How to Hide Cords on a Wall Mounted TV
This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. Please Read my Disclosure Policy.
Are looking for ideas on how to hide the cords on a wall mounted TV? I have a two ideas for you. One requires a drill and a cord kit. This is the best way. If you are in a rental home or apartment and can’t drill into the wall, the other cord hiding idea I am sharing uses fabric and is easily made and removed.
I turned a bedroom into a fitness room. One of the features I wanted in the room was a TV to watch when working out and a DVR to follow online fitness classes.
How to Hide The Cords on a Wall Mounted TV
How to Hide The Cords on a Wall Mounted TVIn my last post about transforming the room, I left you with this image of the wall-mounted TV with exposed cords hanging from it. Not very pretty. I am happy to tell you that they are now history.
Well, not actually history, but the cords are now running behind the wall.
How to Hide Cords on a Wall Mounted TV
I used a packaged kit to run my TV wires safely behind the wall.
Note: When I first ran the cords behind the wall, I did it without the kit and got a lot of comments telling me how unsafe it was. I have deleted that original post and have rewritten the post showing this correct and safe way. Everything is pretty much the same, but the wires now run inside a tube that you place in the wall.
Home improvement stores sell the Flat Screen In Wall Cover and Power kits. There are many to choose from.
I used this In Wall and Power Cable kit to run the TV wires “to code” behind the wall. The kit comes complete with outlet boxes.. The kits cost around $50 and are the best and safest way to hide TV cords behind the walls. It comes with a flexible tube that the cables and wires are encased in.
Update: Most newer TV cord hiding kits being sold today, do not have a flexible tube to hold the wires anymore.
- If you have a lot of cables and wires hooked up to your TV make sure to look for a kit that has larger holes for the cables and wires to go in and out of easily. I found this newer TV Cord Hiding Kit and like it since it has a separate space for all your cables and wires to run though.
- This is another kit option – TV Cord & Cable Power Kit
What Comes In the TV Cord Hiding Kit?
- Corrugated plastic tube with connected outlets, cover, long extension cord, hole saw bit for a power drill, wire snake, paper template
TV Cord Hiding Installation Overview
The outlet power is attached to a plastic tube that you place behind the wall via two holes that you drill into the wall behind the TV(one hole low on the wall, the other higher on the wall behind the TV). Your TV cords run through the plastic tube.
The top outlet has a power plug. This is where you plug in the TV. The kit has a power cable that you need to then plug into an existing wall electrical outlet that is low on the wall. (I placed a piece of furniture in front of this outlet so it is hidden from view, but still easy to get to if needed.)
Steps on How to Install A TV Cord Hiding Kit in a Wall
- After placing the TV mounting bracket (purchase separately to fit your TV) on the wall, you need to figure out where the two holes need to go so the top one is hidden behind the TV and the bottom one closer to the floor and near an existing wall outlet where the cords and the kit’s power source coming out of the wall will be plugged into.
2. Use the circular drill bit to make the holes.
3. Following the kit’s directions, push the tube and cord through the top hole. This looks hard, but it was pretty easy. See that white cord along the black tube? That is the power cord part of the kit and how you will get power to the TV.
4. The top part of the kit’s power cord has an outlet. You plug the TV into this behind the TV. At the bottom opening, you then need to plug in the power to an existing wall outlet.
INSTALLATION TIP: Ask a family member for a second set of hands to help grab and pull out the tube/cord when it reaches the drilled hole near the bottom of the wall.
5. Use the screws that come with the kit to secure the outlet to the wall behind the TV. This is where you plug in the TV, the rest of the cords go through the tube.
6. Thread your cables through the tube and out the bottom hole and connect to the back of the TV on the wall and cable box/DVR below.
All done! It took about 2 hours from start to finish.
IMPORTANT: The hardest part was figuring out where to place the holes in the wall. You want to make sure all the cords that connect from your electronics are long enough to thread through the wall and into the the back of the TV. You may have to purchase longer HDMI cords etc.
***How To Hide TV Cords Behind a Wall OPTIONS/VARIATIONS***
If you don’t want to put cords behind a wall to hide them when hanging a wall mounted flat screen TV here a few options for you.
