Aesthetics of sockets

kuang1

I'm curious about anybody's opinions on Black Nickel sockets and switches.
I'll be beginning a house build later in the year, and am currently trying to gather as many opinions on every aspect of this project as I can.
I bought a single socket (black nickel) from woodies (€13) yesterday and, as an experiment, have been plugging and unplugging a plug in it to see how the quality holds up. (I haven't installed the socket.)
It's not looking good. Seems to scuff pretty easily.
Is this true for Black nickel plugs and switches generally? Or have I just got a particularly poor quality one here?
The Brand is Telford I think.

I've also ordered this one from (of all places) aliexpress but could be 8 weeks before I get my hands on it:

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32829057006.html?pid=808_0000_0101&spm=a2g0n.search-amp.list.32829057006&

I love the look of the black for my switches and sockets, but totally pointless if they're going to scratch up quickly from normal use.

JimmyMW

kuang1 wrote: »

I'm curious about anybody's opinions on Black Nickel sockets and switches.
I'll be beginning a house build later in the year, and am currently trying to gather as many opinions on every aspect of this project as I can.
I bought a single socket (black nickel) from woodies (€13) yesterday and, as an experiment, have been plugging and unplugging a plug in it to see how the quality holds up. (I haven't installed the socket.)
It's not looking good. Seems to scuff pretty easily.
Is this true for Black nickel plugs and switches generally? Or have I just got a particularly poor quality one here?
The Brand is Telford I think.

I've also ordered this one from (of all places) aliexpress but could be 8 weeks before I get my hands on it:

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32829057006.html?pid=808_0000_0101&spm=a2g0n.search-amp.list.32829057006&

I love the look of the black for my switches and sockets, but totally pointless if they're going to scratch up quickly from normal use.

I am just finished a build myself and I had a very similar taught process. Then I read an piece by an American architect, his opinion is that a socket or switch is really only for function and that making a feature of them on walls is a mistake, in fact we should be trying to camouflage them as best we can. Therefore white is the best with the exception of above counter tops where you have splash backs or on stone/brick feature walls or really dark feature walls (navy is popular at the moment).

Additionally I was thinking more about this as the time went on and I realized that most of the plugs on the equipment I own are generally white anyway so the chrome or stainless socket became irrelevant. We went with this architects theory and we were delighted with the results and saved a significant amount too.

B-D-P--

I bought them for all downstairs switches and sockets from Click, one of the best brands, Returned them all.
Scuffed even in packaging, And checked they marked if i looked at them hard enough, Look good if you plan to bubble wrap them 23 hours of the day.

Would steer clear.
Went with Brushed steel and black plastic.

kuang1

B-D-P-- wrote: »

I bought them for all downstairs switches and sockets from Click, one of the best brands, Returned them all.
Scuffed even in packaging, And checked they marked if i looked at them hard enough, Look good if you plan to bubble wrap them 23 hours of the day.

Would steer clear.
Went with Brushed steel and black plastic.

Thanks v much for the info.
Where did you source the black plastic? Or do you know what brand they are? Cheers.

Lex Luthor

bought a load of sockets from CEF Electrical
They have a good range of brushed metal and nickel sockets with switches
They are extremely good quality and a good bit cheaper than likes of woodies, etc

I bought some of these switches over 20yrs ago in Germany when I was over there
Best switches ever
The quality is top notch and the ones I got have soft touch
https://www.busch-jaeger.de/en/

Not cheap so I only got a few that I would use the most like the hall and kitchen

MizMix

We went for plain white- paid a bit extra for ones with the screws hidden and a slightly nicer shape (although really they're much of a much!). Our house is very modern- lots of white walls with some charcoal for contrast. The white blends in- definitely nicer then making them a feature in my opinion. Likewise our led spots are white trim as opposed to chrome to blend better- didn't want them looking like ceiling acne. We went for chrome in the bathrooms but I wish we went with white everywhere.