5 Simple Gentle Change and Outlet Hacks That Make Life Simpler | Thrifty Decor Chick

Simple updates to your retailers and light-weight switches that make life simpler!

If you know the way to vary out a light-weight swap or outlet, these small updates will
be simple for you. And if you happen to do not, they’re value paying somebody to put in
till you get the dangle of it. 

I encourage you to observe a YouTube video to see how simple it’s (or take a look at
the tutorials I share on this submit). 

You do not want an electrician so as to add these devices in your house! I promise
it isn’t that onerous to vary out a swap or outlet. When you get the dangle
of it, every of those will take 5 minutes to replace.

If you’re inexperienced, have an electrician or different educated
individual set up these till you’re feeling comfy. 


These DIY lighting and outlet hacks are all simple fixes that
make life a bit simpler, save vitality and lengthen the life of sunshine bulbs!

1. Dimmer Switches

I’ve blabbed on and on about dimmer switches for years for good cause! They
are my FAVORITE! 

Dimmers assist you to soften the sunshine rooms so they are not so shiny in any respect
instances:

sliding dimmer switch

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I like them in any room — now we have them in bedrooms, loos (if you happen to get
up earlier than the solar they’re a should!), the kitchen, eating space and dwelling
room. 

Just about on lighting fixtures all around the home:
cone light small hallway

There’s nothing higher than with the ability to flip down a shiny, harsh mild
to a tender glow at evening!

I particularly take pleasure in them for a ceiling mild over the eating desk: 

large cone shape light over table

They positively create a tender and comfortable temper!

You could find my easy tutorial for putting in a dimmer swap right here! (I wrote that submit years in the past — make sure to use the directions on
your dimmer for essentially the most up to date tutorial.)

There are a
couple issues to contemplate when buying dimmer switches. First, make
positive your dimmer swap works for LED mild bulbs. Most choices on the
market now work for these and incandescent bulbs, however older variations might
make LEDs flicker. 

Additionally, decide if you happen to’ll want a single or three approach pole dimmer. 

In case your mild operates from one swap it’s referred to as
single pole, if it really works from a couple of swap it is referred to as
a three approach

Most dimmer switches work for all of those now — that is why they price
greater than they used to. (Again within the day they had been lower than $10
every!)

You could find
my favorite dimmer switches here!

Do you know you too can
add a dimmer to lamps? 

I realized this little trick final yr and LOVE that I can dim our lamp mild
now:

foyer table with round mirror

Dimmers not solely alter the sunshine to your liking, however they permit for tender
ambient lighting that’s actually pretty within the night or on a stormy
day. 😍 

Plus you’ll save vitality and your mild bulbs will final
a lot longer!

2. Recessed retailers


I’ve shared these
cool recessed retailers (and easy methods to set up them) as effectively. They’re deeper, inset
retailers that offer you a number of extra inches behind furnishings and TVs:

Recessed outlets for behind furniture

Additionally, if you happen to’re having an outlet put in behind a dangling TV, I
suggest these as an alternative of an everyday outlet. That approach you will have loads of
area for the plug behind the mounted tv:

Gallery wall around hanging TV

3. USB retailers

These
USB outlets are another favorite
as a result of they’re simply so helpful. They nonetheless have two common retailers,
but in addition two USB sockets as effectively:

USB outlet for charging devices

You possibly can plug something in like a traditional outlet, however do not want the cumbersome
chargers to energy up your units. There’s loads of room to have
one thing plugged into each spot. 

We have now one in our mud room and it is good as a result of now we have so many gadgets
that have to be charged — audio system, watches, telephones, and many others. 

I preserve the entire cords in a drawer proper there so we are able to seize all of them:
 

The kitchen island is one other good spot for one in all these!: 

USB outlet on island

I feel they’d be nice in an workplace or bed room (by the nightstand!) as
effectively. 

4. Movement sensor mild switches


I hate when lights are left on round the home! Not calling
my household out or something…I might by no means do this. 😉

I fell in love with
the motion sensor light switch
once I used one in all these in our outdated home:

Motion sensor switch turns off light



A movement sensor mild is GREAT for areas the place
our households we have a tendency to depart lights on. 

They activate while you stroll in and you’ll set how rapidly you need them to
flip off while you go away the room. You may also faucet the button to show them
on and off manually.

I feel they’re particularly useful in closets and pantries. I LOVE the one
in my closet (that I
coated in wallpaper scraps!), particularly once I’m carrying a laundry basket:
wallpapered switch cover

These switches take some getting used to — you will nonetheless attain for the sunshine
swap for a superb week after putting in it. 🙂 

Movement sensor switches will certainly prevent some cash on {the electrical}
invoice when you’ve got mild swap offenders in your house.

paintable outlet covers

You simply take off the unique outlet cowl and set up this on high of the
socket. You may make the colour no matter you need, so that they they grow to be practically
invisible on the wall. 

These covers are additionally nice if you wish to replace discolored retailers, however
do not wish to change all of them out. 

Should you’re planning to put in any of those helpful switches or retailers, you will
wish to choose up
a voltage tester
as effectively. It is tremendous easy instrument that tells you if there’s any energy going to
what you are engaged on. 

I ALWAYS check (along with turning off the breaker) — even when
the sunshine is off, there could also be energy coming from an one other line.

I feel you will discover any of those retailers and switches useful across the
home! Have you ever used any of those helpful devices?