Easy Tricks for Hiding Wires

August 07, 2011, By Bruce Tyson 0 comments

When daily life calls me to wall-mount an HDTV, set up a computer network, set up a stereo, install a satellite dish or run a phone extension, I'm all over it. It's hiding the wires that's trickier.

Exposed wires aren’t easy on the eyes and can even cause some disturbances to domestic bliss—not to mention safety hazards. So what do you do? Hide them, if you can.

Here are some common tricks I've used for hiding wires, including putting them inside walls and floors, using external materials and going wireless.

Walls and Floors

One of the best methods available for hiding wires involves running them through the walls or under the floor of the home. In its own right, this can be a traumatic experience for your wife, who may freak out when she sees you armed with a high-torque drill aimed at her beautiful hardwood floor. And let’s face it, if you don’t have experience with this type of work, it can be a little harder than it looks. If you go this route, you may want to talk to an expert first.

Other Solutions

When you lose your case for running wires through the walls (or if you want to avoid all that extra work), hope remains alive. There are also many outside-the-wall methods for hiding wiring. These strategies emphasize keeping cables neatly controlled in unassuming ways.

• Classic obstruction. Be on the lookout for opportunities to hide wires without much effort. Indoor plants in front of wires feeding a wall-mounted TV often works out well.
• The furniture trick. Strategically placed sofas, recliners, daybeds and chairs can help hide unsightly wires associated with home theaters, data networks and cable installations, particularly with furnishings that have low floor clearance.
• Around the doors. Route wires around doorways and along wood trim to make them less visible. This technique works nicely when only one cable is involved, but it can easily get vetoed by the woman of the house.
• Under the rug. Rugs can hide wires, but always be careful to keep the wires on the outside perimeter to avoid surprising bumps and lumps.
• Specialty solutions. Conduits, raceways and cable trays routinely save men and their missions at home. Used properly, these solutions make cable runs look professional and smart while keeping cables organized, safe and out of view. These devices often come in a selection of colors that can be matched to fit a variety of room decors.

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