If you graduated from any private of public school in the last 50 years, chances are pretty good that you know who discovered electricity and the light bulb.

Old Ben Franklin and Thomas Edison are locked in the folklore of modern inventors. Without them, we could still be in the dark, literally.

While our homes and cities are bathed in the light of Edison, the inventor of wall switch plates is unknown, lost in the annals of discovery and invention.

If you think about it, it was a pretty good invention. While we rarely come into contact with the light bulb on the ceiling, hardly a day goes by when we don't flick a light on. And protecting us from 110 volts of sizzling electricity that could literally curl your hair are the venerable, trusty wall switch plates, courtesy of Anonymous.

Thank you Mr. Anonymous whoever you are. Without you we would be reaching into the wall and connecting two wires together, hoping they wouldn't turn on us in the process.

Of course, switch plates aren't just about safety any longer. Today they're about style. Where they once came in white, beige and brown, switch plates come in a cornucopia of colors and styles that would have old Tom and Ben standing there for days in Home Depot, going over their options.

So, what do you look for in wall switch plates for your home? The first thing you need to do is take an inventory. How many single switches, how many doubles, triples and quads do you have in your home?

Back in the day, light switches just had two buttons, one for on and one for off. Today there are paddle switches, sliders, dimmers and the old flip switch. Look at each switch and figure out which ones you need. Watch out for the trickier combinations, such as two paddles and a dimmer. These can affect your choices when you go shopping.

If you're just replacing cracked or discolored wall switch plates, you can probably find a match at a local hardware store. If you're looking to replace all the switch plates in a room or your entire home, you can not only shop your local mega hardware store but also go online. There are literally thousands of choices out there, in every color, style and material.

If there is a theme, hobby or interest out there, you can find switch plates to match. Plastic is the old stand by, but you can get switch plates in porcelain, steel, aluminum, copper, ceramic or even blown glass. Each has its own unique style and fit in your home.

One of the great things about wall switch plates is they are all standard. The screw holes on all plates are standard, so all you have to worry about is the number of switches you have and the type. From there, you can find a design and material that fits your needs. And if you can't find the right wall switch plates for that dimmer switch in your home, get a plate for a regular switch. The post the dimmer knob fits in goes right through and the round knob covers the slot.