Best Ways to Keep Unslightly Electronics Cords Out of Sight

With all the gadgets we have these days, our homes are being overrun with cords. One place we see cords most frequently is in the family room connecting the television to cable or satellite boxes, DVD or BluRay players, and gaming systems. Since the family room should be a place to relax and unwind, a bunch of messy cords is not something most people want to see. If you haven’t figured out a way to hide these cords yet, read on for some suggestions on how to keep them out of sight.

The Best Ways to Hide Cords in your Home

Televisions that stand on a media table or console have less of an issue hiding cords, as most of them will fall behind the table. Here are a few ideas to make sure these cords don’t pool on the floor and create a tripping hazard as well as bad image.

• If you have cords pooling on the floor behind your entertainment center, zip ties can be very useful in gathering all the cords neatly and ensuring they don’t fall on the floor.
• A decorative box with a power strip inside can be placed on top of the table. Cut holes in the back of the box for each cord that needs to be connected to the power source.
• Entertainment centers with doors or drawers can be used to hide cable boxes, DVD players, and stereo equipment. If you have access to an old dresser that isn’t being used anymore, convert a couple of the drawers to have hinged front doors in order to also hide these items.

Televisions that are mounted on the wall have more challenges when it comes to disguising all the cords.

• Most electronic and hardware stores sell products called wall mounted cord covers that attach to the wall and hide your cords that hang down from wall mounted televisions. The majority of them are white, however, so if your walls are a different color they will also stand out unless you paint them the same color as your wall.
• Adding a hollow faux mantle to your wall is another way to keep cords out of sight.
• If you have a table or media center under your wall mounted television, you can camouflage the cords coming down from the television with a stack of well-placed books and knick-knacks.

There are other ways to hide cords by cutting a few holes in your wall, but consult with a professional before making any permanent changes to your home.