TV wires are annoying. They’re distracting and ugly, and they never seem to stay put. Fortunately, there are a few ingenious ways to hide them without cutting holes in the wall.
Remember that most of these methods depend on your cable size and type of cable, so make sure you keep sizing in your considerations.
Also, regarding safety, most of these methods make wires mores safe since they provide an extra layer of protection over the base wire and allow you to keep cables clean to prevent tripping and shortcircuiting.
1. Use a Panelboard to Hide Your TV Wires
The common way to hide wires is to use a panelboard. A panelboard in a container can be installed into the wall of your room. It gets filled with wires and cables used in the TV set-up. The panelboard has multiple compartments for storing the wires, making it easier when looking for specific cables later on. Usually, the panelboard will have many holes for you to screw and attach TV cords through it.
The most common type of panelboard works with cable management systems like cable bags or wire raceways, which guide visible cords along the wall or floor. These systems are usually made from materials such as plastic or rubber, but they could also be made from metal or wood. They come in different shapes and sizes, so you can find something that matches your decor.
2. Conceal TV Wires Behind Wall Trim or Baseboard
Wall Trim is the perfect solution for concealing TV wiring because it just sticks on your walls without damage and brings a beautiful finish to your room. One reason you might not have considered using your trim before is that you may think that it is too expensive or difficult to take apart or install. But, in reality, you only need a few nails and screws, and Wall Trim installation is very easy.
The first step is identifying the cables that need to be hidden. There are many ways to conceal TV wires behind wall trim, but choosing a method that will work for your home and your specific cable type is important. For example, suppose you have a coaxial cable and need a solution to accommodate this connection. In that case, you might want to look into an in-wall solution such as wire molds flex-a-trim series, which can also be called exterior wall insulation.
3. Use Cordmate Wall Concealers/Hiders
Cordmate wall concealers (The brand name is almost synonymous with the product like Kleenex is with tissues) are a clear and lightweight alternative to bulky and heavy plasterboard. Cordmate concealers can be easily installed on any drywall surface.
The installation process is quite simple, as it only requires using a wall cleaner or sponge before you peel and stick them on. This product is perfect for hiding cables in the wall, making them invisible to the eye. And it can be used to hide cords from lamps or other items if you need them in your home.
Cordmate’s products are available in two styles- one designed for covering cables and another for hiding cords from lamps or appliances like an ironing board.
4. Use a TV Stand that Does the Job for You
A TV stand is a simple and elegant solution for hiding cables. It hides wiring at the back of your TV, so you don’t have to worry about a tangle of cables on your floor.
You can also have a custom-made TV stand with built-in outlets for easy access to power for lamps, laptops, and other electronics in one convenient location.
If you are looking for a way to hide your wires on the TV stand, these are some of the best ways to do it:
- Please put them on the back of the TV stand.
- Put them behind the TV, running down to an outlet
5. Use Cord Clips to Hide Your Wires
One way to hide your wires is by using a cord clip. Cord clips are designed to hold cords and cables together so, at a minimum, they do not protrude out in different directions and can be put together in groups for a cleaner look and feel.
A cord clip like this can be found at any hardware or home improvement store. They are typically made of metal or plastic, which provides secure fastening. They attach to the wall, usually using a peel-and-stick method so it can hold cords in place. A cord clip is simple to install and can be bought to hold two chords at a time or as many cords as you need.
6. Use Zip Ties to Clean Up Wire Clutter
Use zip ties to tuck cables neatly and discreetly into a corner of the room or under furniture.
The most common technique is wrapping zip ties around the cables and securing them to a larger main cable near the floor, like your tv coaxial cable. This way, the cable will stay flat against the wall, and you won’t have any loose cables sticking out or hanging off furniture. (1)
7. Make a Wood Frame and Cover It in Fabric To Hide Your Wires
A wood frame can cover the tv wires and give it a cleaner look.
The frame is typically made of wood or MDF, but it can be made of any material. A wooden frame is usually designed with a solid backboard (for flat screens), while MDF frames are often made with a curved or straight backboard.
Some simple creation steps if you don’t wish to buy one include:
Step 1: Measure the distance between the TV mount and the edge of the TV.
Step 2: Cut a piece of plywood to the previously measured length.
Step 3: Sand the edges and corners to make them look more attractive.
Step 4: Paint your new frame with a color that matches your furniture or room decor.
8. Use Large Objects to Hide TV Wires
Large objects work well for concealing TV wires because they are typically stationary and cover up a good chunk of space. Here are some ideas on how you can use these items to hide the cords:
- Use plants- many people overlook them as a hiding place for their cables because they don’t think that the greenery since it’s sparse, will prevent the cable from being seen. However, plants with large leaves often work well.
