Add Charm To Ugly Outlets With This Simple Hack—It's Easier Than Changing The Cover

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Most people wouldn't want to go without electrical outlets in their home. We need them for powering a multitude of modern-day conveniences, from kitchen appliances and air conditioners to TVs and beyond. But power outlet covers are another thing entirely — often plain eyesores that can detract from a home's overall decor, they're a common frustration for interior designers and homeowners alike. You can purchase outlet covers in a variety of finishes, such as satin nickel, wood, or ceramic, or match electrical outlets to the wall color to make them less visible, but even those options can seem somewhat limited.

As you can expect, however, crafty DIYers aren't ones to let such a little stylistic hurdle get in the way of decorating their homes — there are plenty of tutorials online for creative wall outlet cover hacks to decorate your home on a budget. Even better, you can upgrade yours without changing out the cover, as lifestyle influencer @stephanielovo shows in her TikTok tutorial. By attaching a simple childproof plug cover, such as these clear protectors by Power Gear, to a decorative item of your choice — like the golden angel used in the video — and then plugging it into an outlet, you can DIY a unique and beautiful outlet cover. What's especially awesome about this craft is that it can provide a unique way to safeguard your outlets: Young kids are unlikely to be able to pry this protective guardian off the outlet. There are almost limitless ways to customize this idea, too!

To create you own outlet-camouflaging decor, you'll want an object that's at least as big as a traditional outlet, which is about 4.5 inches tall by 2.75 inches wide. You'll also need a strong adhesive appropriate for plastic and other materials, such as E6000 craft glue. Simply glue the back of your item to the front of the plastic childproof outlet cover. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area for your safety and let the glue dry completely, following the drying time recommended on your product before plugging your decorative piece into the wall.

Like all good hacks, there are plenty of fun ways you can customize this DIY. Instead of gluing an existing object to the cover, you can make your own ornament with air-dry clay, like this one from Crayola. Simply roll your clay out flat with a rolling pin and use a cookie cutter to create a shape of your choice. Another option is using a 4-inch clear acrylic disc and customizing it before adhering it to the plastic plug. For example, you can add stickers to it, or apply a coat of Mod Podge to the front to glue on dried flowers or bright glitter.

Once you've made your first outlet cover, you may want to create more to disguise all the outlets in your home when they're not in use. Design matching ones around a particular theme, or make each one unique so there's a delightful surprise in every room. However you customize your DIY outlet decor, you'll love this gorgeous trick to hide unsightly wall outlets.