You can cover the wires with a flat moulding-like cover. It is white, but can be painted the the same color as a wall or the moulding in the room.
- You can see how this works here: TV Wire Cord Cover Kit
How I Hid the Cords on the Wall Mounted Flat Screen TV in my Family Room without running them behind the wall.
- If you want to hide the cable box: check out this post: Installing a Swivel Mounted TV
You can find out more about how I transformed this unused bedroom into a fitness room in these posts:
Clever! Thanks for sharing all your hard work.
I have seen this done by diy’ers many times, and cringe each time. This is not safe and violates national electrical code guidelines. Power cables, like on your tv, should not be run through walls.
I was wondering about the same thing. I’m not a electrician but something tells me it’s not up to code :-( But ya gotta admit, it looks waaaay better ;-)
Totally agree. You can buy a kit that has the type of power cord that meets code for being inside a wall to accomplish this. Our kit was around $70. More money but safe. Definitely worth the expense.
Hi Brandi – I will look into this. Thanks for taking the time to tell me about the kit.
Surely a cord inside the wall is under less risk of damage than one twisting around furniture?
Anyway, great idea but it does not address the existence of noggins.
Actually, our entire home sound system and cable system was installed professionally behind the walls and in the ceiling. It is up to code with the state of NC and was done when our home was built. My son had his done by a licensed electrician and the cable company when he wanted his television mounted high above his fireplace and he did not want the wires exposed. If done correctly, and with the proper equipment and components, no problems!
I bet they used the correct kits, not just run the power cords through the wall.
The power code of the tv is not going inside the wall, it has an outlet, the video cords would be ok, I’ve seen up to code video cords that look cheaper than those in brand new houses. But I do agree, if it’s not made for inside the wall it should go there, a little extra cash and done right is the proper way to do it.
What a difference! Looks beautiful! Your pipe/flange idea is terrific and a bargain. As an aside, office supply stores offer flanges made to sit in holes on top of desks (for computer wires). Not sure of diameter and may be more costly than your pipe idea. I love meandering through the aisles at home supply stores looking to repurpose their supplies! Thanks for your how- to. Keep ’email coming!
That is so clever. I’d be too scared I would break the wall. Great job. Julie
I did this not too long ago for all of our tv’s. I cut a square in the wall and placed a square switch cover (for the rocker type switches) over the hole to hide the edges of the drywall. It worked perfectly!
I’d like to read the old article and see why it would be dangerous to just run the wires. Just seems like an unnecessary expense to me. The tv cords are already insulated in plastic. How dangerous can it be to have an insulated cord behind a wall that never gets touched or moved? Seems like code is is code for give me more of your money to me.
Hi Brandon – I deleted the old post since I got way too many “electricians” commenting and telling me to run the wires the correct way… to code. I agree that is does seem like overkill since the cords are insulated in plastic. I just want to keep what I share with readers is the right thing to do when it comes to safety issues.
Yeah, I can understand that. Thanks for taking time to respond, and thanks for making sure you give the best advice you know. God bless you. :)
I just want to say to all the rude and critical people on here about this woman’s blog. GET A LIFE. She clearly states these are “IDEAS” for decorating purposes. She never claims to be an electrician or code compliant because those things vary state to state, county to county and even country to country. So If you want your own blog to give advice on country and particular area code go get your own blog, and stop being so mean to people who are trying to share information and live their dreams. This is called the internet. People can form their own opinions from information.
Diane you go girl! I love you share
You keep sharing what you know and feel is right in your heart. The more successful you become, the more people will try to find fault. Might I suggest you add a disclosure to your site such as “This is information is meant to be my informative and not professional opinion always seek professional advise before beginning any project to ensure proper code compliance, electrical safety, and check with both government agency and insurance to unsure that these alteration do not effect the insurability of your home or your claim in the event of an accident” Take advise solely at your own risk.. *** Now here is my disclosure. I am not a lawyer and I am not attempting to practice law. Please seek out legal advice before attempting to write out a hold harmless clause. <— Hope this helps Your doing great! :)