Reinstall Covers and Hardware
This is the moment your room finally looks finished. Reinstalling outlet covers, switch plates, vent registers, and other hardware is quick work, but doing it carefully makes the difference between a room that looks DIY and one that looks professionally painted.
Quick Summary
Time needed
20-30 minutes
Cost
Free (or $10-30 for upgrades)
Difficulty
Easy
The Final Touch That Matters
You've spent hours (maybe days) carefully painting your room. The last thing you want is to scratch fresh paint with a screwdriver or crack an outlet cover by rushing. This final step deserves the same care and attention as the rest of your project.
Common Mistake: Reinstalling covers immediately after painting. Fresh paint (even if dry to the touch) is still soft and easily damaged. Wait at least 24 hours, ideally 48-72 hours, before putting covers back on.
This is also a perfect time to upgrade dingy old covers to crisp new ones. At $1-3 per cover, it's a small investment that makes your fresh paint look even better.
When to Reinstall Covers
Recommended Timeline:
Minimum Wait
Paint is dry to the touch but still vulnerable to scratches and damage.
Recommended Wait
Paint has hardened enough to handle gentle contact. Ideal for reinstalling covers.
Full Cure
Paint has reached maximum hardness. Safest time, but usually not necessary to wait this long.
Pro Tip: Waiting longer gives you time to spot any imperfections around outlet boxes and touch them up before covering them. Once the cover is on, you won't notice these spots for months or years.
Step-by-Step Reinstallation
Step 1: Organize Your Hardware
If you followed best practices and bagged hardware by room/wall, this is easy. If everything is mixed together, sort covers and screws now. Standard outlets and switches look similar but aren't always interchangeable.
What You'll Reinstall:
- •Outlet covers (single, double, GFCI)
- •Light switch plates (single, double, triple)
- •Vent registers and return air grilles
- •Thermostat cover (if removed)
- •Cable/phone jack plates
- •Door hardware (hinges, stops, if removed)
Step 2: Touch Up Around Openings
Before covering up outlet boxes, inspect the paint around each opening. Look for thin spots, gaps, or areas where tape pulled paint. Touch these up with a small brush and let dry before reinstalling covers.
Important: Once the cover goes on, you won't see these imperfections again until you remove the cover years later. Fix them now while you have easy access.
Step 3: Clean Covers (or Replace Them)
Wipe down old covers with a damp cloth or all-purpose cleaner. Years of dust, grease, and grime build up on these. Clean covers look dramatically better against fresh paint.
Consider Upgrading:
New outlet covers cost $1-3 each. If your old ones are:
- • Yellowed or discolored
- • Cracked or chipped
- • Painted over (paint chips easily)
- • Dated almond/ivory color (vs modern white)
...spend $20-30 to replace them all. It makes your paint job look $1,000 better.
Step 4: Reinstall Carefully
Position each cover over its outlet or switch. Make sure it's oriented correctly (some have top/bottom). Insert screws by hand first, then gently tighten with a screwdriver.
Good Technique:
- • Hand-tighten screws first
- • Use gentle pressure
- • Stop when cover is snug
- • Check alignment before final tightening
Avoid These Mistakes:
- • Over-tightening (cracks plastic)
- • Cross-threading screws
- • Scraping screwdriver on wall
- • Forcing misaligned covers
Pro Tip: For the cleanest look, align all screws vertically (slot pointing up-down). This tiny detail shows you care about craftsmanship.
Step 5: Touch Up Screw Heads
This is an optional but impressive finishing touch. If screw heads look dirty, rusty, or just old against your fresh paint, dab a tiny bit of paint on them with a small brush. They'll disappear into the wall.
How to Touch Up Screws:
- 1.Wait until covers are fully installed
- 2.Use a very small brush (artist brush)
- 3.Dab (don't brush) paint onto screw head
- 4.Just cover the metal—don't fill the slot
- 5.Let dry completely (1 hour)
Step 6: Reinstall Vent Registers
Vacuum out vent openings first (they collect dust during painting). Wipe down vent covers, then screw back in place. Floor registers just drop back in—no tools needed.
Note: If paint got on vent covers during painting, gently scrape it off with a plastic scraper before reinstalling. Don't leave paint drips on registers—they look sloppy.
Smart Upgrade Options
Since you're already replacing covers, consider these inexpensive upgrades that add polish to your newly painted room.
Screwless Wall Plates ($3-8 each)
These covers snap over a base plate, hiding all screws for a seamless look. They're especially nice in formal rooms or on feature walls. Worth the upgrade in high-visibility areas.
Matching Trim Color Covers ($2-5 each)
If you painted trim a different color than walls, match your covers to trim color. This creates a cohesive, designed look. Some hardware stores can order specific colors.
Decorative Vent Registers ($15-40 each)
Cheap builder-grade registers look cheap against nice paint. Decorative metal registers in oil-rubbed bronze, brushed nickel, or white add a custom touch. Focus on highly visible floor and wall vents.
Outlet Covers That Match Wall Color ($3-8 each)
For a nearly invisible look, buy covers in your exact wall color. Many paint stores sell paintable covers you can spray with leftover paint, or they can special-order pre-colored covers. This high-end designer look costs very little.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Cover won't sit flush against wall
Paint buildup around the outlet box is preventing the cover from sitting flat. Carefully trim excess paint with a utility knife, then try again.
Screw holes are stripped or won't hold
Put a toothpick or matchstick in the stripped hole, break it off flush, then screw into it. The wood gives the screw something to grip. Or use slightly larger screws if you have them.
Paint chipped when removing old covers
Touch up chipped areas with a small brush before installing new covers. If chips are large, you may need to cut them out and fill with spackle, then repaint that section.
Cover doesn't match outlet configuration
You grabbed the wrong cover. Standard outlets and GFCI outlets look similar but use different covers. Rocker switches and toggle switches aren't interchangeable. Find the right cover or buy a new one that fits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should you wait before reinstalling outlet covers after painting?
Wait at least 24 hours for paint to dry to the touch, but ideally wait 48-72 hours before reinstalling covers. Fresh paint scratches and scuffs easily, especially around edges. If you reinstall too soon, the cover edges can drag through the paint or screws can chip it. For best results, wait until paint has fully cured—this also gives you time to spot and fix any imperfections around outlet boxes before covering them up.
Should I paint outlet covers and switch plates?
Generally no—replace them instead. Painted plastic covers look cheap and the paint chips off easily with normal use. New covers cost $1-3 each and instantly make your paint job look more professional. If you have special covers (metal, decorative, or expensive), you can spray paint them, but use proper plastic/metal primer and thin coats. Most people find it easier and better-looking to just buy new white or color-matched covers.
What color outlet covers should I use with painted walls?
For most walls, use white covers—they disappear on light walls and look clean on darker walls. For very dark walls (navy, charcoal, black), consider covers that match your trim color. Some pros use covers that exactly match the wall color for an invisible look, but this requires buying specific colors. Avoid ivory/almond covers with bright white trim—the mismatch looks dated. When in doubt, bright white covers with white screws work with 90% of paint colors.
Almost Ready to Enjoy!
Covers are back on, your room looks complete. But don't move furniture back against the walls just yet—fresh paint needs more time to cure.