How to choose switches and sockets

Function: which add-ons will finish everything off?

Ever lived somewhere where there aren’t enough plug sockets where you need them? The light switch is a straight-up on/off, and you’d love to be able to take the edge off all the overhead spotlights in the evening? Or how about the obtrusively bright white cooker switch adorned with a blazing red rocker?

Thinking about the details can make a world of difference to your life, simply choosing a double socket with USB port means you can charge your iPad while cooking. Dimmer switches allow you to control the lighting level precisely, and well-designed switches and sockets mean a more streamlined look without ugly details.

Ambience: how do you want to feel in your kitchen?

The truth is, this probably differs throughout the day and the seasons. The key is adaptability. Give yourself as much freedom as possible to adjust to any situation. Maybe you’ll want relaxed lighting in the evening and bright task lighting for when you’re cleaning or prepping food.

Jen Nash, Concept Design Lead at Magnet says, “Dimmer switches offer adaptability to lighting design – this is so important now that open plan living needs to deliver so much function to family life. Creating ambience is also paramount in any interior space, and dimmers are a great way to adjust your lighting depending on the task, season or mood.”

Style: what colour or finish should you choose?

If you love clean white sockets and switches, then go with those. If you’re like a magpie drawn to shiny chrome, that’s your finish. If you’re unsure, think about what you wear; are you a rose gold/copper kind of person or do you mostly stick to black, black and more black? Is your watch gold, dull nickel or brightly coloured?

Observing what you naturally wear gives you clues about what you could bring into your interior style.

Connor says, “Coordinating your fixtures and fittings such as sockets and switches with your paintwork or wallpaper is a clever, contemporary way to bring an interior scheme together and give it a sophisticated edge.

For example, our tonal cinnamon switches lift terracotta paintwork. Your scheme will feel much more considered, allowing you to broaden your options without being constrained to standard white sockets.”