Can I safely remove one of the light switches in my hallway without causing any issues with the wiring or functionality?
Asked by Franziska Öztürk 
4 months ago
Last Updated: May 23, 2024
Hey, so I have this light that can be turned on from two different switches, one at each end of a short hallway. I’m thinking of hanging a mirror at one end of the hallway, but the switch is kind of in the way. I really don’t want to move it. Do you think it would be okay if I just took it off, put wire nuts on the wires, and added a cover plate? I’m not sure if there’s anything special I need to do since there are two switches controlling one light.
You’ll need to swap out one of the 3-way light switches with a single gang. I came across an article that should give you a clearer explanation. It includes a diagram as well. If you don’t use that other switch often, I’d suggest finding a different spot for it. Moving the switch is also an option, but what you’re asking is totally doable. Best of luck and stay safe!
Hey, Daniel!
Sure thing! So, there are three ways to tackle this depending on where the electric is supplied: the box you want to cover, the box you want to keep, or the fixture itself.
Start by opening the boxes and figuring out which one is the supply.
If the supply is in the box you want to remove, simply cap the single red wire and connect the black wires. In the second box, cap the single red and connect the two blacks to a new single pole switch.
Now, if the power comes from the keeper box, cap the single red and install the single pole switch. In the removal box, cap the single red and connect the blacks.
And if the power is in the fixture, things can get a bit tricky with all the wires. The idea is to separate and organize them so that the two 3-wire pairs are together. Remember, one pair goes to one switch while the other goes to the other switch for the 3-way function. Make sure to