1. Home
  2. Blog
  3. Buying Guides
  4. Light switches & sockets for your period home

Light switches & sockets for your period home

  26/04/2016 at 10:47 am
Electricity may not have originally been supplied to your period home, but it is still important to choose quality switches and sockets that are sympathetic to the era of your property to finish your restoration project beautifully.
 
 
CHOOSING THE STYLE
Styles of switches and sockets
In a Victorian property, choose switches and sockets that have a flat backplate with a slim profile as this reflects the simplistic styling of the time.  In an Edwardian property, opt for a double stepped plate which reflects the slightly more sophisticated tastes of the era.  If its Georgian style you need, rope-edged plates are a  good choice as this design may be reflected in other hardware in the home such as door handles and letter plates. Early twentieth century properties may also benefit from choosing round dome dolly light switches and bakelite switches rather than rocker switches as these were popular in their time.
 

CHOOSING THE FINISH

Finishes for switches and sockets

Solid brass plates will suit living and reception rooms from all eras. If you opt for unlaquered polished brass then over time it develops a beautiful golden brown patina that reflects its age (unless you polish it). If you can't wait for that to happen then we can hand age items in our workshop so they look like they have been in situ for decades. For a rustic property or cottage, opting for hand forged, solid pewter or black ironwork is a good choice as these reflect the rustic look.

Rustic electrical plates

PLANNING

Always take time to plan in advance how you are going to use the space and therefore how many switches and sockets you need. Its a good idea to over estimate how many sockets you need as more electrical devices may be in your home in the future. Two or three way switching may be required for lighting areas with more than one entry/exit point such as hallways, stairs and landings.

We recommend that you use 35mm back boxes to allow sufficient room for the wiring behind the plates. If you are planning to use a dimmer switch with lighting that uses LED bulbs then you will need a 400 watt module that is compatible.

You’ll find a full range of sockets and light switches including dimmer switches, light pulls, cooker sockets, TV outlets and isolator switches at Broughtons.
We also offer a customized service to meet your exact switching/dimming configurations with the added reassurance that the accessories meet every electrical standard requirement and are British made. Please contact us with your specifications and we will be delighted to provide a solution.  

By Broughtons