Our home builder placed the circuit breaker box for the house just inside the pantry door.  Functionally it’s fine but since I’m in and out of the pantry numerous times a day I see the big, ugly, grey wall cover  as often as I see any family member’s smiling face.  “What’s wrong with this picture?’,  I thought one day as my eyes darted to the cover.  Hmmmmm, PICTURE, that’s the answer!

I decided a little camouflage was in order.  I ruled out hanging framed art over the box cover, however, because in an emergency we’d need quick and easy access to the breaker box.  A heavy, glass covered, framed, piece of art didn’t fit the bill.  Instead my husband and I crafted a light weight, non-breakable, inexpensive piece of art to hide the cover while livening up the pantry.

Here’s our solution:

First we painted the circuit breaker box’s grey door the wall color.

Be careful not to paint the circuit breaker door shut!

We purchased a large wall decal and a piece of foam core sized to fit the decal and cover the circuit breaker door.

This charming chef wall decal was purchased at World Market.

The circuit breaker door is not flat to the wall, it rises in the middle.  To prevent the door from creating a bulge in the foam core and to provide an easy place to grip and remove the foam core from the wall when needed, my husband created a raised surround from wood strips.   The loopy side of self-adhesive Velcro was applied to the surface of the wood pieces.  The fuzzy side of the self-adhesive Velcro was applied to the back of the foam core.

Strips of wood cut to fit the foam core frame the breaker box door.

The loopy side of self-adhesive Velcro was applied to the wood frame.

After readying the wall we turned our attention to creating the art.

A border line was marked around the edge of the foam core board and black masking tape applied as a highlight.

We carefully peeled the decal from its package and placed it on the foam core.  Due its size, both my husband and I had to peel and place  the decal – so there are no photos of its application to the foam core. 

There's little risk of tearing the decal but the application instructions warn it can be stretched out of shape. Take your time removing it from its backing and then applying it.

We placed the decal so the pasta bowl overlaps one border and the chef’s shoe overlaps the opposite border.

A bit of visual interest was added by placing the decal so the pasta overlaps the border on one side while the chef's shoe overlaps the other side.

The breaker box door is now fully camoflauged by the foam core and the art piece comes off the wall quickly and easily when access to the breakers is needed.  It takes just seconds to rehang the art thanks to the Velcro.

No more ugly, grey, circuit breaker door in sight!

He's much better looking and more fun than the grey cover!

Now instead seeing an ugly grey spot on the wall everytime I enter the panty, I’m greeted by a pleasing pasta chef.  None of the functionality or the safety of the circuit breaker box has been compromised – it’s just been dressed up! (Psst – I’m adding this project to Funky Junk’s weekend DIY party so wander over there and check out all the great ideas!)

What Are You Hiding?

What little camouflage trick have you used in your home to create a more pleasing visual?  Leave a comment below or email us at solutions@yourdecoratinghotline.com.  We’d like to hear what you’ve been cooking up at your place!