If you’re renovating your home or moving to a new one, then one question that would have crossed your mind is: Can you paint electrical outlets?

This is a popular question, as most of us have a specific image of what our bedrooms, living rooms, or even bathrooms should look like.

So, for example, when you have beautiful sage green walls with odd black electrical outlets, they’ll stick out like a sore thumb!

That’s why, today, I’ll share with you how to hide electrical outlets with painted outlet covers, whether it’s possible, and what mistakes to avoid. Ready? Let’s get to painting!

Is It Against Code to Paint Electrical Outlets?

Before you go ahead and get your painting tools ready, you need to learn whether this is legal or not.

Now, there isn’t a rule that explicitly answers if can you paint plug sockets. However, it’s strongly discouraged for various reasons, most importantly, creating a fire hazard. 

Paint can clog the outlet slots, making it difficult to insert any plugs fully. This can lead to loose connections, overheating, and potentially electrical fires. 

Over time, the pain can also chip and flake, creating debris that could further contribute to electrical hazards.

Plus, while it’s not explicitly prohibited, painting electrical outlets can violate certain clauses, such as those requiring the integrity of electrical equipment to be maintained. 

To stay on the safe side, there are various things you can do, such as using paintable outlet covers.

What Are Paintable Outlet Covers?

If you’ve never heard of paintable outlet covers, you’re in for a treat! Compared to the traditional outlet wall plates, paintable covers completely cover the existing outlet.

With these covers, you can use all the paint you like without worrying about painting over the sockets themselves at all.

You also don’t have to do any electrical work—all you need is a flathead screwdriver!

Shop these outlet covers on Amazon!

How to Paint Outlets?

Painting outlets with paintable outlet covers is rather effortless. Once you have the cover, simply paint it your favorite color or wall color with a brush or roller. Ensure you get all of the edges, too.

When I was doing the covers at my home, I used about two thin coats to guarantee they spread evenly and that nothing of the color below showed through.

Once done, screw them right over your outlets. No electrical work is needed, and no paint goes on or in the socket!

Keep in mind that you’ll need a small brush for them, as a large paintbrush could create a sloppy mess that’s not pretty at all.

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Outlet Covers?

For outlet covers, you can use regular wall paint. 

You can also use a plastic primer on the outlet covers first if your paint doesn’t have a built-in primer, but covers labeled as “paintable” shouldn’t need it.

Can I Spray Paint an Outlet?

I wouldn’t recommend spray painting an outlet at all! You don’t want the spray paint to get inside the outlet plug holes, as it could be a fire risk. 

Plus, painted outlet sockets are against fire codes in many areas, meaning you’ll need to head to your municipality to ask around first. Paintable outlet covers are much simpler and safer!

How Do You Cover Electrical Outlets When Painting?

When painting your walls, remove the rectangular outlet cover first from your outlets by unscrewing it from the wall. 

Then, use painter’s tape to cover the outlet sockets to protect them from paint. After that, you can continue painting normally.

How to Hide Electrical Outlets With Painted Outlet Covers

So, you want your outlets to blend into the wall? As mentioned, the best way for this is with printable covers. Here’s how you can do it:

Materials

• Paintable outlet cover
• Wall paint of choice
• Primer (optional)

Tools

• Flat head screwdriver
• Small paintbrush or roller
• Nitrile gloves

Instructions

1. Use a flat head to remove your existing outlet cover from the wall
2. Open the paintable outlet cover, clean it up, and paint it using a brush. Use around two thin coats.
3. Once completely dry, screw back into the outlet, lining it up with the existing screw hole.
4. Paint the screw heads using a small paintbrush.

What to Avoid When Painting Outlet Covers

While painting your outlet covers can be a straightforward process, there are certain pitfalls you must watch out for.

To start, not all outlet covers are designed to be painted over, so it’s best to ensure they’re paintable while purchasing. 

Once you’re ready to start painting, clean the cover first to remove any dust that can make the paint spotty. Also, use a primer to improve paint adhesion if the cover is non-porous.

Finally, always start with a thin coat to see what the color looks like and how it spreads. A single thick coat can cause dripping, affecting the final finish.

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Morgan

Hello, I’m Morgan, half of the creative force behind CharlestonCrafted.com! With a passion for DIY that dates back to 2012, I’ve transformed three homes and now I’m dedicated to helping others craft their dream spaces. Let’s turn your house into a home together!