Have you thought about your light switches and fixtures?
Electricity is now one of the most vital parts of any household. With the emergency of smart electronics such as speakers, lights, thermostats and other devices there are more gadgets than ever in our homes. With that in mind, more advanced switches and sockets are available on the market – for both function and fashion.
For 2023, there are some great companies, bringing out some creative solutions to sockets and switches – developing with the technology.
Plug sockets and switches are often over looked and forgotten, if you’re choosing a modern design for your home renovation – then it can make or break the look!
If you’re planning a home renovation, it’s worth considering modernising the fixtures and fittings to ensure it stays compatible with the smart technology coming out for the home.
Here’s a few different types of smart switches and sockets available in 2023 that caught our eye and some of our favourite suppliers to help you with your renovation shopping list:
Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Plates
With 5G now being unleashed, consumers will expect to see a lot more home smart devices controlled by their mobile phones. These devices can allow homeowners to switch on lights from the flick of a button on their phone – without being home.
Previously, this feature was achievable with plug in adaptors – now, many innovative companies are integrating smart technology directly into sockets and switches.
The newest of these has been cleverly enabled to allow for voice control – by your AI voice assistant (from devices such as Google Home or Amazon Echo). This means that if your phone isn’t in reach, you just need to instruct your digital assistant to make the adjustment for you. This feature is handy if you forget to turn out the lights downstairs when you’ve gone to bed – just get your phone out or tell your device to turn out the lights! Year on Year the list grows and technology gets better and better!
Interchangeable Faceplate Covers
Not interested in USB ports or upgraded tech? Don’t worry you can still get the contemporary, modern and sleek looks for your electrical sockets with interchangeable faceplate covers – which are very on trend this year.
These faceplate’s allow the homeowner to switch up the design when they want to freshen up the look with customisable/personalised socket covers – in a wide range of colours and designs. It’s a cost friendly way of giving different rooms in the house their own personality.
Screwless Faceplates
Even a basic change to a simple light switch can make a difference on how the room looks and feels. If you don’t want all the upgraded tech, you can still have a modern, sleep switch face plate.
The screwless designs looks minimal and are available in many options. Anewer glass faceplate can add a hint of luxury. They come in glass and plastic finishes and really update the look of any home or office.
Elegant Rocker Switches
Everyone knows what the basic standard light switch looks like, nothing special about it, but still nothing wrong with it, they do the job they’re meant to and are affordable – but they can just look a little off with your flashy new interior design.
If you don’t want or need the flashy Wi-Fi/voice activated switches – you can still get that little touch of luxury look with a designer stylish rocker switch. Some of the designs look like they wouldn’t be out of place in an upscale boutique hotel room, complete with shiny, metal trim.
Rocker switches are gaining popularity, but these designer switches are still rare enough to draw some attention to, after you’ve installed the new switch.
Here are a few of Red Box’s favourite designer brands we have been working with recently:
Buster+Punch
www.busterandpunch.com
London-born home fashion label, Buster+Punch have come out with some incredible designs in the past year which we have been able to install into some of our home projects. Launched in 2013, they are now one of the most popular London base designer brands in their field.
They work with rare, solid materials to make extraordinary items for everyday use around the home.
They take inspiration from London’s fashion, music and sub-culture scenes where they collaborate with street artists, bike builders, musicians and fashion designers to inject attitude into their fantastically crafted products.
They offer designer switches, fixtures, lighting (including designer bulbs) and also have accessories such as candle holders and furniture.
We recently fitted all new switches and sockets, by Buster+Punch , in one of our projects in Kensington – which gave the finished kitchen a modern look, with the added upgraded tech.
Forbes & Lomax
Established in 1987, Forbes & Lomax are known for approaching the electrical accessory market from a decorative view point.
The elegant glass, nickel and brass switches of the 1930s had become hard to get, and the modern look equivalents were not suitable for some of their upscale projects interior designers were working on at the time. So, Forbes & Lomas launched their “Invisible Lightswitch”, a simple, transparent acrylic plate allowing the wallpaper or paint to show through, with a stylish metal toggle switch in the centre. The brief was simple, combine an attractive design with the advantages of modern technology.
Since then, the brand have added switches, sockets and dimmers to the range plus launched further designer options in a variety of finishes – to suit the high end demands of both traditional and contemporary interior design needs.
Wandsworth Electrical
Founded in 1904 by 3 former Tucker Switch Company employees, they originally named their company Wandsworth Electrical Manufacturing Company (WEMCO), with Wandsworth chosen as the name because a founding member came from that area of London.
Since then the company has continued to grow and continue to manufacture in the UK, in 2014 they were selected as supplier for the Battersea Power Station redevelopment.
They offer elegant designs for your homes switches, sockets, smart lighting and controls, aswell as a bespoke design service.
If you are planning to do work in your home including electrical upgrades and decor, then these points are, some to consider and preparation is the real key to a successful result that you will be happy with.
For inspiration see some of our website and Instagram photos as these can really help with inspirational ideas. If you would like more ideas or advice, then, by all means, drop in or send us a list of what you’d like to achieve, and we’ll advise you as to how to make your budget stretch as far as possible.