All about hiding TV wires! We all struggle with electrical cords on walls behind media consoles. Today, I'm sharing some wire hiding ideas specifically for media cabinets and consoles.
*This is an older post that I've updated. The struggle is still real with cord clutter, so I thought I'd share my media cabinet as it is today (up above); plus, exact steps that I worked through to hide the cords a few years ago and implemented again on this console.
As you are reading through this post, take note of our living room changes. The original post was published in 2014 and, wow, what a change our space has been through. And yes, this is the exact same space showing the TV in the exact same spot!! Crazy beans!
Here's the backstory. We've moved our television and console around a few times, even changing consoles completely. After finally finding a set-up that worked, I realized that my cord clutter was out of control.
The sideboard that I decided to use as a media cabinet had a bigger clearance between the bottom of the cabinet and the floor. The issue with having leggier furniture is that the cord clutter is much harder to hide. For quite a while, we were dealing with this:
THOSE CORDS!!
If you have a similar issue with needing to hide cords behind the TV, let me walk you through a few ideas to help!
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Supplies for How to Hide Electrical Cords in Wall
- Zip Ties
- 6 Outlet Wall Mount Surge Protector (always good to have!)
- Multi Prong Wall Plug Adaptor
- Sleek Socket Electrical Outlet Cover with Powerstrip (using this currently in our living room right now)
Hiding TV Wires How-To
- If you are wall mounting your TV, then do this first! Check out my tutorial for how to run tv cables behind the wall.
- Zip Tie Cords together. If there's excess length in a specific cord, zip tie it to itself.
- Determine what type of electrical prong will help your situation.
- If needed, buy a multiple prong electrical outlet that will wall mount or one that will plug directly into a socket.
- Continue using zip ties to further clean up excess wire lengths.
*Each media console and cord issue will be different. We've found that certain supplies work better in some spots but, in all spots, we use zip ties. Really, having a drawer of options for helping to hide the cords behind a console is your best bet!
With just a few changes on our leggy media cabinet, the cords were no longer visible. The more I've worked with wire hiding ideas and tricks (see a HUGE blog post I did about in the bedroom called cord control cord management), the easier the solutions come to me.
It just takes a few different wire organizing clips, cable ties, etc., and you should be on your way to a clutter-free TV wire situation.
Ok, back to present day! I used some of the same tools and ideas to hide the cords behind my new (but vintage) media console. For this console, I switched to a sleek socket wall mount with power strip and was able to hide the power strip inside the cabinet door of the console.
Each and every console is different, so you just have to work around what you have with your furniture and buy a few organizing supplies to help keep the cords in place.
In our bedroom, upstairs, we use a dresser as a media cabinet and that was pretty tricky to hide the cords under. For that piece, I ended up putting a nail in the back of the underneath of the dresser and wrapping the cable tie around the nail. It worked!
I guess the moral of the story is that there isn't one way to keep your cables tidy. Use what you have and, if you are lucky, you might have a piece of furniture that allows you to run the cables through the furniture to help hide them. Otherwise, snake the wires to the underneath of a console, hide them behind books, etc.
Any progress on hiding TV wires will make your space look so much better. Just do it! It seems pretty silly, but it's just one of those things that helps make spaces feel put together and clean.
p.s. I pinned this awesome trick for mounting electrical power strips and thought I'd share.
That's one gorgeous sideboard for sure. I have a huge issue with electrical cords and this is the prefect little fix.
Thanks Julia. That sideboard was such a steal but came from the most disgusting place. I spent hours getting the smoke smell out of it. I've got more electrical issues around the house and now I'm looking to them next.
My outlet is just 3" to the right of my sideboard, which is so frustrating! I think I'm going to paint the few inches of cords that stick out with leftover wall paint to help them blend in a little more. Those multi-prong outlet plug-ins are lifesavers for sure 🙂
I'm also crazy about that awesome gold lamp - where is it from?!
So annoying! I guess you could just move them over and drywall over? I bet your guy would love that because of design issues. LOL.
Oh, that lamp was a DIY. It was a Nate Berkus (or Threshold... can't remember) candlestick and I made it a light last year. https://biggerthanthethreeofus.com/repurposed-diy-light/
Great tip! It's amazing how changing something small can catapult into bigger changes like decorating the top of your media center.
Thanks Jennifer. I feel like little things always catapult to big things. But usually, in a good way.
Is it crazy that I never knew there were outlets thingies that could hang off the wall! I think I need to make a trip to Target! I hate cords! They drive me bonkers!
I don't think I ever thought about other options until I was staring at my ugliness under the TV for months! I think that's when it clicked for me. Go buy some!
I have the worst cord problem in the bed room, TV is hanging and a small kinda like a sofa table underneath. I'm think about drilling holes and threading the cords through the drywall and then out the bottom but its open, AAHHH. Just don't know... Hopefully I can come up with something.
