How to Hide Unsightly Wires in Your Walls Without Experience

Having a clean, decluttered look in your home is important for both aesthetic and safety reasons. Exposed wires and cords hanging down walls or laying across floors are not only unattractive, but can also pose tripping hazards. If you want to hide wires in your walls for a tidier look but don't have electrical or construction experience, don't worry - there are several easy methods you can use to conceal those pesky wires yourself.

Gather the Right Materials

Before starting any project to hide wires, you'll need to gather the proper materials. Here's what you'll need:

• Power drill - To drill holes in drywall for feeding wires through
• Drywall saw - For cutting openings in drywall if necessary
• Fish tape - For feeding wires through walls
• Cable raceway/wire channel - Plastic channels to mount on surface of walls
• Wire staples and hangers - To attach wires to wooden studs
• Wall plates - To cover openings cut in drywall

Identify Layout and Location of Wires

The first step is to identify where you want to hide the wires and map out where they are currently located.

Make a Plan

• Look at the starting point and end point of the wires.
• Note where they are located in the room and how long the runs are.
• Decide whether you want to hide them inside the wall (drilling and fishing wire) or on the surface (with wire channels).

Locate Wooden Studs

• Use a stud finder to locate the wooden studs inside your walls where you want to feed wires.
• Mark the locations of the studs with pencil so you know where you can safely drill.

Locate Power Sources

• Identify nearby outlets or other power sources you can connect wires to.
• Make sure the power source is located close to where you want to feed the wire.

Fish Wires Through Walls

If you want to hide wires completely inside walls, you'll need to drill entry and exit holes for feeding them through.

Drill Entry and Exit Holes

• Decide on hole locations based on your wire layout plan.
• Drill a hole through the drywall at the start point, ideally in an inconspicuous spot like behind a sofa.
• Drill an exit hole at the end point of the wire run, also in an inconspicuous location.

Feed Fish Tape

• Attach the fish tape to the end of the wire at the entry hole.
• Feed the tape through the wall via the drilled holes, from start to end point.

Pull Wire Through

• When the fish tape emerges from the exit hole, attach it to the wire.
• Carefully pull the wire through the entire length of the hole to the entry point.

Patch Holes

• Use drywall plugs or wall plates to patch the entry and exit holes.
• Apply drywall mud over the patches and sand once dry.
• Paint over patches to match wall color.

Use Surface-Mounted Wire Channels

If fishing wires through walls seems too complicated, you can opt for surface-mounted wire channels instead:

Get Proper Channel Type

• Choose white colored channels to blend with white walls.
• Select channels designed specifically for hiding wires, not those made for pipes.

Measure and Cut Channels

• Measure the length of the wire run you want to cover.
• Use wire cutters to cut channels to proper length.

Affix Channels

• Determine mounting location based on your wire run layout.
• Use included adhesive on the back of channels to affix to the wall surface.

Snap Wires into Channels

• Carefully press the wires into the channels once secured on the wall.
• The channel covers will snap closed, completely hiding the wires inside.

Additional Tips

Here are some other tips to help hide wires without experience:

• Use cable clips affixed to baseboards to run wires neatly along edges of the room.

• Hide power strips inside furniture like cabinets, desks, or entertainment consoles.

• Bundle wires together with zip ties or velcro straps to prevent tangling.

• Use wireless options like Bluetooth speakers or smart bulbs to eliminate wires.

• Hire an electrician if you don't feel comfortable doing electrical work yourself.

With the right materials and following basic steps, you can successfully conceal unwanted wires without prior experience. Just be sure to turn off power at the breaker before starting, go slowly, and ask for help if needed. Taking the time to properly hide wires will give your rooms a cleaner look.