Oppopinion needed

"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario) 12/13/2019 at 11:35 • Filed to: houselopnik

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We are redoing our master bath and I wired all the outlets with rocker switches since I like those better than toggle switches.

My wife thinks they all need to be toggle switches to match the rest of the house. I say it’s fine as long as each room is consistent.

So oppo, is it bad design to have different switch styles throughout the house? Or is it okay as long as each room is consistent?

Edit: The space crab has spoken, it’s been decided. I am a moron and my opinion is wrong.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:46

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I think it is fine to mix as long as the room is consistent buuuuuuuuuuut... the issue with toggle switches, imo from having them in my bedroom for many years, is they’re not very “swipe” friendly. As in “fumbling around in the dark, don’t know exactly where the light switch is but I have a pretty good idea so I’ll just run my hand up the wall and that’ll turn on the lights” friendly. They’re more satisfying to switch, for sure, but harder to find in the dark.

Textured Soy Protein > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:46

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The obvious solution is to replace all the toggle switches in the house with vastly superior rocker switches.

functionoverfashion > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:46

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1. I like the idea of the little light under it, for some rooms in the house that would be brilliant.

2. It would drive me crazy having different switch styles by room, HOWEVER:

3. I have toggles everywhere in the house (it came that way) EXCEPT in the basement stairway, I have the rocker type with a backlight so you can more easily turn on/off the lights with an arm full of stuff, e.g. laundry, trash, etc. - which 75% of the time we use that stairway. 

Jim Spanfeller > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:47

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It’s okay to have different styles as long as you’re consistently inconsistent. I recommend you invest in a multitude of different styles of light switches, with a different type for each room.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:48

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Since no one goes in that master bath but y’all, it’s definitely fine.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo 12/13/2019 at 11:48

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Sometimes, the old ways are best.

VincentMalamute-Kim > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 12/13/2019 at 11:50

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It’s fine for now but you r project over the next ten years is to replace all the switches in the house to match.

Jesus Arias > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:52

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For a moment I thought you said master bedroom because for the bedroom dimmer switches is definitely best. But for bathroom? I feel like rocker switch is a better choice because as you said it’s fine if it’s mixed as long as each room is consistent.  

Montalvo > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:52

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I’d say use whatever you want to . I am not a fan of rocker switches though as  I found they are not as robust as their toggle counterparts.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:53

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I vote for switches held on with the power of suggestion and with the potential for electrocution

My house is awesome

Shift24 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:54

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“Wrong" confuse everyone with smart switches

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Textured Soy Protein 12/13/2019 at 11:55

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Agreed, replace toggles with rockers at all costs. Consistency is secondary 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 12/13/2019 at 11:55

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But it’s an upgrade from touching two exposed wires together so it’s all about perspective right? 

ttyymmnn > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:58

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Related but unrelated, we recently remodeled our small bathroom. I had a light fixture sitting in the house for years that was brushed chrome. The brushed chrome bath fixtures were much more expensive than the shiny chrome ones. The designer who helped us with flooring and paint said that it was absolutely acceptable to mix the two. Nobody would notice anyway. She was right.

Unless you are OCD, I don’t think it matters one bit if the switch styles are mixed . But I’m with Akio Ohtori when it comes to the usability of the old fashioned toggles. I’ve never been a fan of rockers.

For Sweden > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 11:58

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You should only obsess over matching switches if you are Doug DeMuro

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) 12/13/2019 at 11:59

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it works and hasnt killed me yet so i like it

my fusebox self immolated tho....that wasnt great... i have a safe modern one now

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:00

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I’m sorry that I agree with your wife, but... I agree with your wife.

M.T. Blake > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:05

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No one will notice except you when you can’t figure out how to turn it on for your 3am number one. 

Stapleface-Now Hyphenated! > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:07

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I prefer rocker switches.

But that being said, I don’t think they look right in an older house.  And, if you have toggle switches, you can find some really nifty lightswitch covers at antique stores or flea markets.  But again, it really only works in an older house, I think. 

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Textured Soy Protein 12/13/2019 at 12:14

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That will probably happen eventually, but I don’t feel like buying new switches and plates for the entire house at the moment.

Long_Voyager94 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:15

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Nothing wrong with a mix as long as it’s consistent between rooms.

We even made a point to keep the original push button switches in our stairway just for the cool factor!

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 12/13/2019 at 12:16

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Fair enough...that’s why I’m asking though, I’m definitely not an interior designer

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > M.T. Blake 12/13/2019 at 12:17

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I am surprised for the amount of disdain here for rocker switches...never have I had an issue finding or using one of them.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Montalvo 12/13/2019 at 12:18

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Hmm...I hadn’t heard that they aren’t as robust before. 

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:20

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I vote for rockers wherever possible. But the style doesn’t matter (except where they’re all hanged together under one plate) as much as the color. My folks are doing some remodeling, and one thing they want to do is get rid of all of the beige switches for white. Even in the same room I don’t think anyone would notice two different switch types , but they will certainly notice two different switch colors .

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Shift24 12/13/2019 at 12:22

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I don’t want to confuse myself too, that l ooks expensive and complicated...hard pass

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Long_Voyager94 12/13/2019 at 12:23

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That is a cool switch

Snuze: Needs another Swede > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:23

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I think if you confine it to one room, especially a room that only you’ll see, it’s not a problem. What would be weird is if you mixed it up all over the house - rockers in some rooms and toggles in the other, or rockers and toggles in the same room. In fact they make combo plates so you can do just that...

