Homeowners are regularly confronted with the challenge of tastefully managing all those wires that take over our increasing tech-centric homes. Have you tried the following ideas to conceal your cords and cables without ruining your decor?
1— Hiding Unsightly Wires As Wall Art
Our first suggestion is to transform the wire or wires into a decorative accent. Using clear fasteners, simply arrange the wire on the wall into the shape a silhouette or an outline.
2— Behind the Wall
If you’re handy, you can make wires and cables vanish by enclosing them inside the walls. For example, for a wall-mounted television, drill a hole through the drywall and thread the cables behind and out by the side of the electrical outlet lower down the wall. The two holes will be hidden by the TV stand or other piece of furniture.
3— Behind the Baseboard
Some baseboard models have been designed with a hollow centre specifically for wire concealment. They are therefore a practical option for dissimulating ugly cables.
4— A Cord Organizer/Power Bar
Chic and discrete, this cord organizer power bar combination looks like an Art Deco floor sculpture. And it accommodates a surprising number of wires. Declutter with ease and style!
5— Rustic Cord Cover
Natural materials are in vogue in interior design right now, so why not make the most of this trend by wrapping your wire and cable bundles with cotton or hemp rope so that they enhance your decor and not stick like a sore thumb. You could even try coloured rope.
6— Behind a Beam
The best solution for cables and wires running along the ceiling is to string them through a structural or decorative beam. Exposed solid wood beams are especially trendy. Not only will they serve as a hiding place for your cords, they will also add a touch of warmth to the space.
7— A DIY Casing
Enclosing the cables and wires in a built-in box or casing is a clever idea. Using plywood, construct a casing that is sufficiently large to house the entire lengths of the wires and then secure it to the wall, ceiling or floor. The last step is to paint it so that it blends into the background.
8— Camouflage
The easiest option is to fasten the cables along the bottom of the walls or the floor and then to paint them in a matching colour to make them invisible.
9— In a Dedicated Container Behind the Furniture
This solution is particularly popular for home offices. There are all manner of storage compartments and cages available in stores specifically made to organize and conceal cords and cables behind furniture. Screw into place and your many computer wires — mouse, monitor and housing — will be secured in a single spot out of sight.
10— A Decorative Wall Panel
By building a decorative wall panel, to cover the entire wall or just a section, you can create a screen behind which cables and unattractive tech equipment can be hidden.
11— Through Holes in Furniture
You might also consider dedicating one of your computer desk’s drawers to wire storage. Drill a hole with the correct tool (at the back or on the top of the piece of furniture) and thread the wires through.
12— Hooks
Quick and cheap, self-adhesive hooks — along the wall or the back of furniture — are likewise quite popular. Make sure the wires are snuggly held in place. No more tangles!
13— Decorative Boxes
Stores are full of decorative boxes of all kinds. Buy one or more models that match the room’s decor. Then drill holes in the back and pass the wires through. If you need more than one, stack them up.
14— Commercial Wire Covers
Self-adhesive wire covers can also be laid over the cables. Once they are in place, paint them in the same colour as the surrounding surface and voilà!
15— A Pipe or Curtain Rod
It is equally possible to insert the wires and cables into a rigid cylinder like a curtain rod or pipe. This is a particularly useful solution for wires that run vertically as the cover will remain upright.
You no longer have any excuse not to organize your home’s Hiding Unsightly Wires, web of cords and cables!