Converting Light Fixture Box To Powered Outlet

[Kiko]

What's the most elegant way of doing this, without replacing the round light box with a standard receptacle box? It's in a living room, so I really don't want to use one of those ugly, gray metal "work box" receptacle covers that the hardware stores recommend. After wiring in the receptacle, can I just screw the receptacle into the existing box and then screw a nice 5" round decorative outlet cover to the receptacle?

[jadnashua]

If you can find a decorative round cover, it should be fine.

[hj]

You will probably need a "round grey work box plate" to adapt to the receptacle. Once that is done, you use any wall plate that covers the opening over the receptacle.

[Kiko]

You will probably need a "round grey work box plate" to adapt to the receptacle. Once that is done, you use any wall plate that covers the opening over the receptacle.

That's exactly what I ended up doing. Without the round gray workbox adapter, the receptacle doesn't screw in properly to the round light box. Then I searched all over for a very oversized single-gang outlet cover in white. I found one at an old, Ma and Pa hardware store near me.