The shield is a mandatory element in the home. It has an unattractive appearance and often interferes with the implementation of the desired design. Therefore, you should figure out how to hide the shield in the hallway. There are many ideas and ways to organically disguise an unwanted detail in a room. It can be turned into a highlight, an addition to the overall style.
A camouflaged shield in the hallway.
Types of electrical panels
As a rule, no household appliance is a work of art. Well, and even more so an ordinary electrical distribution board with a built-in meter for taking readings. And according to the law, this device must be in every house or apartment.
Lucky are those who, according to the project, have the meter installed in a common corridor. But most often the switchboard is mounted in the hallway, right next to the entrance. And it immediately becomes clear that such a device does not add beauty to the room. On the contrary, its appearance can spoil any interior, not to mention the most sophisticated ones.
Since dismantling the device is strictly prohibited, there is only one thing left. Hide it from sight. But the meter is available in two types - built-in and overhead. Therefore, everyone needs their own approach.
Manufacturers have already begun producing surface-mounted electrical distribution panels enclosed in a wooden casing. There is no longer any need to hide such a design, and it acts as an attachment to the furniture in the hallway. But it should be said that such models are produced for an amateur and they are not suitable for everyone.
Common Mistakes
It should be remembered that the idea must first of all fit into the overall appearance of the room. Most of all, this concerns the disguise of overhead counter structures. It happens that after the implementation of a project it has to be dismantled over time, because it either disturbs others or simply does not fit the situation.
Shield masking Source Astek-meb.com
Common mistakes when using cabinets:
- Lacks practicality. The construction was made only to cover the counter. And the bulky structure serves as a banal screen. Or, on the contrary, shelves with various items do not allow you to normally take readings from the meter. You can even be fined for this.
- Exceeding dimensions. Some manage to build a structure that interferes with traffic. No matter how beautiful the structure looks, if it is constantly clinging to or being beaten, it is necessary to reduce its size.
- Poor quality. Saving on materials will result in the interior being hopelessly damaged. In addition, the built locker is constantly used. They take items from it and put them back. Take meter readings. Regular actions using low-quality materials will quickly lead to structural failure.
Masking built-in
The easiest way to hide a structure from view is one that requires a niche in the wall. During installation, the device goes deep into the partition and no parts protrude outside. Therefore, such a counter just needs to be covered with something. Any owner is free to come up with his own version, but two methods are most common.
Mirror
Typically, a reliable mount is used that allows the frame to be tilted to one side, like a pendulum. But you can attach the structure to the wall using hinges. Then the frame will serve as an improvised door to the shield. And for the lock you can use a magnetic latch.
The second method involves using a small mirror. It is built into the standard sash for the shield, which is equipped with such niches. Additionally, you will have to decorate the structure so that it does not stand out too much from the general background.
Painting
No one will guess that a banal household appliance is hidden behind the work of art. Moreover, a large photograph or any poster can act as a painting. Down to the original stained glass window, consisting of three parts. And under any of them you can hide a crude sensor.
The craftsmen thought of using a specific fastening, borrowed from furniture structures. If you place special runners on the wall for drawers of furniture walls, then the reproduction will simply slide to the side at the right time. And after taking readings, it’s easy to return to your place.
Door trim
You need to make an extension of the cabinet or wall and cover the panel with wallpaper. The method is easy and accessible. If the equipment will not stand out too much on the wall, then wallpaper will help hide its visibility. You won’t be able to hide it completely, but the detail will not be so conspicuous.
Camouflaged shield.
If you are a creative person and good at drawing, you can paint the equipment. It will turn out original and fresh. You can paint over the detail to match the overall design or draw something or make a pattern. Decide on the most suitable drawing technique and attractive design. After preparing the necessary materials, you can begin to work.
The shield is covered with wallpaper.
DIY camouflaged shield.
How to disguise an electrical panel in the hallway
If in your apartment the electrical panel is not located in the entrance, but in the house - on the outer wall, then this important part of the entire housing power supply system inevitably ends up in the hallway. And often spoils the entire interior with its unsightly appearance. The RNMT website shows how you can hide your electrical panel.
Let us remind you that electrical distribution panels can be of two types - built into the wall and overhead, significantly protruding from the wall. The portal Rmnt.ru wrote in detail about the choice of the ShchRN distribution board. Of course, hiding a built-in electrical panel is much easier. In addition, now manufacturers have begun to offer cases for them, for example, made to look like natural wood. So it is quite possible to choose a fairly attractive option that does not need to be disguised.
The built-in electrical panel with a meter can also be covered with a mirror, photograph or painting, or hidden behind a sliding stained glass window.
Important! In any case, you need to leave access to the electrical panel in the hallway. You cannot wall it up in the wall or cover it with wallpaper, or cover it with panels along with the entire wall. If there is a meter, then you will definitely have to use it at least once a month. And you also need access to the panel itself with its switches, you never know what will happen. In addition, energy supply companies have their own requirements for electrical panels and their location.
If the electrical panel is overhead, it is more difficult to hide it. You can build it into furniture, or make a separate box in the hallway specifically for electrical equipment. A good choice would be a key holder, a useful household item that you can make with your own hands and add to any decor. But in the case of an overhead electrical panel, the key holder must be in the form of a box with an opening door to allow access to the contents.
