How to Hide Messy Wires in Your Home

Wires and cables sticking out from TVs, computers, lamps, and other electronics can make your home look cluttered and messy. Fortunately, there are many clever ways to hide wires so your space looks neat and tidy. In this comprehensive guide, I will share everything you need to know to conceal wires in every room of your home.

Why Hide Wires?

Before jumping into solutions, let's first discuss why hiding wires matters in home decor:

• Wires are an eyesore. Exposed wires crawling up walls or dangling under furniture are not aesthetically pleasing. Hiding them improves the visual appeal of a room.

• Visible wires look messy and unorganized. Concealed cables give a room a clean, put-together look.

• Exposed wires are safety hazards. Loose wires on the floor can cause tripping. Pets or kids may chew on them. Tucking wires away removes these risks.

• Hidden wires help reduce clutter. Eliminating tangled wires clears both physical and visual clutter.

• It's more professional. For home offices or studios, hidden cables give a polished, commercial appearance.

In summary, concealing wires not only makes your home look better but also safer and more organized. It's an easy but high-impact way to upgrade any room's style.

Tips for Hiding Wires

Before I get into solutions for each room, here are some general tips and guidelines for hiding wires:

• Plan ahead when possible. If remodeling or constructing, install outlets and cables inside walls to eliminate exposed wires altogether.

• Use cable management solutions like plastic covers, sleeves, and raceways to neatly route wires.

• Consolidate devices that use many cables like TV equipment into one location.

• Minimize length of wire from outlet to device so there's less to conceal.

• Use wireless alternatives like Bluetooth speakers to remove wires.

• Attach wires tightly to surfaces with cable clips or staples for a tidy, close fit.

• Match wire colors to your wall to "hide in plain sight."

Keeping these basic strategies in mind will ensure you hide wires both effectively and aesthetically.

Hiding Wires in the Living Room

The living room or family room likely has the most electronic devices and cables. Here are ways to tame the wire clutter in this busy space:

TV and Media Consoles

• Place TV on a media console or cabinet with doors to hide media players, gaming systems, DVD players. Close doors to keep wires out of sight.

• Mount TV on the wall to eliminate the stand and exposed wires altogether.

• Run cables down wall plate covers painted the same color as walls.

• Hide wires inside the wall cavity behind the TV by drilling access holes. Use wire sleeves.

• Cover surge protector and loose cables with a basket or storage ottoman.

Wall-Mounted TVs

• Use adhesive cable channels or wire covers painted like the wall to run cables neatly down to an outlet.

• Feed cables through the hollow wall space via access point behind TV.

• Hide a power outlet behind TV so wire plugs in just below.

Floor Lamps, Speakers

• Choose wireless speakers to remove wires entirely.

• Use cable covers around base of floor lamps and speakers to contain wires. Match color to hide.

• Coil excess wire neatly underneath and fasten to base with zip ties.

• For table lamps, lamps, route wire through hollow table leg.

Entry Points

• At the outlet, gather cables in a wire sleeve up to device.

• Use cable box cover plates or brush plates to feed wires through wall neatly.

In general, fully concealing wires behind furniture, through walls and under floors takes the most work but yields the cleanest results. Cable covers neatly contain loose wires.

Eliminating Computer and Office Wires

Desktop computers, printers, phones, and other electronics make offices and dens a wire jungle. Use these suggestions to go cordless:

• Connect desktop computer to wireless keyboard, mouse, and printer to cut several cords.

• Keep printers and scanners on shelves inside closed cabinet with wire access holes.

• Charging stations like magnetic docks can hold phones, tablets tidily without tangled cables.

• Use cable sleeves to neatly route keyboard, mouse cords behind desk.

• Affix cable clips under the back of desk to hold wires in place.

• For floor-standing towers, utilize cable management floor grommets.

• Place desk against the wall and drill access hole into wall cavity to route wires discreetly.

• Power surge protectors mounted under desk also contain multiple plugs and excess cord length.

For hubs like computer desks, prioritizing wireless accessories first, then neatly guiding and securing wires is key for organization.

Managing Cables in the Kitchen

Kitchens now house many appliances and tech gadgets that require wires. Keep countertops clear by hiding wires using these techniques:

Countertop Appliances

• Store appliances like air fryers, instant pots, and mixers in cabinets when not in use. Attach wires to back of cabinet.

• Coil excess cord length and secure under cabinet with clips or zip ties.

• Place appliances on a rotating stand so cords face wall side when stored.

Wall-Mounted Devices

• For mounted microwaves or tablets for recipes, feed cord through wall space via brushed wall plate.

• Use paintable cable channels to run wire neatly down wall to outlet.

Islands

• Install outlets inside islands on rear side to hide appliance plugs.

• Use a retractable extension cord or pop-up outlet to conceal in countertops.

• Connect devices to outlets at counter level, then use wire covers on side of island to contain cords.

Strategic outlet placement and containment of excess length hides appliance wires in kitchens.

Managing Bedroom and Bathroom Wires

Bedrooms and baths with devices like lamps, phones, and speakers require these solutions:

Headboards

• Affix cable clips behind headboard to hold wires in place.

• Install a power outlet inside or behind headboard.

• Paint cable channels same color as wall and run wires neatly along corners, edges.

Nightstands

• Coil excess wire and secure under nightstand with zip ties.

• Install outlet inside nightstand to feed lamp wire through concealed hole.

• Use a wire basket on underside of nightstand to hold coils.

Bathrooms

• For wall-mounted TVs near baths, use in-wall wire routing behind.

• Install GFCI outlets inside bathroom cabinets and feed appliance cords through cabinet backs.

• Use cord covers running along wall edges down to outlets.

The key for bed and bath areas is neatly guiding wires down edges and consolidating excess wire out of sight.

Final Tips for Managing Wires

Hiding all the wires in your home takes strategy and effort. Here are a few final tips:

• Do regular wire maintenance like coiling, securing, and checking covers for a neat appearance.

• Minimize device clutter to begin with to have fewer wires.

• Use cord winders and retractors to neatly store excess length.

• Keep back areas and sides of furniture facing walls as wire entry points.

With some diligence, you can keep wires in any room concealed for a clean, professional look. Just stay on top of cord management and embrace wireless technology whenever possible. What areas are wire hotspots in your home? Consider the solutions above tailored to your unique space.