Cord Control 4 Easy Ways to Hide the Mess
Cord Control : 4 Easy Hacks to Hide the Mess
Cords can get in the way of good design. While necessary to keep us “plugged in”, visible power cords and cables distract the eye and can virtually ruin an otherwise good design. The main problems I see are cables and cords visible under legged furniture and TV cables that hang down the wall. So we’re going to solve those specifically, and give you some other ideas so you can clear the cord clutter. Here are 4 easy hacks to control your cords.
CORD CONTROL HACK #1
ATTACH A POWER STRIP TO YOUR ENTERTAINMENT CENTER
Cables and cords would be easy to wrangle if they weren’t so heavy. Unfortunately, most power cords for items like satellite receivers and routers have a heavy rectangular box on the end. Plugging these boxes into the wall often covers up part of the outlet, making it difficult to plug in multiple cords.
Solve the problem by attaching a power strip to the back of your entertainment center or buffet. Attach it at least halfway up the back so that the power strip cord won’t drag on the ground once it has been plugged in.
Attach the power strip with two small screws because the heavy power cords will pull the power strip off if you try to use double stick tape or some other adhesive.
CORD CONTROL HACK #2
BUNDLE LOOSE CORDS WITH ZIP-TIES
Plug your cords into the power strip, then roll the excess cable and secure it using small zip-ties. It’s best to roll each cord individually to make it easier to replace one item (if your blu-ray player dies) without having to pull apart all the other components. As with the power cords, make sure nothing will show underneath the piece of furniture.
CORD CONTROL HACK #3
USE 3M COMMAND STRIPS TO MOUNT LIGHTWEIGHT CORDS AND BOXES
Not every cord or box is especially heavy. Use 3M command strips to mount lightweight items like wi-fi extenders to the back of the furniture. You can also use the strips to mount a larger roll of cable if needed.
These hacks will elevate your cords and cables so that they can’t be seen under footed furniture. If your cord is showing under a fabric chair, use a large diaper safety pin to attach a rolled (and zip-tied) cord to the back of the chair.
CORD CONTROL HACK #4
HIDE YOUR TV CORDS BEHIND THE DRYWALL
This last hack requires more DIY confidence than our previous solutions, but eliminates cords dangling from a wall-mounted TV. Because a large, wall mounted TV is always a focal point (even and unintentional one) it needs to look as good as possible.
The studs behind your drywall run vertically even 16 inches in a builder grade home. To hide your cords behind the drywall, use a stud finder to locate the two studs that you will be running the cord between. Poke a hole in the drywall behind the TV, and a second hole directly below it above the base board. You can’t run a cord behind the drywall at an angle or horizontally or you will run into studs.
Insert a fish tape into the top hole and guide it down to the bottom hole. You may need to enlarge the bottom hole and have someone with a flashlight help you as you guide it through. The fish tape has now been threaded behind the drywall with one end sticking out of the top hole and the other sticking out of the bottom hole. Now tie your power and cable cords securely to the top fish tape and gently pull the cords through the wall by pulling the bottom part of the fish tape out of the bottom hole.
From here you can plug your cables and cords into the wall. If you don’t like the idea of two open holes in your wall, then take the additional step of attaching a wall plate to the top and bottom. The wall plate will cover the holes. There are several choices in wall plates that work for hiding cords.
This wall plate (around $5) has a funnel behind it. You push your cord through the funnel and it comes out the front. It’s really simple to use. The second wall plate is a two part bridge. It’s more expensive (around $70), but it’s designed to handle the large variety of cords attached to the TV. These aren’t the only options. Check them all out when you visit your local home improvement store.
Using these 4 easy hacks, you’ll be able to control the visual clutter from cords and cables allowing your decor to shine without distraction. If you know someone who could use this post, please share it. Our blog grows when you share your favorite things from our blog. If you haven’t already subscribed to our monthly newsletters, you should! You get instant access to our huge and growing library of free printables and project sheets, and a monthly newsletter with links to the best new ideas in home improvement.
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