The easiest way is to cover the plastic or metal body of the overhead electrical panel with wallpaper or paint it to give it a more interesting look or disguise it as wall decoration.
Important! You cannot attach anything heavy directly to the body of the overhead electrical panel, if it is made of plastic. And it’s not worth it on a built-in door either.
We admit that some experts are generally against owners hiding the electrical panel in their hallway. This is argued by the fact that even behind a cabinet door or key holder, access to switches is already limited. In addition, if the shield is located in a closet, it comes into contact with things and may become dusty. It's up to you to decide, because sometimes the desire to disguise an unsightly object in your hallway is very great.
Furniture
The material used to create the furniture will help to harmoniously close the counter in the hallway. For example, veneer, wood or laminate will be combined with furniture and will be perceived as a full-fledged part of the interior of the room. The furniture itself can help with this problem. If the room has an open shelving unit that is the right size for the electrical panel, then it can be placed inside and covered with a stack of books or an accessory.
If the room has a wardrobe, then during renovation you can make a hole for it. This is a common option for hiding the counter; it will not interfere, and it is easy to access: just open the cabinet door.
Is it necessary to hide the shield?
Whether to mask the shield is a matter of your taste and requirements for your own interior. Modern devices have a laconic appearance and are made of matte and translucent plastic. Such a block will look organically in high-tech, modern, and loft styles. Of course, you will need to choose the design according to the color scheme, but the concept of such designs allows you not to hide communications.
How to decorate a backsplash in a hallway in an interior with classic, country, Provence, and Scandi styles is a difficult question. Much depends on the type of installation of the device. There are two installation options:
What to consider when applying
How to hide a shield in the hallway and is it possible to do this from a safety point of view? It is necessary to follow several rules that will facilitate further operation of the device.
- Practicality. Don't forget that access to a module is sometimes required in an emergency; take this into account when thinking through the design. For this reason, it is not recommended to mask the device with closed cabinet-type cabinets. In such cases, you have to cut a hole in the back wall, which, on the one hand, spoils the furniture, and on the other, makes access to the panel inconvenient due to the depth of the cabinet and the things in it. Another impractical idea is to cover the device with finishing materials, in particular wallpaper. When access is required, the covering will have to be cut. When thinking about how to disguise a shield in the hallway, take into account its size and offset relative to the horizontal plane. Please note that additional decor will make the box even larger. Correlate the finished object with the size of your hallway, keep in mind that it should be comfortable for you to move in it without touching the structure every time. Safety. When choosing an option, keep in mind that the shield must be well ventilated to prevent the contacts from melting if it overheats.
Top 9 simplest ideas for masking a face shield
Let's look at the most popular ideas on how to close the shield in the hallway while maintaining its attractive appearance.
- Hide behind a painting or photograph. The simplest and most common solution. The frame with the work of art can be attached directly to the hinged or sliding door of the module. This option is especially good if your shield is located at eye level or lower.
- An original poster is another way to decorate a backsplash in a hallway. Modern printing offers posters on any topic; the picture can be printed on textured paper or canvas. This design will look modern, stylish and expensive at the same time.
- A mirror is a common way to hide an unsuccessfully placed structure. This solution expands the functionality of the hallway and makes it visually more spacious. You can add LED lighting along the perimeter of the box, then due to the protrusion from the wall, the mirror canvas will look especially impressive. Fitting the device into an open shelving is a good answer to the question of how to close the shield in the hallway: you can choose the design of the furniture, adhering to the general style. The shelving's natural openings and narrow width make it easier to access the unit. The shelves will have to be made to order so that their location matches the position of the shield. The device itself can be hidden behind a stack of books and souvenirs. False façade. If there is a furniture set in the hallway, you can additionally order a fake cabinet made of the same material. It can repeat the proportions of the main furniture, have the same fittings and look like a laconic continuation of the ensemble. The information panel is another answer to the question of how to hide an electrical panel in the hallway; the photo will help in implementing the decor. The basis of the design can also be a decorative door for furniture. A cork cloth, a marker board or a magnetic field is placed on top of it. The resulting space can be used to exchange messages between family members, place notes, memorable magnets and other cute little things here. Tiles or mosaics are a bright design solution that allows you to close the backsplash in the hallway. To implement this idea, the module door must be built according to the principle of a technical hatch in a bathroom. It will be flush with the wall and open when pressed. The outside of such a door can be decorated with mosaics or tiles. This design will turn an inconvenient design into a highlight of your interior. Illuminated stained glass will make the flaw an expressive decoration of the hallway. The front cabinet for the shield is decorated with multi-colored stained glass. By adding LED lighting inside, you will get an interesting and unique design for the room. Designers recommend duplicating the structure in similar dimensions or design and placing it in the hallway, creating a composition. Housekeeper. Are you deciding how to close the shield in the hallway? A key cabinet is an effective way to combine practicality and aesthetics. A huge selection of really interesting solutions allows you to choose an option to suit different styles. Products are made of wood, metal, glass, and are additionally decorated with fabric and fittings. You get storage space for keys and at the same time an attractive façade for an unaesthetic device.
