The simplest way to hide cables around a television is to reduce them, group them and route them out of sight. Start by removing anything you no longer use, then bundle the remaining cables together with ties or a fabric sleeve, run them through cut outs at the back of your TV unit, and hide power strips inside a ventilated cupboard. If the screen is wall mounted, a paintable surface channel or properly installed in wall routing takes the cables neatly down to the unit below. Together, these steps turn a tangle of wires into a clean, calm entertainment space.
The furniture you choose makes a big difference. Units designed for audio and visual equipment, such as our modern hifi stands and units UK, usually include rear openings, ventilation and internal space for cable management. Below, we explain each method step by step, from quick fixes you can do in an afternoon to more permanent solutions for a fully tidy wall.
Cables might seem like a small detail, but they have a surprising effect on how a room feels. A neat, styled TV wall can be undermined by a single loop of black wire hanging down the paintwork. In a living room where the television is the focal point, any untidiness there is very noticeable.
There are practical reasons too. Loose cables gather dust, can be pulled by children or pets, and can become a trip hazard. Overloaded extension leads hidden behind furniture can also get warm. Tidying cables is as much about safety and ease of cleaning as it is about appearance.
Before buying anything, unplug everything around the television and take stock. Many of us have cables connected to devices we no longer use: an old set top box, a disc player that has not been switched on in years, a games console that has been replaced. Remove them.
Then look at what remains and label each cable at both ends. Small tags or coloured tape work well. This makes it far easier to reconnect everything and to troubleshoot later. It also helps you see how many sockets you genuinely need, which shapes the rest of the plan.
Wireless options can reduce clutter further. Many soundbars connect to the television with a single cable, and streaming sticks plug directly into the back of the screen. Smart speakers and wireless subwoofers can also remove some runs entirely.
The right furniture does a great deal of the work for you. When choosing a TV unit, look for cut outs or grommets at the back of each compartment, removable back panels, ventilation holes for equipment that runs warm and enough depth for plugs and bends in cables.
Closed cupboards are particularly useful. A power strip, a router and spare cables can all sit inside, out of view. Slatted, perforated or glass fronts let remote control signals pass through, so devices can stay hidden without becoming awkward to use.
You will find a wide variety of designs with these features across our TV stands and cabinets UK sale. Check product details for rear openings and internal dimensions, and compare them with the size of your equipment.
Once your furniture is in place, gather the cables into tidy bundles. Reusable hook and loop ties are better than plastic cable ties because you can open them again when you add or remove a device. Fabric or spiral sleeves group several cables into one neat run, which looks far tidier than several individual wires.
Secure the bundles to the back of the TV unit with adhesive clips or small hooks so they do not sag onto the floor. Leave a little slack at each end, as cables that are pulled tight can strain the ports on your devices.
Avoid bundling power cables tightly with signal cables over long distances where you can, as this can sometimes cause interference with audio. Keeping them in separate, loosely parallel runs is a sensible habit.
Power strips and adaptors are often the messiest part of a TV setup. Rather than leaving one on the floor, fix it inside a cupboard of the TV unit or to the back of the unit with screws or strong adhesive pads. A cable management box, which encloses the strip and lets cables exit through slots, is another neat option.
Choose a surge protected strip with enough sockets for your devices, and avoid plugging one extension lead into another. Make sure the strip has space around it and is not buried under fabric or piles of cables, so any warmth can escape.
A wall mounted television looks clean until you see the cables dropping down to the unit below. There are two main ways to hide them.
A slim plastic channel fixed to the wall hides cables in a neat vertical line. Many can be painted the same colour as your wall, so they almost disappear. This is a good option for renters, as channels can often be fixed with adhesive and removed later, though you should always check your tenancy agreement first.
For the cleanest result, cables can be run inside the wall between the screen and the unit. Low voltage cables such as aerial and HDMI can sometimes be routed through a cavity wall with suitable plates. Mains power is different: any work that involves moving or adding sockets should be carried out by a qualified electrician. Never run a standard extension lead or plug in power cable inside a wall.
Whichever method you use, mount the screen with one of our wall TV brackets UK that sits close to the wall and allows cables to pass behind the screen. Centre the channel or routing below the screen so it is hidden by the unit.
