Light switch position for off/on

Currently have the electricians busy with the wiring of the new switches/outlets in our house rebuild. We have two switches that will operate lights from different locations. Is it possible to have either switch shut the light off, by pulling down on the toggles. Either switch does shut the light off, but then one toggle is up, and the other is down. I want both to be down after shutting the light off.
Our current living space has that switch going down to the basement. When the light is off, both switches are in the down position but can be turned off/on from both locations. (I do however have to physically put the switch into the down position in the basement before operating the one upstairs.)
Would just "flipping" the switch over accomplish this or does it require special wiring done to accomplish this?

 

Just turn that one switch upside-down, then both switches will be toggle-down - or toggle-up - just the way you want them.

 

I believe the light will also be off with both switches in the UP position.

 

Only until the next time that the other switch is left in an opposite position. Three-way switches have no On-Off position since the other switch can always change the position. (That is why the toggles do not have "ON" or "OFF" on them.) If the other switch in a 3-way circuit is seldom or never used then the toggle positions at one end may remain consistent.

 

Correct! But I suspect she has a degree of OCD like I do and she wants the toggles of the three-way switches to be 'just so' when certain lights are On and Off.

 

Rotate the mud ring 90 degrees so you three way switches are horizontal so you no longer see the ups and downs.

 

Some 3 way switches have up position. In that case, remove the switch and switch the wire on 2 terminals other than black in one of the switch. Doesn't matter which switch, just do it on one switch.

 

Those aren't 3-way switches.

 

Thanks everyone for your replies. One of the electricians was working at the new build house today and he evidentially has the same "OCD" problem with the light switches as well!lol He got them all configured to operate just like I wanted (lights are off, switches are in the down position) before I was even able to ask him about it! Alls good now! :-)

 

MiamiCuse: I have to be honest here - I really like this suggested solution!!

 

I like seeing receptacles mounted horizontally on tall baseboard, but it would drive me bonkers to have switches mounted horizontally on walls.

 

mxmom –

It was already pointed out by others in the above posts, but when both switches are UP, the lights will also be OFF. Unless you never turn the lights ON from one location, and then turn them OFF from the other location – which seems hard to believe, but not impossible.

In other words, if you usually turn the lights ON from one location and then turn them OFF from the other location, then half the time when the lights are OFF, the switches will both be in the UP position.

Just wondering if the electrician misunderstood what you want (or is that in fact what you wanted, i.e., always both DOWN when lights are OFF), although it seems there is nothing that he could do about that anyway.

 

zoesdad, the electrician explained that same scenario to me so I totally understand what you are saying. But prior to him "fixing" the switches, there was no possible way to have them how I wanted. (both switches in the down position when the lights were off.) That's why I commented 'all's good now'. :-)