pretty things and want them to blend in as much as possible. In the kitchen is different because they are much higher and are going to be visible so something like brushed steel depending on what feel you are going for. 

    Light switches are different because of their height and the fact you do use them all the time so will be touching them and they need to be findable. In my ideal world they'd be a particular brand of smart switches that can deal with both smart and dumb bulbs on different switches, unfortunately they only offer them in black or white so it'd be one of those two. 
  • twopenny
    twopenny Posts: 7,250 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Depends on your preference for how you'll decorate.
    I do bland and use the colour in curtains, blinds and furnishings so I can change them.

    Are you planning on something trendy and out there or classic or somewhere in between.

    I think unless I knew how the rest would go I'd opt for white. Easy enough to change to match any decor you end up with.

    I can rise and shine - just not at the same time!

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