Even with careful planning, a few short runs of cable may still be visible. This is where styling helps. A plant at one end of the unit, a small stack of books or a decorative box can screen the last few centimetres of cable from view.
Position lamps so that their cables drop straight down behind the unit rather than across the front of it. Many table lamps have cables at the back, so turn them so the cable faces the wall.
Avoid hiding cables under rugs in walkways, as constant pressure from feet can damage them over time. If a cable has to cross the floor, use a low profile floor cover designed for the purpose.
Cable clutter often includes accessories: controllers, headsets, charging leads and remote controls. Give them a home. A drawer in the TV unit or a lidded box on a shelf stops them gathering on the coffee table.
A charging station inside a ventilated compartment keeps controllers topped up without cables trailing across the room. If you have a lot of games, discs or accessories, additional pieces from our range of modern storage furniture UK can take the overflow without overloading the TV wall.
If you rent, you may not be able to drill or alter walls. Adhesive cable channels, freestanding units with rear openings and cable management boxes all work without permanent changes. A freestanding TV unit with the screen sitting on top keeps cables short, as they run straight down the back to the sockets.
For layouts and furniture that suit tenancies, our article on TV unit ideas for rented UK flats offers further suggestions.
The accessories you use to manage cables can be visible in their own right, so choose them with the room in mind. White channels suit white walls, but on a coloured wall they stand out unless painted to match. Black sleeves disappear against dark furniture but can look heavy against pale wood. Many sleeves and ties come in grey, white and black, so pick the one closest to the surface behind it.
Cables themselves vary too. Flat HDMI and power cables lie closer to surfaces than round ones and are easier to tuck away. Buying cables of the right length avoids large coils of excess wire, which are one of the main causes of clutter behind a unit.
In a bedroom, a wall mounted screen above a chest of drawers is common. Run a painted channel down to the chest, and keep a small power strip in the top drawer or behind the unit. Bedside lamps and phone chargers benefit from the same approach, with cables clipped neatly behind the bed or bedside table.
In open plan rooms, a TV unit sometimes sits away from a wall. If cables have to cross the floor, use a low profile floor cover, and position a rug so it sits beside the run rather than on top of it. Where possible, plan the layout so the unit sits close to a socket on a perimeter wall.
If your living room doubles as a workspace, laptop chargers and monitors add to the cable count. A desk with a cable tray, or a lidded box for chargers, stops work cables spreading into the entertainment area.
If you are redecorating or setting up a new room, you have the chance to plan cable management from the start. Think about where the screen and unit will go before painting. Ask an electrician whether a socket can be positioned behind the unit or the screen. Plan aerial and network points close to the TV wall.
Choose a TV unit with enough internal space for every device and a little room to spare. A unit that is slightly larger than you need today will cope with new equipment in the future without cables spilling out.
Finally, consider how you will access cables later. Removable back panels, open shelves at the rear and reusable ties make it much easier to add a new device without undoing all your careful work.
Cable clutter tends to creep back as new devices arrive. Once every few months, take a quick look behind the unit. Remove anything that is no longer used, check that cables are not tangled or strained and dust the area, as dust around plugs and vents is best avoided.
Each time you add a device, route its cable through the same channels and ties rather than leaving it loose. A few minutes of effort at the start saves a lot of untangling later.
With fewer visible cables, the TV wall becomes a place you can style properly. Art, lighting and a few chosen objects stand out rather than competing with wires. The room feels more relaxed, and cleaning becomes far easier.
You can explore TV units with built in cable management, media storage and wall brackets at Furniture in Fashion. We provide free delivery to most UK mainland postcodes, and Returns are available up to 30 days.
Use a paintable surface cable channel from the screen to the unit, bundle cables with ties or a sleeve, and choose a TV unit with rear openings so cables can pass straight through to sockets.
Yes, as long as the compartment is ventilated, the strip is not overloaded and it is not covered by fabric or piles of cables. A surge protected strip is a sensible choice.
Low voltage cables such as aerial and HDMI can sometimes be routed through cavity walls with the right fittings. Any work involving mains power or new sockets should be carried out by a qualified electrician.
A painted cable channel or properly installed in wall routing works well. Position the TV unit beneath the screen so the channel ends behind it.
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