M.T. Blake > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:28

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I don’t have a problem with either. The problem will be if you switch and can’t remember. It’s muscle memory. I had the horizontal rockers in two bathrooms. One we’re on away from the door and the other was towards the door. Drove me nuts for months until muscle memory kicked in. 

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:30

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I feel like a different style is okay as long as the room is consistent. But I’ve never been accused of having a superior interior design aesthetic, so take that for what it is worth.

That said, I’m a big proponent of having a dimmable light in every bathroom that might get use in the middle of the night. Being able to dim the light prior to turning it on helps me avoid painful light adjustment and means less light for others still trying to sleep.

Montalvo > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:30

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It is  just from personal experience . Nothing inherently wrong with them they just can get beat up more easily that a toggle. I had a few switches become "unseated" after years of use.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > M.T. Blake 12/13/2019 at 12:31

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Ah, gotcha. This remodel is a complete gut job and new layout (i.e. wall relocations , new light locations, new switch locations) so muscle memory is going to have to be relearned no matter what.

Jewish Stig > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:31

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I never understood toggle switches.

It feels like a elementary school science project.

And frankly, I’ve never seen one outside the US.

Rocker all the way! 

Long_Voyager94 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:43

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Not ours obviously, but almost identical.

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:48

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Rocker switches are far superior.  Redo the rest of the house.  It’s not difficult or expensive.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:48

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Nor am I. Kind of. I used the “room by room” theory in previous home, but didn’t care for it. Basesboards, switches, crowns, knobs, should be as consistent as possible. When I work in homes that are radically different room to room, it just makes to want it SMASH IT WITH A HAMMAH

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:48

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The answer here is – your wife is always right. You should know this by now.

But seriously – the answer is it doesn’t matter. It’s one of those things you may both have an opinion on and go back and forth on forever, but 2 months after you’ve made your decision it will fade in to distant memory and have zero impact on either of your lives. Just pick one and don’t give it any more thought.

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:49

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“I am surprised for the amount of disdain here for rocker switches...never have I had an issue finding or using one of them.”

I am surprised as well.  They’re all heathens who are so so wrong.  

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:50

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Dude, it’s like 30 more dollars. Maybe $ 50.  

Future next gen S2000 owner > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 12:56

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Mine are all over the place. Literally and fi guratively. I have toggles next to a touch pad type for an LED dimming on the opposite is a toggle with a slider just around the corner is a two switch plate with a rotary knob and a toggle, and I believe a rocker at the top of the stairs.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > shop-teacher 12/13/2019 at 13:01

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It’s probably around $100, plates alone are around $70. I know it’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but I also know my wife will say it’s money we don’t need to spend.

Textured Soy Protein > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 13:06

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Well yeah, I was just goofing but eventually  would be good.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 13:07

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If your wife doesn’t like it, let her change them out

Chariotoflove > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 13:24

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I prefer rocker switches. Easily swipable while passing, and  you can operate them more easily with an elbow if your hands are full.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 12/13/2019 at 13:31

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It self immolated so it’s not your fault 

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 14:01

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Oh, well if you’re getting fancy switch plates, that’s a whole ‘nother story. We just used the white “unbreakable” nylon ones throughout our house. One of the first things I did, was change every single outlet,  light switch, and trim plate in the entire house.

winterlegacy, here 'till the end > Shift24 12/13/2019 at 14:12

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I do not have enough swear words in my vocabulary to describe just how abhorrent these “ soft-touch” interfaces are

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > shop-teacher 12/13/2019 at 14:12

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lol...yea these are the style plates we have through out the house already

Shift24 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 14:36

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Or just think about it you could hook it up to your Alex a and they yell across half the house “ALEXA turn on bathroom lights!”

Welcome to the future

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Shift24 12/13/2019 at 14:58

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I hate talking as it is, now I have to talk to a computer to turn on some lights?

M.T. Blake > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 15:12

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Let’s go crazy with it and make people’s skin crawl.  Throw in some timers, a moisturestat, some GFI / USB plugs, and call it a day.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > M.T. Blake 12/13/2019 at 15:14

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I do actually have a timer for the heater. No moisturestats or usb stuff though

i86hotdogs > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 15:39

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Connect all lights to the clapper. never touch a wall ever again, BUT everything will turn on when you clap

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 15:55

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I’ve got different kinds of switches in a couple rooms of my house. You’ve got an old house, there is no need to replace all the switches in the house just because you replaced the switches in your master bath.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Shift24 12/13/2019 at 15:58

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Why?  Seriously, why would you hook up your lights to the internet?  My lights don’t need to be accessible from the internet, they simply need to be accessible from the damn switch on the wall.  Don’t even get me started on the stupidity that is people hooking up their damn fridges and thermostats to the internet.  It’s fucking stupid.

Sammyno55 > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 12/13/2019 at 16:05

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I bought 15 "Alexa enabled" light switches on Cyber Monday. I am keeping them firewalled from the internet, I also am working on presence awareness for my "smartish" home. I do also have thermostats and other things attached. It's been good to get a notification that my AC stopped working this summer while I was on business travel. 

RacingShark > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 16:10

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I think you have to go consistent through out the house. I prefer the toggle, but smart switches are all rocker (decora).

My house is a mix of both right now, but eventually, before I move I’ll have to make them all consistent.  If they aren’t consistent, buyers will realize how many things have changed over time and it looks sketchy. 

Shift24 > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 16:44

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But technology is here to save us. Lol

Seriously though 100% stupid but I'm sure someone somewhere has done it

ranwhenparked > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 17:55

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I would lean more toward consistency within the same room. I do think door knobs absolutely should match throughout the house, though the previous owners of mine disagreed.

shop-teacher > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s 12/13/2019 at 19:50

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Nerts