Homes these days have a modern and minimalist look in them and one way to streamline the look of a kitchen is to hide electrical outlets. However, electrical outlets are common and essential in every home and it can be hard to hide them if they are already installed in the walls. If you have the time and money to undergo a kitchen renovation, there are ways to hide electrical outlets as long as they comply with the National Electrical Code (NEC).
The use of pop-up outlets is great if you want the outlets to be hidden in plain sight but still want them to be accessible. Other options include installing power outlets under upper cabinets or countertops. A cheaper alternative would be to use screwless outlet cover plates or colored receptacles.
In this article, we will talk about several ways you can hide electrical kitchen outlets to make your kitchen look more seamless!
How can I hide my electrical outlets in the kitchen?
Hiding kitchen electrical outlets can make your kitchen look more streamlined and clean-looking. However, before installing any new electrical outlets, make sure to check your local building codes and electrical code requirements. This way, you can make sure that your electrician will be installing these outlets legally and safely.
Here are ways to hide electrical outlets in your kitchen.
Use Pop-up Outlets
Pop-up outlets are a great way to hide kitchen outlets while still making them easily available if needed. If you wonder how to hide outlets in kitchen island, these kinds of outlets are concealed into your countertop or kitchen island and they pop up when you need to use them.
When buying pop-up outlets, make sure that they can pass the code for installation as there are specific requirements for these kinds of outlets. There are many types of pop-up outlets. Some of them have several sockets and up to two USB hubs. This can be convenient if you need to charge your gadgets in the kitchen.
If you do decide to use pop-up outlets, you need to drill a hole in your countertop to fit the outlet. But, if you want your electrical outlets to be hidden from plain sight but easily accessible, pop-up outlets can be a great option.
Use A Charging Station Drawer
Electrical outlets in kitchen walls above the countertop can easily be hidden by kitchen appliances such as a coffee maker or microwave. However, gadgets can also be an eyesore on a countertop, especially if you like charging them in your kitchen.
If you don’t like the look of gadgets all over your countertop when charging, having a charging station drawer is a great idea. Charging station drawers typically use a power outlet bar installed on the back wall of the drawer. This keeps your gadgets inside the drawer and out of your countertops while charging. This can also prevent you from knocking over your phone or tablet.
What’s best about a charging station drawer is you won’t be able to see the electrical outlet if the drawer is closed. You can also customize a drawer to be able to fit in whatever gadgets you have.
Use Paintable Screwless Wall Plates
If you want a more affordable way to hide electrical outlets, a paintable screwless wall plate is the way to go. Well, it will not really hide your wall sockets. However, using these wall plates can make your outlets seamlessly blend into your walls. You can paint these wall plates the same color as your wall.
There are several kinds of screwless outlet covers that can fit your current outlets. If you are experienced in DIY projects and have changed outlet covers before, you can buy these wall plates at your local hardware store and install them yourself. Make sure to turn off the breaker that is connected to the outlets you will replace the cover with. If you are not comfortable changing these yourself, ask someone else to install them for you.
Use Colored Receptacles
If you don’t want to paint your outlet cover plates, there is a wide range of options for color-coded outlet covers. From monochromatic colors to decorative cover plates, you have a lot to choose from. If you have a black wall, you can buy black outlet covers. The downside is, that you may not find the exact match if you used a custom wall paint or backsplash.
However, there are now companies that offer customized outlet covers if you want to match the cover plates to your backsplash. Some companies offer removable cover plates if you want your wall outlets to be unnoticeable.
However, these covers will not fit seamlessly into your kitchen wall and it will protrude a bit. If you want to integrate these covers seamlessly, you will have to renovate your wall and re-install the outlet so it can sit further into the wall.
Use Under Cabinet Power Strips
Under cabinet power strips have multiple sockets that you can place under upper cabinets. Some under cabinets also have USB hubs if you don’t mind charging your gadgets in the kitchen.
If you have upper kitchen cabinets and are considering under-cabinet power strips, make sure that they are code-compliant. There are also other requirements that you need to meet if you decide to install these kinds of power outlets.
Your electrician should be knowledgeable about these electrical codes but to give you an idea, the power strip should not be installed any higher than 20 inches above your countertop. If you have upper cabinets that are mounted too high, you might not be able to install power outlets underneath as they may not be compliant with the electrical code.
Place The Outlets Under The Countertops
If your countertop has an overhang, another great option for hiding electrical outlets is under your countertops. Utilizing the side of the island counters can also be a great way to steer electric outlets away from eye level.
A downside of having outlets under or in front of your island countertop and cabinets is you have to move your small appliances each time you need to use them and stow them away. If you don’t mind small appliances on your island counter, outlets under countertops can be a great option. Like with other power outlets, installing them under countertops needs to meet the electrical code requirements.
Do You Really Need To Hide Electrical Sockets?
Kitchen outlets are there for a reason and there are electrical code requirements that every home should follow, depending on the country you live in. Kitchen outlets can be an eyesore, especially if you have a kitchen aesthetic in mind and like a cleaner-looking kitchen. But, these outlets have their use.
While you can hide electric outlets, whether it be by integrating them into your counter or under your upper cabinets, you won’t be able to hide the cords and wires of your countertop appliances when plugged in. Installing new outlets can also take time depending on what kind of outlet you want to install.
You can invest in contemporary or modern wall outlets if you want to blend them into your walls. Alternatively, you can use your appliances to hide the wall sockets if you don’t have the time and budget for a kitchen renovation. You also need to consider the outlet location if you want to install new ones as it needs to comply with the electrical code.
Embracing the sight of your kitchen outlets can also be great instead of hiding them away.
Wrap-Up
For pop-up outlets to simple screwless wall outlet covers, there are many ways that you can hide unsightly outlets. You have a lot of options to choose from and you can choose the best way that fits your kitchen aesthetics.
If you are thinking of installing new outlets, make sure to consult your local building code requirements and have a professional electrician do the job. There are electrical codes that need to be followed to install power outlets safely and legally. If you have any other questions, let us know how we can help via the contact form on our website.
