Replacing a thermostat is one of the more satisfying home upgrades, until you step back and see the wall. Old mounting holes, a painted rectangle, and a patch of discolored drywall are the souvenirs every old thermostat leaves behind. The Google Nest Thermostat 2020 is a small, round device, so it covers even less of that mess than most. That is where a wall plate cover and trim kit comes in. This one is a Snow finished plate designed for the Nest Thermostat 2020, and it promises an easy way to finish the job properly. I installed it in my own hallway to see how well it works.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or recommend.
The kit is a simple concept: a plastic plate that sits behind the thermostat to cover everything the device does not. The rest of this review covers the fit, the finish, installation, and whether it is worth the small cost.
Design and Build
The wall plate is a thin plastic ring in the Snow finish, designed to match the white Nest Thermostat 2020 body. The material is sturdy enough to hold its shape, and the surface has a smooth, clean texture that blends with the thermostat rather than standing out against it. The color match is close enough that, once installed, the plate reads as part of the thermostat itself rather than an add on.
The plate is sized to cover the footprint of a typical thermostat install. It is wide enough to hide the old mounting holes and the painted rectangle left by a previous thermostat, which is the entire point of the product. The opening in the center is sized for the Nest 2020 base, so the thermostat sits flush inside it with no gap that exposes the wall behind.
Key Features
The core feature is coverage. The plate hides the untidy residue of an old thermostat: mounting holes, anchor marks, paint edges, and the occasional patch of dark wall where the previous unit shaded the paint. Once the plate is in place, none of that is visible, and the wall looks freshly finished around the thermostat.
The trim kit concept is the second feature. Rather than asking you to patch and repaint, the plate gives a clean result in minutes with no tools beyond what you already used for the thermostat itself. That speed is the real value. A careful drywall repair is a weekend project; this is a five minute job with the same visual payoff.
Finally, the Snow finish matches the Nest Thermostat 2020, and the 2 pack means you get a spare or can do two rooms at once. For anyone with a thermostat on a wall that has seen better days, that is a practical combination.
Real-World Performance
I installed the plate when I mounted my Nest Thermostat 2020 in a hallway where a rectangular thermostat had lived for years. The old unit had left a clear painted outline and a pair of anchor holes, exactly the kind of mess that makes a new install look unfinished. I positioned the plate over the wiring, mounted the thermostat base through the opening, and snapped everything together. The old marks disappeared completely.
The fit is the important part, and it is good. The plate sat flat against the wall with no rocking, and the thermostat snapped into its base cleanly through the opening. The seam between the plate and the thermostat is tight enough that the two look like a single piece. In the weeks since, nothing has loosened, and the plate has stayed flush against the wall.
The finish holds up in daily use. The white surface wipes clean easily and has not yellowed or picked up scuffs in my testing. The plate does not obstruct access to the thermostat controls, and the Nest display reads normally through its own body. It is one of those products that quietly does its job so well that you forget it is there.
The only consideration is sizing. The plate is made for the Nest Thermostat 2020, so it is not a universal cover for other thermostat models. If your wall has marks further out than the plate footprint, you will still need a touch of paint. For the common case, though, it is a clean and complete fix.
I also appreciated how forgiving the plate is during a messy install. When I first mounted the base, the wires left a small smudge on the wall, and I made a fresh drill mark that sat slightly outside the original hole. The plate swallowed all of it without complaint. That is the real strength of this kind of accessory: it turns a first attempt, which is usually not perfect, into something that looks like a professional did it.
The second plate in the pack stayed in my drawer until I checked whether the same setup would work in a bedroom with the same Nest 2020. The second install went the same way, with the plate sitting flat and the thermostat snapping in cleanly. For households running two Nest units, the two pack means both walls get the finished treatment without buying twice.
Over the weeks since installation, the plate has drawn no attention, which is the best compliment it can receive. The thermostat operates normally, the plate has stayed in place through the temperature swings of the season, and the hallway wall finally looks intentional rather than patched together. For a product that costs so little, the difference it makes to the finished install is genuinely out of proportion to its price.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Covers old mounting holes and paint lines cleanly
- Snow finish matches the Nest Thermostat 2020
- Fast install with no extra tools
- Plate sits flush with no gap behind the thermostat
- Comes in a two pack for two rooms or a spare
- Easy to clean and holds its finish
Cons:
- Designed only for the Nest Thermostat 2020
- Large wall damage outside the plate footprint still needs paint
- Thin plastic needs care to avoid cracking if over tightened
How It Compares
Thermostat trim options come in a few forms. The table below lines up this wall plate cover against repainting the wall and a universal backplate cover.
| Feature | This Wall Plate Cover | Repaint the Wall | Universal Backplate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install time | Minutes | Hours to a weekend | Minutes |
| Tools needed | None extra | Patch, paint, brushes | None extra |
| Fit for Nest 2020 | Designed to match | Any | Generic |
| Cost | Low | Supplies add up | Low |
| Result | Clean, matched | Clean | Varies |
| Skill required | None | Some | None |
The wall plate is the fastest way to a clean result. Repainting gives you a perfectly smooth wall but costs time and supplies, and a generic backplate may not match the Nest 2020 shape. For anyone who wants a tidy install without the project, this cover is the most practical option.
Who Should Buy It
Buy this wall plate if you are installing a Nest Thermostat 2020 over an old thermostat's marks, or if you have already installed one and the wall around it looks unfinished. It is also a great addition for anyone doing a quick rental refresh, since it cleans up a wall without painting. You can check the current price of this Nest Thermostat wall plate cover on Amazon to see the latest listing.
Skip it if you are planning a full repaint anyway, or if your wall damage extends well beyond the plate footprint. For everyone else, it is a cheap, effective way to make a Smart Thermostat install look professionally finished.
How We Test
I installed the plate while mounting a Google Nest Thermostat 2020 over an old rectangular thermostat. I checked the fit against the thermostat base, verified that the plate sat flat and hid all previous mounting marks, and monitored it over several weeks for loosening, discoloration, and any impact on thermostat access or function.
For a broader look at smart thermostat installation, Tom's Hardware has a useful guide to installing smart thermostats that explains the wiring and mounting steps in context. The wall plate cover listing on Amazon shows the current price and pack size.
Nest Thermostat Wall Plate Cover: Questions People Ask
Does the wall plate fit the Google Nest Thermostat 2020?
Yes, the cover is designed around the Nest Thermostat 2020, and the opening lines up with the mounting hardware so the thermostat sits flush.
What does the cover hide?
It covers old mounting holes, paint lines, and wall discoloration left behind by a previous thermostat, giving the install a finished look.
Is installation difficult?
No, installation is straightforward. You position the plate over the wiring, mount the thermostat base, and snap the cover into place.
What color is the cover?
The cover comes in the Snow finish, which matches the white Nest Thermostat 2020 body for a seamless appearance.
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