- Place cabinets- another great idea is finding a large enough cabinet to hold your electronics and hiding them inside or behind.
9. Invest in an Organizer to Hide the TV Wires
A TV wire organizer is a device that helps organize the cords for your TV and other electronics. They usually have some base that holds the wires in place while reducing the risk of them tangling. It can help make it easier to store your cords in a convenient location.
TV wire organizers are an inexpensive device. They are available as either an adhesive strip or an adhesive hook, so you can find one with the type of design you are looking for.
10. Paint Your Wires
Try painting the cables to make them less noticeable.
Painting your cables will help make your desk look tidier and reduce the risk of tripping over them when they are out in the open. You can even use an old clear nail polish bottle and add a few drops of paint to color your wires and some white or black nail polish for contrast if you want to spice things up a bit!
1. Cleaning
First, you should clean the dust off of the cables with a damp cloth. If there is any buildup, use a dry cloth and remove as much as possible. This will make it easier for the paint to stick better to the cable and not just go on top of it.
2. Preparing for Painting
Next, use a primer if you find one that matches your chosen color or has a similar undertone (light, dark). If not, use white spray paint because your chosen color will mostly cover this up but still covers up any surface irregularities in your cable’s exterior so that they don’t show through when painting over them later on with your main color. (2)
11. Use a Rug to Hide Wires
A rug is a perfect way to hide cords in the ground. It can also be used to cover holes in the floor. This is because most rugs are large enough to cover a good amount of surface area. If you don’t want people to know that there are cables underneath, you can buy a rug with a pattern or use an inexpensive rug with flat colors.
12. Hide Wires Behind Your Furniture
To make the interior of your office as aesthetically pleasing as possible, you may have hidden cords behind your furniture.
Although this is a common practice for those working with electronics, it can be dangerous. Animals and children are often attracted to these cords, so keeping them out of reach and avoiding any possible accidents is important.
It would be best if you also kept in mind that a portion of the cord will always show since you can’t line the entire wall length with furniture.
13. Tuck Wires Into Cable Management Sleeves
This is another play on the Cordmate system, but we have a more noticeable tubing style here. This may not always be a preferred option, but it is a viable alternative even though it is still pretty visible. (3)
14. Hide Wires In a Book
This is a very practical solution for cord and wire management. It’s great for those with lots of wires and cords that they need to hide in their workspace. This simple trick is a great way to save desk space.
- Get an old book and cut out two or three pages from the back of the book. This will make room for your cords or wires to be plugged in. (The number of pages you cut out will depend on how large the cords you have.)
- Take your cords/wires and plug them into your computer, extension cord, power cords, etc., then run them through the book, and voila!
15. Hide TV Wires Behind a Wall (The last Choice, Requires Cutting Into the Wall)
You can drill a hole in your wall and hide the cables behind it or use the cable channels that come with your TV stand. The first way is to take a drill, make a hole just big enough for the cable, and then poke the cables through. The second way is to buy cable channels made for that exact purpose.
Hiding wires behind a wall makes your TV look more streamlined. It also allows you to place the TV anywhere in the room, on any wall, without worrying about running cables through a visible space.
16. Best Ways for a Mounted TV vs. a Standing TV
Mounted TVs need good concealment and disguise to look as if they are not there at all.
Mounted televisions, more often than not, are installed on a wall. This could be a long and difficult process that could take up to an hour or two. One of the best ways to hide wires is to use a metal conduit that can be hidden inside the wall. Concealment is also possible with decorative molding or simply by painting over it (although this doesn’t always work). Some of our methods above are great for mounted TVs, with the preference being in-wall cables; however, that method is also the hardest to do yourself without the help of a handyman.
On the other hand, standing TVs don’t require any installation whatsoever. You only have to worry about hiding the cables that come out of it. This is usually done using an entertainment unit and having the plug directly behind the tv.
Take a look at some of our related articles below.
- How to run security camera cables through walls
- How to run power cord to a gun safe dehumidifier
- How to hide security camera wires outside
References
(1) coaxial cable – https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/electrical-power-generation/types-of-coaxial-cable/
(2) spray paint – https://thenewswheel.com/what-types-of-spray-paint-can-you-use-on-your-car/
(3) cable management – https://download.schneider-electric.com/files?p_enDocType=White+Paper&p_File_Name=VAVR-9G4NDJ_R0_EN.pdf&p_Doc_Ref=SPD_VAVR-9G4NDJ_EN
Video References
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