Your mother did this back in the 80's ;)

Love it!! One day I will be as ambitious as you :)

The place that I just moved into had this done on random outlet plates. It was a scary 80's wallpaper pattern, and didn't match the paint color. I removed them at once!

When I bought my condo, every time I went to Target, I bought one or two of the wall plates that cover the light switches and electric sockets. I bought the nice ones that looked like good trim. 3 or 4 months later I had replaced all of the plates without feeling the pinch of buying them all at once. It really made an improvement.

I prefer, by far, the plain old switch in the Before pictures. But, what bothers me is that the screws are not aligned. Yap, I am THAT anal.

Another perspective: I like the soothing quality of an uninterrupted expanse of wall--not talking about art here. If the wall's white, give me a plain ol' white switchplate cover; if the wall's blue, make the cover blue (unless the room has white trim). These little bits of pattern, splashed in the places switches tend to reside, are whimsical, sure, but they can also be visual irritants that disrupt rather than enhance. An exception for me: a child's room.

I love them. I love art on the wall...I have many gallery walls and I think adding a fun light switch adds to the art.
I've purchased decorated switch plates at street fairs and have them through out my home.
I say Kuddos to you and I love them all.

Canadian Mango -

I'm the same way!!

Just moved into a new place and bought all new switch plates. All my screws orient North/South. And there's nothing wrong with that :-)

i'm renting an awesome artist's loft (found it on airbnb) and she has a switch plate with a realistic painting of a pig on it. i am in love with it.

CanadianMango...wow. I think you would explode if you walked into my home.

I hate having to replace the switch/plug covers because some previous tenant did something like this. Gotta agree with Gillianne on this!

Thank god. I thought it was just me.

I am confused? Where is the clapper? LOL

Personally, light switch and electric outlet covers are an extension of the decor of the place, just as much as crown molding or chair rails. When someone covers the plate with some weird color or glues wallpaper to it, or whatever their design taste is, it will have to be replaced by the next tenant, renter or owner. It is a matter of personal style, not a design element.

And if they do this to the light switches, do they do it to the outlet covers as well?

I've seen some really nice mosaic'd covers. For one example: http://www.etsy.com/listing/101119687/gold-grey-and-lavender-mosaic-switch?ref=v1_other_1

That is super fun. Another fun use for washi tape!!

Well, they look nice and neat, but I'm in the "leave them white to match the room trim" contingency. I don't consider light switches decor.

This is right up there with painting your kitchen drain strainer a 'pretty color'. Switchplates are not art THAT much.

Thank you!

Thank you everyone for your comments and opinions! I will work on straightening all my switchplate screws. :)