Decorating Around Thermostats, HVAC Vents, and Awkwardly Placed Switches

September 14, 2024 Michael Helwig

We’ve all been there: those pesky thermostats, HVAC vents, and light switches that seem to pop up in the most inconvenient places on a perfectly good wall! They’re often smack in the middle of the wall, or placed in totally awkward spots, sucking up focus and attention. They’re like surprise guests at a dinner party who don’t quite fit in with the rest of the crowd.

The rub is that they’re necessary for lots of different functions in your home. Your rooms need lights, heat and AC, and the means to control those things. I’m also sure you’d like them to be way less conspicuous, right?

Well, today I’ve got 11 ways you can turn these design challenges into opportunities to shine. Let’s talk about how to integrate, hide, and distract attention from these eyesores, so they’re either camouflaged or standout features in your rooms.

1. Transforming Functional Features into Design Elements

Creative Camouflage:

Why not turn your HVAC vents or switches into a part of the design?

First up, let’s talk about art panels or screens that not only hide them but also add flair to your room. Think of custom art panels that let you get to vents and switches while seamlessly blending them into a cohesive look. It’s like giving these features a makeover and making them part of your home's personality.

A super simple way to do this is to place art in shadow box frames that can go over the vents or switches. Shadow box frames are thicker and can be installed over switches or vents.

A nail to hang the shadow box frame can be used to cover switches that are used less often.

If you need access to the switch more often, try installing the frame with hinges that allow you to open the access like you would a cabinet door or medicine cabinet.

Just remember to not block air vents. Instead, you can use decorative grates or grids on wall vents so the air will transfer through.

If you like the idea of framed art, you could place a porous fabric in a shadow box so that air flows freely through the frame covering the vent. Make sure to leave out the glass or plastic so air passes through.

2. Dual-Purpose Solution

Custom Shelving:

Hiding in plain sight…

Shelves with cutouts or adjustable sections can hide awkward features. Floating shelves look great in any decorating style. Best of all, they can be placed strategically on your walls.

You can hang them to “hide” things like your thermostat or awkward vents or switches.

Once you get your shelves in place, use framed art, pottery or other décor to layer in front of vents or switches. This is a great way to conceal unsightly and awkwardly placed things so you can redirect focus and attention away from them.

Again, just make sure not to block air flow from vents. So, this is a great way to display your favorite decorations in a very useful and intentional way.

3. Innovative Solutions with Technology

Smart Home Integration:

The power of your voice!

Voice-activated systems and smart thermostats can minimize the need for visible controls. This way, you reduce the number of physical switches and vents that need to be camouflaged, making your space look sleek and modern.

Now, this tip might require the services of an electrician or HVAC service person. However, after the pro installation, you can move things like the thermostat or unsightly switch to a much less conspicuous spot.

Dan LeFebvre

Because you can use your voice to tell your favorite robot helper to “turn on the lights in the living room” or “lower the temperature on the second floor,” you can eliminate utilitarian switches and utilities from sight.

Then, once those unsightly elements have been removed, you can plan a better and more pleasing use for the wall they were on, like using the space to display a large piece of art or hang a mirror to reflect a beautiful view in the room.

4. Natural and Green Elements

Vertical Gardens:

How about going green?

Wall-mounted planters or living walls can cover parts of the wall while keeping your HVAC vents accessible in a lush, natural feature. Talk about camouflage, this trick is great for plant lovers and the not so green thumbs alike.

Arina Krasnikova

A living green wall can be installed on the offending wall to cover a myriad of “ugly” things. They’ll grow organically to cover vents, switches, and thermostats. Reach through the flora to access the elements.

If you’re not great with plants but still like the look of a green wall, you can use decorative moss to cover the wall, or silk plants that give a “real” look of natural plants.

Either way, air flow and access to anything on the wall will be easy and the unsightly things will be much less conspicuous.

5. DIY and Crafty Solutions

Customized Covers:

Feeling crafty?

So, this tip is for folks who may have less noticeable switches, plugs, vents, etc. Or, for those of you who might not mind seeing them.

Create your own covers or decorative grilles for them.

Greg Rosenke

Use things like fabric, wood, or metal that match your decor. It’s a personalized touch that adds character and keeps those features under wraps.

You can be as creative as you’d like this way…

Try using customizable outlet and switch covers to give them a fun twist on the usual utilitarian options.

Folks like Alexandra Gater have decorative outlet covers that can be matched to your wall color or covered in wallpaper to match a wall covering.

You could also use porous fabrics that match your wall color to attach removeable covers to vents. Use magnets to attach the custom vent covers to metal vents so they’re less noticeable.

6. Folding Panels

Quick and dirty solution:

No need to spend hours figuring it out.

Folding panels have long been a solution for dividing spaces. They’re used in larger rooms where some separation is needed. In the olden days, you’d see them used in bathrooms and bedrooms to help with privacy.

