Family Room re-do: decoupaged light switch cover

Things seem to have taken a turn for the worse in the painting department. Oy. After I wrote yesterday's post, I went out to have a look at how the paint had dried on my chair--not good. Brush marks and drips all over the place! In what was probably a rash decision, I decided to strip it and start all over using spray paint, but all that did was make a bigger mess. The flat surfaces aren't so bad but the grooved legs and round stretcher bars are giving me fits and now the chair is covered in sticky paint goo. I think I could remedy most of that with a good power washing, and as luck would have it we just purchased a brand-new power washer on Monday night. Problem is, it's still in the (big, heavy) box in our neighbor's garage two houses away, so before I can use it we have to get it over here, assembled and gassed up. I still love my little chair and I still believe it will be cute when this is all done, but I'm seriously ready for this DIY nightmare to be over!

So, after that ongoing DIY FAIL, let's have a little pick-me-up DIY success story. You remember the decoupaged letters I showed the other day?

On that same wall, there is a three-bay light switch cover that annoys me. I'm not even sure why there are three switches--I don't even know what one of them controls. One of them goes to the overhead light that we almost never use, and the other controls an outlet that is behind the couch and thereby wholly unsuited for a lamp. I've tried to hide the switch by propping a mirror on the table, but I want to do something different atop the table so the light switch is there, sticking out like a sore thumb on my aqua wall.

Once I saw Kimba's solution for a poorly-placed light switch, I knew what to do! I used some of the pale aqua houndstooth paper from the letter decoupage project and simply decoupaged it onto the light switch cover.

Now it blends right into the aqua wall! I can still see it, but it bugs me a whole lot less than if it were bright white. I do love that cute houndstooth paper--wish I remembered where I bought it so I could go pick up more!

If I knew this was a switch that was going to get a lot of daily use, I might have protected it further with a coat or two of spray sealant, but I don't have to worry about this one. And if I decide later I hate it, it's a quick trip to the hardware store and a few pennies to pick up a new, plain one.

Today while I wait for the power washer situation to improve, I think I'm ready to get started on painting the dresser. Wish me luck!