How to Organize and Hide All Those Pesky Cords

How to Organize Cords

1. Wrap and Label

   While it won't necessarily keep cords hidden, bunching cords together will look neater, keep them from tangling, and reduce tripping hazards. Here are a couple different options:

   • Use a flexible cord bundler like this one on Amazon. These sleeves are inexpensive and can be cut to the length you need. Most hold from six to eight cords and have pre-cut slits that allow plugs and connectors to be exposed.
   • Use adjustable ties to bundle cords. These can be simple wire twist ties, but Velcro strips are longer-lasting and easier to adjust. Skip zip ties, because once they're locked, they aren't adjustable for when you need to add or subtract a cord.

   Once you've bundled the cords, label them so you can easily find the one you need. You can buy labels specifically intended for cords or make your own by wrapping a piece of masking tape around each cord and writing on it with a permanent ink pen.
   

2. Use Cable Management Boxes

   Cable management boxes come in different shapes, colors, and styles. Useful in all areas of the home or at the office, they are designed as a hub to accommodate a power strip and multiple connected cords. A box is a simple way to keep spaces neat and help prevent accidental disconnections.

   • When selecting a box in a home improvement store or online, check the measurements to be sure it will fit the space you plan to place it.
   • Select a durable box made of heavy-duty plastic or wood. Take the time to consider how many cables will be running out of the box and whether there are slots for each cable. Larger openings will help prevent excessive heat build-up inside the box.
   • Inspect how to mount the box to furniture. Some boxes use adhesive mounts while others require screws. The most basic boxes cannot be mounted and simply sit on a desk, countertop, or the floor behind furniture.
   • Check for included extras. Some boxes offer cable ties and labels as part of the package.

3. Install Cable and Cord Raceways

   Cable raceways are narrow plastic strips with an open channel that adhere to walls, baseboards, and furniture edges to corral cords. The cords run through the channel between the power source and the electrical appliance. To use, attach the flat back of the raceway to the desired surface, thread the cords into the channel and cover with the top of the raceway to hide the cords. When selecting a raceway, answer these questions.

   • What size and type of raceway do you need? Widths and capacity range from a closed narrow style for one USB cord to a domed style to hold two or three cables behind a television. There are also open-slot cable raceways that allow access to connectors all along its length.
   • Is the raceway paintable? Raceways are usually black or white plastic. Some are paintable and almost disappear when painted the same color as the wall or surface it's adhered to. Be sure you get the type that works best for your decor.
   • How is the raceway mounted? Smaller raceways that accommodate only one or two cords are usually attached with adhesive tape. Larger raceways may require drilling holes for screws when mounted to wood or dry-mount hardware for walls.
   • Does the raceway include connectors? Connectors are plastic pieces that allow you to join raceways together and create a turn to reach an electrical outlet. Look for t-joints to split the raceways, couplings to make the raceway longer, and inside and outside elbow connectors to maneuver corners.

4. Mount Cords Behind and in Furniture

   To keep cords off the floor and the tops of furniture, hide them behind furniture and inside drawers or cabinets.

   • Mount a raceway along the edges of desks and television stands. You can use a covered raceway or a J-channel model that accommodates more cords (like this one from Amazon). Almost all raceways can be mounted with the adhesive backing so that you will not have to drill holes or add nails to the furniture.
   • Use removable adhesive cable clips. While these do not hide the cords, they do keep them from tangling and lying the floor. Most have easily removable adhesive strips (like these from Amazon). They are available in different sizes to accommodate a single USB cord to large cables or to hold kitchen appliance cords.
   • Hide the cords by mounting the power strip inside a drawer or cabinet. Drill a hole large enough to accommodate a power strip cord in the back of the furniture. Place the power strip inside the furniture and create a charging station for phones and other electronics. This is great for desk drawers and bedside tables to keep flat surfaces clear.

Additional Tips to Control Cord Clutter

• Buy shorter cables to eliminate excessive bundling and sagging.
• If possible, run the cables and cords inside the wall behind wall-mounted devices. This takes a bit of extra skill (and sometimes professional help) to open the drywall, mount a cable organizer, and then repair the wall.
• Corral the power strip and cords in a decorative basket or piece of pottery. Make sure that heat can escape easily.
  
• Use a cable management box for temporary holiday decorations. No more unsightly jumble of cords!