Yep, I think that's what you have to do when you hang your tv. I love the look of the tv mounted on the wall and when I eventually settle on the right entertainment system, then that is what we are going to do! Let me know if you come up with a solution!
What a stunning piece of furniture! I need to do this, because my cords are out of control! lol! Thanks for the tip, and the eye candy with all those awesome accessories around that amazing console!
Thanks for linking up with us at The Makers link party!
Thanks Ursula!
Great tip!
Thanks Cindy!
What a smart solution!! I'm going to have to look for one of those because my cords are one hot mess right now!
Definitely go pick one up! I'm trying to motivate myself to work on the cords around the computer...nightmare area for sure!
I hear ya re: exposed cords - drives me crazy! I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for multiple cord sockets this afternoon during my Home Depot run. Have been using bulky power bars attached to the back - these would far better. Thanks!
Good luck! I think they even have bendable ones that you can snake around furniture feet. =)
I haaate cords. I love this. Some gadgets are totally worth buying!
I totally agree (just don't tell my husband!).
Great idea and thanks for sharing! Some things seem so simple, but they change EVERYTHING. Ha. Nothing like a clear floor 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Think & Make.
Thanks Karisa! I only wish the floor was clean. Ha!
So simple, but what a big difference. I find getting cord clutter off the floor also means it's easier to vacuum under there, so it's more likely to get done. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Darla! I totally agree with you on it definitely being easier to vacuum!
Brilliant!!! So easy and such a difference!!
Thanks Heather!
So simple and yet genius! I love that light you put on top too! I must find a way to make one!! I would love it if you stopped by my blog and linked up with me on Totally Terrific Tuesday 🙂
Have a wonderful day!
Jess
Thanks Jessica! The light was a DIY (from a Candleholder). I blogged about it... search for "DIY Light" and it will come up. Thanks again!
You could just attach a surge protector to the back of the sideboard - most of them come with nail holes so you can hang them on a wall. That way, you still have a surge protector to keep your electronics safe in case of electrical surges.
Yes, you definitely could! This particular one doesn't have the nail holes (its super old) but that is an option!
I’m glad you brought that up. I was concerned about the lack of protection, having seen a tv fried by lightning.
I like the zip tie idea, but these outlet plugs are dangerous. My mom had several until one caught fire. The fireman strongly encouraged her to get rid of them as he sees these as fire starters in several homes.
I had no idea. I'll definitely look into that. Thanks!
FYI...my DIL found a deal at HD that went into the wall and came out at the plug to hide all the cords to hang the TV....she did it all herself..except hang the TV but could have probably have done that, since they are now so light weight, but wanted to make my son feel like he did something, heehee! You might check that out....she said it was super easy....hardest thing was cutting the hole for the cords AND the size they told her to get was really toooo big she'd go down one size next time!
Good to know! I'll have to check that out.
LOVE THE CORD ORGANIZATION. I PUT A PEG BOARD BACKING ON MY TV STAND AND WRAP THE CORDS AND ANCHORED ALL ON PEG HOOKS. IT KEEPS THE DUST BALLS OFF OF THE CORDS.
Thanks Judy! The peg board backing is such a great idea.
I have this exact dresser and I use it for my tv too. Isn't it so gorgeous?! But I agree on the wires, I had to tie mine up and use a command hook on the back to hang them.
So funny! A command hook is a good idea!
i appreciate your post! I too abhor exposed plugs and wires. My precious husband loves me enough to hire experts to to install cables and plugs in the walls when we had our television mounted on the wall.
Even then, we will have wires due to video systems when used (when not used I unplug them...which has saved a system or two due to power surges during bad storms, so no one complains anymore!) I use one of the double sided Command strips with hook on the back of the tv to prevent one of the connecting cables from showing, and that way it can stay connected and not a hassle to hook up Wii on a whim.
Thanks for your post!
Such a good idea to use the command strips!
Naptime project? Now how am I supposed to accomplish this while I'm taking a nap? 😉
Seriously, thanks for the great ideas!
lol. Ha.
Great idea BUT DO YOU KNOW 35,000 children under age 5 go to the Emergancy room from TV's FALLING ON THEM! Many die. They pull the drawers out & climb up! TV's are very dangerous, there is a contraption at your local hardware that you can mount to the back of the TV and then to the wall so the TV WONT GO ANYWHERE! Do take this precaution to protect your little ones!
Thanks Jean. Yes, I have heard that about TVs. We don't have a young kiddo anymore, so we are good but that's a great reminder as well.
at least you should have cleaned the TV before taking photos!!!!
haha. Yep! It's still not cleaned!
Where did you get that dresser? !! I had that very same one along with the matching desk when I was a boy...50 years ago!
I found it on Craigslist!
Your Amazon affiliate links are broken
That's a great idea! Was in problem with my TV cords and searching for a simple way to hide them. The plan has made it easy. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Thanks Yana! Cords are my nemesis. Glad you found the post helpful.