10 Must-Haves to Cover the Electric Panel in the Living Room

In all honesty, it can be a bummer to have the living room all dressed up and see an electric panel on one side. Imagine the time you have invested designing the living room and the electric panel will just draw more attention than its accentuating features. As much as we want to make it disappear, it is a necessity to distribute electricity to the entire household. Instead of thinking of it as a hindrance from achieving your desired aesthetic imagery for the living room, why not maximize its purpose and put it to good use? There is no need to worry about the electric panels being eyesores. We have scooped 10 smart must-have items to cover the electric panel in the living room. 

1. Tapestry 

Tapestries are often hung on the accent wall of the bedroom to accentuate the ideal theme. Since they come in different sizes and designs, it is what makes it the perfect way to conceal the boring look of the electric panel. A tapestry is an immediate solution to conceal its unwanted metallic composition. Besides, you can always switch things up whenever you want to. Choose the design that you think would blend with the living room in terms of color, texture, and material. When hung against a wall, no one will have an idea that an electrical panel is behind it. This is a smart choice, especially if you have children at home. Even though the electrical panel is out of reach, it would be best to secure that the children will have no access to it. 

2. Mirror

The living room is the go-to public zone at home where you just want to chill. At the same time, it is the place you go to before heading out. What better way of concealing the electrical panel than hanging a mirror against it that will serve as its door? Mirrors are used to make a statement considering its versatility in design. The frame can be customized according to the design style you are pursuing in the living room. No one will even notice that an electrical panel is beneath the mirror. Considering that mirrors create an illusion, regardless of the design of the living room, they will blend in. Its reflective powers make the room look spacious and help in distributing the natural lighting throughout. Covering the electrical eyesore with a mirror will cancel out the boring look of the panel. 

3. Photo Frame or Artwork

Common in living rooms is photo frames or artwork. They help in exhibiting the character and taste of the household. Instead of working with a variety of photo frames lined up on the shelf, why not create them into a collage instead and use a larger frame. Whether if it is an accent wall or supplementary wall, it can manage to hide the boring grey door of the electrical panel. No one would even notice that it is there. This is a semi-permanent solution considering that you can change the exhibited photo frame or artwork from time to time depending on how you want the living room to be viewed. All you need to do is install hinges on one side of the photo frame or artwork so you would not be required to take it down every time you need to access the electrical panel. It can be inconvenient if you prefer to have the painting or frame screwed on the door of the electrical panel and take them down. 

4. Pegboard

Most homeowners prefer a one-stop shop for all the items often used in the living room. A pegboard is a smart way of hiding the electrical panel. Not all living rooms are given a generous space for storage. The pegboard is a sustainable alternative considering that all you need is a cloth and hooks. It will make the items in the living room more organized and you would know where to look when something is missing. Whether it be for cleaning tools, cables, or even keys, everything will seem to be in place. Besides, it can be quite a challenge to maintain the organization of the living room, especially if you are living with a number of people. Pegboards can be easily taken down in cases where you want to change the use of the door of the electrical panel. Besides, pegboards in the different spaces of the house constitute different uses. 

5. Wall Accent 

If the electrical panel is awkwardly placed in the middle of the living room, take it as a challenge and design it as an accentuating wall. An accent wall is the focal point of every space. It is the first thing to see when you walk to a room because it draws more attention compared to all the other walls. The utility panel may seem off to be the center of attention but just like makeup, it can be concealed in a jiffy. The best way is to install a cement board painted with your preferred color or layered with wallpaper and line the edges of the electrical panel with strip lighting. This will induce a warm and cozy vibe considering that the lights come in different modes. Instead of a boring utility box, the sight to see is an accent wall made of cheap but stylish materials. Always consider resourceful alternatives to prevent spending too much for the sake of concealing the parts of the living room that you do not want to be seen. 

6. Wallpaper 

To blend in with the walls, wallpaper would be a smart idea. For fuse boxes that are attached to the wall, it can still work but we highly suggest the ones that are recessed to the wall. It will look like you are working on a flat surface. In order to access the electrical panel, cutting the sides is the best way to. Wallpapers are flexible concealers. They come in different designs and textures that will help in building the character of the living room. It is a non-permanent approach to hide the electrical panel. At the same time, it comes at an affordable price. When you feel like you are bored with the design, it can be easily taken down. To nail the flawless look of the wall, use darker colors for the wallpaper. Lighter shades tend to highlight the bumps and flaws of the wall even though it comes with patterns and designs. 

7. Stained Glass Panel 

At first thought, stained glass will make you think of the ambiance inside the church. Dramatic, cinematic, and serene are its usual characters. As much as it boosts the solemn ambiance inside the church, it can also work as a decoration for the living room. Its reflecting colors create a different vibe, especially when placed in the living room. This is an ideal piece for those who prefer a splash of colors dominating the space. Stained glass panels come in a customizable design, size, and shape which makes them a perfect concealer for the electrical panel. See to it that the design matches the design style of the living room to prevent the separation from the target aesthetic. 

8. Memo Board

Are you having difficulties remembering all the tasks at hand or the things you need from the grocery? A memo board will be helpful for you and the household. It can be a blackboard, whiteboard, or even a corkboard depending on what you seem fit. The door of the electric panel is the perfect size for a memo board. It is not that big but enough to read what is written on it. A memo board is often found within the vicinity of the kitchen but will also work for the living room to remind you of the pointers before heading out. It will not only be a memo board but can hold a few photographs too customizable depending on how you wanted it to look. Besides, it can be a bummer to forget the things you need to get from the grocery or accomplish during the day. A memo board will induce productivity and something to look forward to. It can be designed however you want it to be and it can easily blend with the look of the living room. 

9. Coat Rack

If the electrical panel is located near the front door to the living room, it would not be a great sight to see as you enter. An organizational trick that will help in concealing the utility box is by designating the space for a coat rack. Imagine the household going in and out. They need a place to temporarily hang their coat and scarf while inside. It can destruct the view to see the coats and scarves lying around the living room. A coat rack keeps the warmers in one place. Besides, the coats would be a great concealer to hide the utility box. 

10. Wall Organizer

We all have that one wall where we store the mail, hang the keys, and even pin the bills. It is somehow similar to a pegboard except that it consists of a variety of items that you need. Bills and mail tend to be misplaced when left lying around the tables. A storage to keep them all is an organizational hack to prevent the presence of clutter. Waking up to a living room with different items scattered is the common cause of lost items. There should be a place designated for them all. It can be a bummer to lose your car keys when you are running late or the bills when you are past the due.