How to Hide Unsightly Electrical Wires in Your Home

Hiding electrical wires in your home can seem daunting, but with some planning and DIY skills, you can conceal those unsightly wires for a cleaner look. Here are some tips for hiding wires in your home:

Assess Your Electrical Wiring Situation

Before taking any action, you'll want to thoroughly evaluate your home's electrical wiring situation.

• Walk through each room and make notes about where wires and cables are exposed. Pay particular attention to areas around TVs, computers, floor lamps, etc.

• Determine if the wires are low-voltage (e.g. speaker wires, ethernet cables) or higher voltage (e.g. power cords). This will impact the hiding strategy.

• Evaluate the length of cord needed for devices. Make sure any solution will accommodate the necessary length.

• Consider future wiring needs as well. You don't want to make a change now that will hinder modifications down the road.

Clean Up and Organize Existing Wires

Before concealing wires, it's a good idea to tidy them up. Here are some tips:

• Gather and secure loose wires with zip ties or velcro straps to organize them. Coil up any excess length.

• Use wire wraps or sleeves to consolidate wires into one cleaner unit. electrical tape can also help adhere wires together.

• Attach wires to the back of furniture pieces and appliances with clips or ties so they hug flush against the surface.

• Label wires with their purpose using tape flags or tags so you can easily identify them later.

Choose Unobtrusive Pathways for Hiding Wires

When routing wires to hide them, utilize the following subtle pathways:

• Along floorboard edges, baseboards, crown molding
• Behind furniture, appliances, entertainment consoles
• Inside closets behind shelves and racks
• Through walls, floors and ceilings (requires professional help)
• Under area rugs and carpets

Avoid running wires across high-traffic areas of open floor space.

Conceal Wires with Paint and Wall Art

Some simple ways to hide wires on walls:

• Paint wires the same color as your wall to camouflage them.

• Mount artwork, photos or mirrors over surface-mounted wires to cover them up.

• For a removable option, hang wide ribbon or garland directly over wires.

Use Decorative Wire Covers

Plastic wire covers are inexpensive and widely available:

• Cord covers: Hide wires against walls and floors. Come in various colors.

• Cable conduits: Hide multiple wires inside while protecting them. Good for floor pathways.

• Wire channels: Conceal wires behind TVs and desks. Can be painted to match.

• Outlet covers: Fit over outlets to disguise electrical plugs and cords.

Make sure to get covers that are large enough for your cords. Also check that they meet safety codes.

Hide Wires Under Flooring

For a more permanent solution, wires can be embedded under flooring:

• Hardwood, laminate and vinyl planks can be installed over low-voltage wiring.

• Carpet and area rugs can be placed over power cords outfitted with flat protective sleeves.

• Wire tubes can be installed below concrete flooring or in sub-floor crawl spaces.

Professional help is recommended for routing electrical under flooring to avoid fire hazards.

Use Furniture Designed for Cord Concealment

To further eliminate wire clutter, choose furnishings built for hidden cords:

• Media consoles have rear cutouts for feeding wires to TVs.

• Tufted sofas and ottomans can hide wires inside the base platform.

• Desks with grommets hole-punch wiring from the surface to under the desk.

This integrated approach keeps wires out of sight for a clean look.

With a little effort, forethought and some creative concealment techniques, you can banish messy wires from sight in any room of the house. Just be sure to take safety precautions when hiding electrical wiring. The cleaner look will be worth it!