Remodelista

It's said that God is in the details. Especially when it comes to interiors, we say. Nothing degrades a room more than cheap finishes; tinny switch plates and outlet covers can be especially dreary. Here are some ideas for reasonably priced alternatives:

Spotted Ontario shop May December Home on More Ways to Waste Time; the black switch plate (below) caught my eye.

Find similar switch plates at Arnev Products; these matte-black-finished steel switch plates (below) are available in a variety of configurations at Arnev.

We also like these high-gloss black enamel metal switch plates (below); go to Arnev.

And this brushed-stainless switch plate with gray switches (below) at Arnev.

Arnev.com sells black and gray toggle switches (below), outlets, and dimmers:

Restoration Hardware has a good selection of switch plate covers (most for under $10); we especially like these aluminum ones (below); go to Restoration Hardware.

Rejuvenation Hardware in Portland, Oregon, is a good source as well. They carry retro push-button switches (below), dimmers, and switch plates in a variety of finishes; go to Rejuvenation.

They've even made phone jacks, cable jacks, and cable plates (below) tolerable; go to Rejuvenation.