How to Hide Kitchen Outlets

If you're renovating or building your kitchen, install narrow plug strips instead of standard wall outlets beneath your upper cabinets. The outlets will be readily accessible, and if you install cabinets with an extended decorative element on the front bottom edge, only you will know the whereabouts of the outlets.

Strategically place countertop accessories and appliances to hide kitchen outlets. If you're going to display your bright-red electric mixer as part of your kitchen decor, for example, let it do double duty and cover the outlet it requires.

If you're having a custom island built for your kitchen, have the builder place the outlet behind a small trap door with hidden hinges. Open it with a pull that matches the rest of the kitchen cabinet hardware.

Hide outlets and accessorize the kitchen walls at the same time. Paint or refinish an old wooden frame with an opening big enough to reveal the entire outlet. Cut a piece of wood to fit in the opening, and paint or finish it to complement or match the frame. Attach the small piece of wood to the inside bottom opening of the frame with small hinges, and attach a decorative pull to the front of your frame's new "door." Hang the frame on the wall so the opening surrounds the outlet when you open the small wooden door.

Hide kitchen outlets in plain sight. If the outlet is on a painted wall, for example, purchase a wooden outlet cover, and paint it the same color as the wall. Cover a wooden outlet cover with matching wallpaper to disguise it on a wallpapered surface.