8 DIY Hacks for Hiding TV Wires and Unsightly Cords
If you are struggling to figure out how to hide your TV wires, you are not alone. Most spaces aren’t designed with outlet placements in mind, which makes moving into a new place all the more overwhelming when you’re trying to figure out how to assemble a room. There are few things that look worse than a cobweb of tangled power cords out in plain sight for all to see. It’s not just about finding the perfect corner for that statement table anymore—you almost have to work backward and arrange everything based on where the tech appliances need to go. Of course, hardware like wall-mounted televisions makes this even more complicated.
Most of us have to contend with computer wires, HDMI cables, Wi-Fi routers, and electronic chargers on a regular basis, and it can definitely be a challenge to find stylish solutions for concealing them. This couldn’t be more pressing for those of us who turned our living rooms into home offices in order to work remotely. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list of genius ideas for hiding TV wires and other electronic clutter, from solutions that will make cords completely invisible to easier tricks to keep them organized and untangled. Spoiler: You don’t have to be an electrician to successfully hide TV wires! Before you plan that next outing to the Home Depot or fire up Amazon to fully stock up on supplies for this home-improvement mission, study our tutorial of design-savvy ways to stash your wires at work and home.
Photo: Eric Piasecki1/8Take the cables behind the wall
Want your TV wires to be completely invisible? Your best bet is to run them behind the wall. In order to pull this off, you’ll need to cut two holes in the drywall with a drywall saw, drill, or utility knife—one behind your television and the other near the outlet. Use a stud finder to make sure the spots you plan to drill are away from any wall studs and don’t forget to turn off the power to the room. Install wall-mounted cable plates on each of the holes and run the cords through the top plate down through the lower plate. If your cords are on the shorter side, opt for an in-wall power and cable kit, which adds an outlet directly behind your television.
Photo: Roger Davies2/8Conceal your power strip
The power strip is the source of so many things, but cord clutter is often the main attraction of this show. Try lifting the strip off the ground to keep all those plugs out of sight. Most power strips have holes on the back so you can even hang them on the wall with just a few screws or nails. If your entertainment center has legs for days, installing the power strip just below the base bridges the gap between the furniture and the wall. Another option is a wall-mounted power strip that plugs right into the outlet.
Photo: Yoshihiro Makino3/8Tuck away the cable box
All your peripheral devices—cable boxes, Apple TVs, Rokus, etc.—add to the mess of wires and, let’s face it, they’re not the most beautiful things to have in your line of vision during screen time. Consider hiding them in a functional piece of furniture like a sideboard or cabinet. If the piece doesn’t have a hole for the wires, you can easily add one with a drill and a hole-cutter attachment. Should you not want to have to open the doors of your entertainment center every time you turn on the television, opt for an infrared receiver that connects directly to the cable box.
4/8Snatch a cable catch
Before you even start worrying about concealing your extension cords, you need to ensure that they’re secure. Using a cable catch on your desktop or nightstand will prevent them from falling to the floor every time you unplug a device. “The struggle is so real, and this is a complete game-changer,” says Clea Shearer, cofounder of the Home Edit. Cord hooks are also great for running wires down the legs of furniture, which eliminates all those dangling cords behind your desk from looking like a jungle.
Photo: Courtesy of the Home Edit5/8Bundle all your cords together
A cord wrap or dock is a chic—and easy—way to keep all your wires in one place. You heard it here first: Bundling is one of the best cable hacks in the books. “Electronics such as printers, computers, or phones come with a lot of connected cords,” says Joanna Teplin, cofounder of the Home Edit. “Using a cord wrap or dock to organize them helps keep everything streamlined and less cluttered.”
6/8Create your own docking station
Multiple devices lead to an abundance of charging cables, which is the ultimate eyesore. Shearer recommends creating a fashionable docking station to camouflage the clutter: “One of our favorite methods is to repurpose a magazine rack to divide laptops, tablets, and phones, then add a multi-cable holder to keep the cords organized.”
7/8Use a cable reel
Consider this as the wind-up you didn’t know you needed until now. “A cable reel is an ingenious tool that allows you to wind up your cords to conceal them, shorten them, and keep them untangled,” Teplin says. “We especially love using them for phone chargers because they keep your handbags and drawers from cord chaos.”
8/8Label your cords
If they must be visible, then Shearer insists that your assortment of cords, cables, and electrical wires be distinguishable at the very least. We’re inclined to agree: There’s truly nothing worse than getting your wires crossed both literally and figuratively. “Our motto is, if it’s not moving, label it," she says. "Adding labels to your power strip or individual cords helps you easily identify each item and prevents you from turning off your Wi-Fi when you just meant to unplug a lamp.”
