Konstantina

How to get creative with your kitchen power sockets

Posted on 20th October 2025

Whether popping out of a kitchen worktop, ‘dressed up’ to blend in with your wall, or painted in a bold colour, sockets have become proper design features…

A year ago, before I started working at the magazine, I wouldn’t have believed you could get creative with something as little as a socket – I thought it was one of those things that’s simply there for function. Well, recent home projects I’ve come across here at KBB have convinced me that sockets don’t have to be dull, white boxes.

Wood kitchen design with statement marble surfaces and a central island with white power sockets. — Project by The Vawdrey House. Photography: Malcolm Menzies.

In fact, they can be painted to blend in with your scheme, stand proudly in a shiny finish on your splashback, hide cleverly beneath your worktop, or even rise and fall from your island at the push of a button. Clearly, today’s options are anything but mundane. As Lucy Pascall, co-founder of Pushka Home, tells me, “We design sockets to be more than functional; they are an opportunity to add thoughtful design touches to complement and elevate your interiors.”

So, how would you go about jazzing up the sockets in your kitchen to either show them off or make them seamlessly fit in your scheme? Here are a few tips and ideas to spark your imagination.

A rustic kitchen with textures walls, wood worktops, nickel power sockets and a wood shelf. — Oxford vintage wall light, £58.80, The Soho Lighting Company.

Black and gold power socket on a veiny splashback. — 2G UK plug socket (13A) in Black and Gold, £50, Pushka Home.

Luxurious finishes

To pick a design, start by considering your kitchen’s style. Is it minimalist, contemporary, or period? And would you like your sockets to match or contrast the finishes around the room? Do you wish them to stand out or blend in? Then, you could swap the classic white socket for a metallic one to make a statement. “A gold or silver finish beautifully complements the metallic elements of a kitchen,” says Lucy.

However, it needs to pair well with the other fixtures and materials in your room. “For example, brushed brass or antique steel sockets can echo handle finishes or appliance trims, creating a cohesive and considered look,” explains Cassie Jones, brand manager at Masterclass Kitchens.

A modern scheme with handleless furniture, a wet zone with an inset sink and chrome tap and wall-mounted storage. — Kitchen design by Kitchen Architecture, featuring sockets by Bora. Kitchens are priced from £50,000.

Hardware should feel intentional, adds Plank Hardware’s creative director, Tom Revill. “If you’re using aged brass cabinet handles, an antique brass socket will add a sense of harmony.”

Brass will also work well with natural wood, and if you’re after something a touch more ‘brooding’, bronze is your friend, suggests Jo Plant, chief creative officer at Pooky: “It’s perfect for older homes with vintage flair, adding character without shouting about it.” Equally, a timeless yet bold, black socket, or an industrial metal one, can become a real feature in a contemporary or industrial-style kitchen.

A pink wall with a pink power solution with white detailing. — Miami Pink double socket, £42, Dowsing & Reynolds.

Fun palette

Feeling indecisive? How about opting for some paintable sockets and either paint them in the same shade as your wall to have them blend in, or give them a contrasting splash of colour to make them pop.

“Whether your walls are soft neutrals or bold shades, painting your sockets in the same tone can help maintain visual flow and cohesion in the room,” says Tom. Look out for brands that offer the option of paintable sockets, or you can go for an already painted, colourful choice, to add a playful touch without the hassle.

Paintable kitchen sockets. — 1G PARKER paintable sockets, from £24.95, Plank.

Blending in

For a seamless effect, a screwless option, which clips into place once the backplate has been screwed into place, is your best bet. And, to turn them completely invisible, a clear option such as Pooky’s perspex socket is perfect for letting your wall paint or wallpaper shine through.

If neutrals are more your style, opt for cream rather than crisp white. “But instead of putting the socket on the inside or outside of your panelling, leave a gap in the beading for it, so it looks like it’s part of your décor,” suggests Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds.

Wall drenched in wallpaper with a matching power socket. — Lucian perspex single socket with USB, £45, Pooky.

Cassie also advises considering sightlines from seated areas so that your sockets don’t feel visually disruptive. Where possible, tuck them away near furniture, but if you choose to place them above a worktop, Paul Brivati, managing director at Kitchen Architecture, recommends positioning them 15cm above the surface: “This allows enough clearance for plugs and cables without strain.”

A classic scheme with neutral paint and cabinetry, built-in banquettes, marble surfaces and green painted windows. — Double sockets in Antique Brass Black, £34.80, Corston Architectural Detail.

Alternatively, hide them inside a breakfast cupboard, or drawers, to keep small appliances charged and make daily rituals easier without cluttering the worktops. A bespoke charging drawer lets you customise it to your needs and includes multiple plug points and USB sockets – just remember to place it close to where you’ll be charging your phone and other devices.

“Ultimately, it’s about supporting how you live and move through the space; whether making your morning coffee or preparing dinner,” notes Paul.

A drawer with wood interiors and built-in power plugs. — The Kavanagh collection in Nightshade, from £25,000, Tom Howley.

A historic home with a classic kitchen, a freestanding wood island topped with marble surfaces and stone flooring. — Kitchen by Artichoke in a historic family house. Price on application. Photography: Christopher Horwood.

Sockets on islands

Finally, placing sockets on a kitchen island (either centrally or on the sides) can be both stylish and functional. “They could help to create different zones in your kitchen,” says Sebastian Aronowitz, founder of The London Kitchen Company.

“Perhaps the island is geared up for any baking, with plenty of space and sockets for a big mixer, while worktops are utilised for food preparation,” he adds. “Family members could also use them to plug in their laptops and work or study.” Again, you’ll need to carefully consider their placement, so you’re not left with trailing wires, as well as ensuring they’re a safe distance away from an island sink.

A fluted island with power plugs. — Bespoke kitchen by Kitchens by Holloways, priced on application.

For that wow factor, pop-up or flip sockets will sit flush with the worktop when not in use, and usually include USB and standard, 13 amp sockets. “They offer a place to plug in small appliances without relying on extension cords,” says Josie Medved, design manager at Symphony Group.

A kitchen island with marble surfaces and a pop-up socket. — S-BOX Chameleon, two sockets and USB-C, £370.50.

A modern kitchen with white surfaces, a chrome sink and tap, and a pop-up power plug. — Freedom by Symphony Urban in Charcoal, with pop-up socket priced from £768.

Sockets are often described as the jewellery of any interior, Lee Lovett, co-founder and creative director of The Soho Lighting Company, tells me. “But I believe they are so much more than this,” she continues. “We engage more with sockets than any other design feature within an interior.”

It’s true. There’s a good chance you’re charging your phone while reading this very piece. So, shouldn’t you treat your sockets like the little stars that they are?