Switches & Sockets by Finish

Choosing a finish for switches and sockets

Switches and sockets are handled daily and sit in plain sight, so their finish is noticed more than their size suggests. Start with the metalwork already in the room, such as door handles, light fittings and cabinet pulls. Then think about tone. Brass and antique brass bring warmth to cream, green and earthy schemes; chrome and brushed chrome suit white, grey and blue rooms; black stands out crisply on pale walls but fades into dark ones. Polished metal catches the light, while brushed and matt surfaces hide fingermarks better.

Brass and antique brass switches and sockets

Our brass light switches and brass sockets sections cover polished and brushed brass, and the antique brass switches and sockets section holds both in a darker tone. Polished brass is bright and reflective, at home beside period mouldings and panelled doors. Brushed brass softens the shine with a fine grain, which suits contemporary rooms with warm colours. Antique brass looks deliberately aged, a good choice in older houses where bright metal would jar. Brass tones vary, so compare finishes closely if you are matching existing fittings.

Chrome and brushed chrome sockets

For a cooler metal, our chrome sockets and brushed chrome sockets sections hold polished and brushed chrome. Polished chrome is mirror-like and bright, a natural partner for stainless steel appliances, white tiles and glass. Brushed chrome has a soft satin grain and a quieter look, a sensible choice for kitchens, utility rooms and busy hallways. Match the sheen as well as the colour: polished beside polished taps and fittings, brushed beside brushed.

Black light switches and sockets

Our black light switches and black sockets sections let you match switches and sockets in the darkest finish we stock. Matt black has a soft, low-sheen surface that suits modern rooms and pairs well with black window frames, door hardware and pendant lights. Black nickel is a smoky, gently reflective alternative that sits nicely with dark woods and brass accents. We also stock a few outdoor-rated sockets and switches, useful for a garden wall or patio.

Plate styles and inserts for switches and sockets

Once you have a finish, the plate style decides how the switch or socket meets the wall. Screwless plates clip a front cover over the fixings, leaving a clean face with no screw heads on show. Flat plates keep a slim, understated profile, rounded edge plates soften the outline, and square edge plates line up neatly with architraves and tiles. We stock screwless, flat plate, rounded edge and square edge designs, and it is worth settling on one style for the whole house.

The insert is the coloured inner face of the plate, where the socket holes and switches sit. We stock inserts in black, white, grey and chrome: black gives a sharp outline, white keeps a pale room light, grey is a quiet middle ground, and chrome reads as metal from edge to edge.

Switch and socket types in a matching finish

Most of what we stock here is single gang, for a switch or socket on its own. Double and larger multi-gang plates gather switches or sockets together, which keeps a busy wall tidy. Beyond light switches and sockets, we stock dimmers, toggle switches, sockets with USB-A and USB-C ports, cooker switches, shaver sockets, data sockets and modules for building a custom grid plate. We also stock a few fused spurs for appliances that are wired in rather than plugged in.

Choose double pole switching for appliances, since it breaks both live and neutral, and two-way switches for a light worked from either end of a hallway or staircase. Before replacing an old plate, compare the minimum back box depth in the specification with the box in your wall. We recommend a qualified electrician fits any switch or socket.