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DIY decorative electrical box cover

Looking for a DIY decorative electrical box cover? You will love this hack that I used to hang a picture frame on hinges over ours!

What can I say, I like pretty things. I like colors and patterns and happy pictures. I do not like ugly things messing up the vibe in my condo.

For example, the icky red fire alarms in every room- though very important for safety- were super ugly until I gave them a fresh coat of glossy white paint.

Our coats were also piling up in an unattractive way- but we were able to conceal them in a hidden cabinet.

The latest ugly-but-necessary element of the condo that I wanted to hide was the electric panel box.

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

It is huge and in the middle of a wall that you can directly see from the living room.

how to cover an electrical panel with a frame on hinges

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I considered painting the box, or perhaps using some sort of magnets to embrace it.

However, when we dug out my old poster frames for this kitchen art project, I got totally inspired.

I found this old frame (which previously held my partial shrine to my idol, Elle Woods) and behind the poster, there was an awesome collage matte.

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

Totally inspired, I started to fill it up.

I had lots of print laying around from the heart gallery wall and the pictures around the string art in the bedroom, so all I had to get printed was three 5″x7″s.

I used small pieces of clear tape to attach them to the frame.

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

Then came time to attach it to the wall. While we could have totally just hung it over the breaker, I wanted to make sure the box was very accessible in case of an emergency.

So, we came up with this simple but functional way to cover an electrical panel with a frame on hinges!

DIY decorative electrical box cover

Hanging a frame on hinges makes it super easy to access an electrical panel, while still covering it!

Supplies needed:

  • Frame large enough to cover panel
  • four small hinges note – you may need to replace half of the screws that come with the hinges with shorter ones if they are longer than your frame is deep.
  • Drill
  • Adhesive magnets (or magnets and glue)

How to install the frame on hinges:

STEP 1: Set up your frame

Add pictures or art and get it ready to go. I suggest taping art in place, since the frame will be swinging around it will be more likely to move.

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

STEP 2: Add hinges to frame

First, screw the hinges into the frame. Make sure they are facing the right way.

He replaced the included screws with shorter ones that we already had, so they didn’t poke thru the frame.

STEP 3: Attach to the wall

Then, just hold it up to the wall and screw the hinges in place. It’s easiest to have a second set of hands so someone can hold the frame while the other drills.

Sean did the top and bottom hinges first and then it was able to hold itself up.

I recommend having it open the same direction as your box.

Eek! How exciting! However, the hinge on the breaker was just thick enough that it kept pushing the frame off the wall on the right side.

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

STEP 4: Add Magnets

So, we secured it using small magnets.

We just used command strips to attach the magnets to the frame and to the wall.

If you are anti-magnet (I understand that children can eat them and destroy their insides… Y-I-K-E-S) you could also get strips of velcro.

I liked magnets because they give about an extra inch of depth to make up for that hinge.

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

Now it holds close to the wall perfectly!

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

You can see the hinges on the side, but I don’t mind- I want to brag about it!

Lowes also sold black hinges but they were sold out in this size the day I went.

If you get any scratches on the wall installing the hinges, try a magic eraser (I get the big packs at the dollar store). Works like a charm!

Hang a Frame on Hinges to Conceal an Electric Box - Charleston Crafted

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MADELINE l NEWTON

Wednesday 25th of November 2020

great idea ...never ever thought of putting up a picture to hide the ugly thing ...thank you ...now to try and get husband to do with me ...thank you very much...

Margie

Wednesday 11th of November 2020

Love your idea! We put up an eraser board and used it to write quick notes or write emergency numbers. It was in our kitchen. Thanks for your idea.

LL

Monday 31st of August 2020

Hello, Was the frame you used made of plastic or wood?

Morgan

Monday 31st of August 2020

Plastic!

10 Inspiring Ways on How to Conceal An Electrical Panel - Everyday Old House

Saturday 20th of June 2020

[…] and Sean, the creators behind Charleston Crafted, solved their problem of an ugly electric panel box readily viewable from their living […]

Nell

Thursday 14th of May 2020

How do you get it to sit flush with the wall? Our utility box is not flush with the wall so putting a picture over it will have it bump out a little

Sean

Thursday 14th of May 2020

Hmm our box was only about 1mm off the wall so it sat flush. Maybe you could add small wood slats to the back? How thick is it?

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