Paint your light switch covers…
and turn them into little pieces of art!

Did you know you can easily paint your light switch covers and turn them from boring white pieces of plastic into little pieces of art?

It’s actually really easy. I’ll show you how I did it (not saying it’s the only way — just what worked for me).

If you love playful colour and turning everyday objects into something beautiful, you might also enjoy exploring my original paintings and handcrafted Living Colour candles, where this same love of colour and atmosphere becomes pieces you can live with.

What you’ll need

• A blank light switch cover (they’re easy to remove, but if something feels like it’s holding on, stop — you may be pulling on the whole unit)
• Light-grit sandpaper
• Gesso
• Acrylic paints
• Gloss varnish suitable for acrylic paint

Step 1 — Prep the surface

Lightly sand the cover with your sandpaper. Go gently — you just want to give the surface a bit of grip.

If you do get a few scratches, don’t worry too much. Once it’s painted, your eye will focus on the design, not tiny marks. Make sure you sand the edges and sides as well.

Step 2 — Prime

Using a soft art brush (fine hair will give you a smoother finish), paint on a thin layer of undiluted gesso.

Let it dry (you can speed this up with a hairdryer — just not too close), then apply another thin layer. If you notice brush marks, you can lightly sand again at this stage.

Step 3 — The fun part

Now it’s time to play.

You can paint freehand, draw a design, trace something you’ve printed, or stamp first and paint over it.

Don’t be afraid to be bold 😉 You can use gel pens to add details, and if there’s something you don’t love, just wait until it’s dry and paint over it.

This is where those “mistakes” often turn into the most interesting parts.

Step 4 — Seal it

Once you’re happy with your design and it’s fully dry, apply a thin layer of varnish.

I prefer spray varnish because it gives a more even finish, but use whatever you have. Let it dry, then apply another thin coat. Continue until you reach the level of gloss you like.

Step 5 — Enjoy

When everything is completely dry, pop the cover back on and enjoy your tiny everyday artwork.

If you’d like more inspiration, a quick Google search will show you so many beautiful ideas created by talented people.

I hope this little project inspires you to bring more colour into unexpected places. Feel free to leave a comment below with any questions — or photos of what you create.

With love,
Mimi