Living in a compact studio apartment, I consider even the smallest gains in my living space to be huge gains. A single inch can make or break the difference between a piece of furniture and giving me the space I need to open my closet door. And as grateful as I am for every electrical outlet in an apartment built in the 1920s, I’ve also experienced the frustration of losing a few precious inches of living space because I can’t push furniture up to a wall near an outlet that’s in use.
How to Fix a Recessed Outlet | Why the Easy Way is Illegal
Meanwhile, someone in another tax bracket is trying to mount their flat-screen TV to the wall to disguise it as a framed work of art. Obviously, exposed cords aren’t an option, but even if there’s a perfectly placed outlet, there’s still going to be a small gap between the TV and the wall to fit the plug in. In this case—and mine, if my lease allowed it—recessed outlets might be the answer. Here’s what you need to know.
Unlike traditional wall outlets, flush-mounted outlets have a plate that is set deeper into the wall (or floor) so that the plugs don’t stick out and waste space when in use. As I mentioned earlier, flush-mounted outlets allow you to place furniture, appliances, and wall-mounted flat-screen TVs flush against a wall with an outlet, even while there are items plugged into the outlet. Not only does this save space, but it also eliminates the awkward gap between a piece of furniture and the wall where household items like keys, remote controls, and pens all disappear.
If you've never seen flush-mounted sockets before, here are some examples of the different options available:
