CONSIDER THE LIGHT SWITCH

While designing a house last winter and spring, I thought I had e erything pic ed out Tere were, of course, the paint colors, which I had belabored for months Tere were the robust wallpapers, which I had selected from reams of samples, sent to me in the mail Tere was the furniture, which I had perseverated over, and the pendant lighting in the itchen, and the light ture in the dining room, hung low to shine above the 1950s-era dining table.

What I had not considered, until my husband called attention to it, was what I would do about my home s anti uated light switches Tey were cream colored and plastic Tey were dingy and old, and they did not match my vision for my new house.

Design-lovers like me should know that a light switch can, in fact, make or break a room. In our house, we upgraded to Lutron com) dimmer switches, looking and smart-compatible switches that allow us to control the lights in every room of our house from an app, no matter

Lutron switches come in a variety of colors — switches themselves can be purchased in high-gloss options like black, white, gray, ivory, and brown, or satin options, like signal red, deep sea, sage, and lunar gray Tey make wall plates to match, too.) In our family room, which we painted Bavarian Forest, a rich and deep green, straight up to the ceiling, we installed a smart-looking black Lutron dimmer, incased in a glossy black wall plate, and my does it pop.

For those in the market for a more stylized look, the British brand Buster + Punch (busterandpunch.com) produces bespoke metal light switch to les in arious nishes rass, smo ed bron e, and steel to led switches, which come with matched wall plates, add an air of sophistication to any room. It’s a statement that people will notice, just as they’ll notice what kind of door handle and hinge you’ve chosen in your dream home.

Te true lo er of design will gra itate naturally to orbes Loma s forbesandloma com broad selection of switches and wall plates. Teir in enti e in isible collection allows you to highlight either the wall color or wallpaper behind the switch; it’s no more than a thick piece of acrylic that makes prominent whatever happens to fall behind it (customers have the option of placing in the center to les, rotary dimmers, or push buttons, all available in various metal nishes And the company s stunning Verdigris collection, a blue-black aged patina that was inspired by the Greek bronze age, is a uni ue and eye catching addition to any home in-progress.

Finally, for the geometry obsessed, Matureware by utagami matureware p en switch o ers light switch to les and wall plates in arious shapes and sizes. If it’s a circle you fancy, they ha e that Prefer a he agon Tey e got that, too Tese delightful designs are almost too beautiful for just turning on the light, but, on the plus side, you get to look at them every single day Tey re ust that important