But you can also use them to quickly hide your wall vents, switches and outlets. They’re a great solution for folks that want a quick, non-permanent solution.

When you need to access the utilities, simply fold the panel to do what you need to do and unfold it to move coverage back.

7. Mirror Magic

Let’s reflect on it…

I’m a BIG fan of mirrors for many reasons. They reflect beautiful views, help to distribute natural and artificial light around your rooms, and can make small spaces feel larger. Mirrors can also camouflage lots of stuff you want to pull focus from.

Use mirrored panels or reflective surfaces to shift attention from your vents and switches.

You can cover the entire wall in a custom sized mirror application. Then, use mirrored switch plates, or mirrored outlet and vent covers to seamlessly integrate these elements into the wall. Watch how fast these eyesores disappear.

It’s a clever trick that makes these functional parts less noticeable and adds a touch of glamour.

8. Go Custom!

Make the eyesores work in obvious ways.

Sculptural Covers:

Take your game up a notch with sculptural covers for your vents and switches. Commission or create pieces that turn these features into works of art, like a sculptural metal grille or a 3D-printed cover. This is a perfect way to make your awkward wall eyesores both stylish and unique.

• Think one of a kind vent covers and switch plates. They’ll add a personalized feature to your utilitarian things. They don’t “hide” them as much, but they do embellish them in unique ways.

Integrated Art Installs:

How about designing an art installation that includes your vents and switches?

Imagine a wall-mounted sculpture that doubles as a functional element. It’s a unique way to make these features a part of your own unique creative expression.

Maybe you create a 3D wall sculpture that gives your wall some definition while also “distracting” from the vents, switches or thermostat.

Both solutions involve making these, otherwise distracting, elements part of the composition of the wall. So, whether you want to enhance the features or incorporate them into a larger concept, go ahead and give these techniques a try…

9. Eclectic Collage Approach

Make the wall a bohemian focal point.

Mixed Media Wall:

Create a collage of different materials and décor pieces to both hide and integrate your functional elements.

Antoni Shkraba

Mix artwork, textiles, and other objects to make a statement wall that’s as unique as you are. This is all about “hiding the elements in plain sight” again. When you have a lot of unique items on display, the permanent fixtures that you want to hide become less noticeable. They feel like intentional things in an eclectic mix.

Use vintage or repurposed items like old frames or shutters to craft a quirky, personalized cover. It’s a fun, eclectic way to make those switches and vents a part of your home’s story.

Mix different shaped items, and include a fun and imaginative array of materials like wood, metal, glass, etc.

10. Functional Furniture Integration

Go even more customized!

Built-In Units:

Install custom furniture pieces that incorporate your awkward wall features.

Built-in shelves or cabinets are a great way to create a consistent look around awkward vents and outlets. If you have the room to build them, they’re also home value boosters and beautiful focal points in many rooms.

The great thing about customized built-ins is that you can make them look however you want.

Jason Leung

Use quality woods like maple or oak to give the shelves a fine furniture look.

Bring in books, art, décor and place the items in strategic spots to cover the elements you want to disguise.

Tip: Be careful not to add too much visual clutter by overloading the built-ins with stuff.

I like to keep as much negative space on things like shelves so that you can truly see and appreciate each piece.

A good “rule of thumb” is to vary the shape, size, height, and line of things on a shelf and use odd numbers to group items.

When you follow these two simple rules, you’ll create a curated look instead of a cluttered look.

11. Dynamic Lighting Solutions

Put some shine on it!

LED Backlighting:

Finally, consider LED backlighting around your vents and switches. This creates a stylish glowing effect that highlights these features in a way that’s both functional and attractive.

Lighting is a HUGE part of design, and it’s often overlooked or added in as an afterthought. Taking the time to think through all your lighting needs is key to any successful room makeover or decorating project. In fact, there are designers that specialize in and only do interior lighting design, that’s how important it is.

DEBASISH SAMANTA

Adding decorative lighting to enhance otherwise “unattractive” utilitarian elements on walls creates a playful and contemporary feeling, especially on switches and thermostats. That small detail makes these everyday elements feel special and elevated.

In a way, it’s bringing attention to and creating beauty around things that would otherwise be distracting.

Adding a lighted façade is a way to highlight the size, shape, or color of items.

And, speaking of color, many LED backlights will allow you to change colors to tie in with the colors of a room or to highlight different features you want to draw attention to.

To sum up

As you navigate the quirks of your home’s design, remember that those awkwardly placed thermostats, vents, and switches are not just obstacles but opportunities in disguise.

By embracing these elements with creativity, you can turn them from "unexpected guests" into stylish, integral parts of your space.

It’s all about finding the right approach that fits your style and makes your home feel like you. So, let your imagination run wild, and watch how these once-distracting features transform into standout design elements that blend seamlessly with your vision.

Michael Helwig Interiors