I have a Decora 3 way switch, on the metal part it clearly label one side as the top. It is installed correctly right now.
So right now, if both switches are on the "off" (down) position, the light is on. Functionally there is nothing wrong about it, but the positioning just looks weird to me. Can I just flip the switch myself (as in, keep all the wire in place, and simply rotate the switch by 180 degree)? I don't know if switch must be install according to the "top" position.
Some kinds of "quiet" switches have mercury-wetted contacts and must not be installed upside-down. If the manufacturer went to the trouble of putting a "top" label on the switch then it probably is one of that type.
If you insist on changing the on-off operation of a three-way switch, you should not move the physical device. You should interchange the travelers. Identify the common wire on the switch, then disconnect, swap, and reconnect the other two wires.
Don't interchange the travelers on both switches, or you will get your original functionality back.
BTW you really should think this through before altering anything. If you change the action of one switch, you will create the situation where one switch is up and one switch is down when the lights are on, both switches are down or both switches are up when the lights are off. I can't see how this is any kind of aesthetic improvement.
only lights controlled by one switch will have a true on/off, top and bottom. the nature of multiple switches means that you can switch a light on/off from different locations. flipping a switch over will not change the fact that the light can also be controlled at another location. the way you presently described your switches, both up (on) and your light off is common. if you flip one switch up to turn the light off and then go to the other switch and flip up to turn the light back on, then both switches will look the way you want. the next time you use one it will be backwards again. if you want the switch to look right all the time only use one, then you lose the convenience of having multiple switching locations.
Short answer is: yes
Put the switches in any position that you like. Since they are 3-ways their position is irrelevant.
Except.....my OCD requires me to wire them so that they are both in the down or "off" position when the light is off not on.
So, I understand what you are saying and wholeheartedly concur.
Edit [ AI has a good point and the easiest way to do this is to swap the travelers on one switch. ]
Good luck and stay safe!
Having a wife that has some extreme OCD issues the only way I found to have the switches always in the correct position is to purchase digitally controlled switches like the lutron maestro there is 1 controller and 1 remote (or more remotes) tap the top of the switch from either location and they turn on (mine are also dimmers) tap the bottom they turn off, hold the bottom in for a second and they slowly dimm to off in 10 seconds. These are a little expensive but I think I have had to buy 5 sets of these. 3 in my last house and 2 in my current home. but I always know what is in the cupboards arranged by type with every label facing forward.
