Faceplates

How to choose faceplates for sockets

A faceplate is the part of a socket you see every day, so it sets the tone for the wall around it. Choosing one comes down to four questions: how many gangs you need, whether you want a screwless front, which finish suits the room and what the plate is made from. Most of what we stock on this page is made for sockets, so it is the place to start whether you are updating a single room or fitting out a whole building.

Which gang size of faceplate do you need?

The gang count is the number of positions on a plate. On a socket, a one gang faceplate carries a single outlet and a two gang plate carries two, side by side. We stock one, two, three and four gang faceplates, and many plates with five or more gangs, which group a longer run of positions behind one front.

Count the plugs you use at that spot today and allow one or two more for later, because an extra outlet is easier to plan in than an extension lead is to hide. Many of our faceplates suit a study, where a desk wall often needs room for a computer, a lamp and chargers, and many suit commercial spaces, where several positions on one plate keep a wall tidy.

Screwless faceplates or visible screws?

Many of our faceplates are screwless. On a screwless plate, the front usually clips over a base fixed to the back box, so no screw heads show and the face reads as one clean surface. That suits a modern scheme, and many of our plates have a modern look. Visible screws can suit a period home, where they add to the character. Some of our faceplates have a traditional style, a few lean industrial and a single design has a vintage feel.

Edge shape changes the look too. We stock flat plates, rounded-edge plates and square-edge plates, with many of each. A rounded edge softens the outline against the wall, while a square edge gives crisp lines that sit well beside modern joinery.

Which faceplate finish suits your room?

Many of our faceplates come in chrome, and many in black, brass, grey and white. Some have a nickel or bronze finish, and a few come in silver. Chrome and silver tones sit happily with cool colours and pair well with chrome door handles and light fittings. Brass and bronze bring warmth to a period hallway or a dark painted room, black looks sharp against pale walls, and white or grey plates blend into a wall painted a similar shade.

Whatever you choose, keep one finish for every plate in a room so the walls read as a set. If you are torn between a polished and a brushed look, polished metal catches the light but shows fingerprints sooner, which matters on a socket you use every day.

What are faceplates made from, and what size do you need?

Most of our faceplates are metal, and many are stainless steel, which is worth considering for a busy spot as it copes well with daily handling. Some are resin, a few are acrylic and a single plate is made from ABS plastic. If you choose metal, the plate must be properly earthed, and your electrician will check this when fitting it.

On size, most of our faceplates are small, many are medium or large, and a few are extra large. Size is key when you replace an old plate: if it has left a paint line or a gap in the wallpaper, choose one at least as large so the mark stays covered, and check the dimensions before you order.

Can you fit faceplates for sockets yourself?

Fitting a socket faceplate usually means disconnecting and reconnecting mains wiring, so we recommend a qualified electrician. Under Part P of the Building Regulations in England and Wales, a like-for-like swap of a socket is not usually notifiable, while adding a circuit is, and an electrician will know where your job falls. Whoever does the work, the power must be off at the consumer unit, not just at the socket, before the old plate comes off.

Check the depth of your back box before ordering, as a shallow box can leave too little room for the wiring behind the plate. A screwless front sits best on a box that is square and level with the wall, so mention it to your electrician if the old plate never sat flat.

What to check before you order faceplates

Run through a short list first: the gang count at each position, the size of the plates you are replacing, the depth of each back box, and one finish and plate style for the room. For a commercial fit-out or a whole house, list every position room by room and order the plates together, so nothing is missed and every room matches.