Let's face it: appliance cables are never pretty. Whether your home boasts a minimalist aesthetic or has become a maximalist's dream, cables straying out from behind things or snaking across counters always look unsightly.
With colder weather and seasonal celebrations all coming up you may be welcoming more company into your home. So what better time is there than the present to tuck away these stray cables, declutter and get your home looking its best?
I chatted to an assortment of professional organisers and property experts to learn their top tips for disguising cables in your home in a safe manner. None of these ideas are complicated to execute, and honestly I'm now wondering where this advice has been all my life! Read on to learn more.
1. Cable management trays
Cable management trays are a great solution for home offices of all shapes and sizes. They work by corralling cables together discreetly so they aren't strewn across the floor or dangling down the back of a desk. They're a simple but effective tool where you can tuck all of your miscellaneous wires inside, out of view.
Jonathan Moser, CEO of property experts Mo'Living, shares: "Under-desk cable trays hold extension leads and spare cables beneath your desktop, keeping the floor clear. Clamp-on versions are useful if you don’t want to drill holes into your desk to attach the device."
When all of your cords travel in the same direction, it's easier to tackle tucking them away into a storage solution like a tray. Just make sure not to bend your cords in a way that feels unnatural – that can lead to damage and cause an electrical hazard.
Shop for cable management trays
A mesh cable tidy with easy side access and adjustable brackets to suit different size desks
A pack of two white cable trays that can be screwed directly into the underneath of the desk
This tray is made from fabric and also offers a no-drill attachment system
Jonathan is an established commentator on property management, seasonal tips for property management, and the challenges facing small businesses. He has previously contributed expert insight to The BBC, i Paper, Startups.co.uk, and Landlord Today on a variety of topics relating to property, landlords, the budget, and business issues.
2. Cable management sleeves
Cable management sleeves work in a similar ways to cable management trays, but they aren't restricted by needing something to clamp onto. They coil around bundles of cables to keep them together in a neat, disguised bundle.
Shannon Murphy, the founder of Simpl Living Co and a professional organiser, says: "If several cables are travelling in the same direction, a cable sleeve can bundle them together and make them look much more neat. They are also a good pick if you have pets that like to climb behind furniture to prevent them getting tangled or from chewing on your cables."
This makes them a great option for family living rooms, gaming rooms or even bedrooms if your pet has free rein of your home.
The Alex Tech Cable Sleeve Split from Amazon is a good example of what to look out for. It comes in many different colours to blend in with different spaces, and it simply uncoils to wrap around your cables.
For larger rooms, this SOULWIT 200PCS Cable Management Kit from Amazon has everything you need to get your cables neatly and safely stored.
Shannon is the founder of Simpl Living and an accredited home organiser. She set up the company in 2017 and offers a variety of services across the home. Shannon is a trusted voice in intentional living and has featured in a variety of different media outlets.
3. Cable clips
Cable clips are designed to stick onto the back or underside of furniture to hold your cables in place. This prevents cables from being in eyesight, aside from any part poking out to reach the nearest outlet, as well as prevents nasty tangles.
Shannon Murphy swears by them to help create a polished look in a space, as well as to keep everything in easy order. She says: "Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. Small adhesive cable clips can be attached to the back or underside of furniture to guide cables neatly along a particular route.
"I often recommend this for TVs, desks and bedside lighting. Instead of allowing a cable to drop straight down and then trail across the floor, clips can keep it following the back edge of the furniture."
The RYCHUI Wire Clips from Amazon are a popular pick, and they're very easy to use. Just stick them onto a surface and feed your cables through the holder's opening. You can always take steps back across the room to double check that as little wire as possible remains visible while you're deciding where things should go.
Try these cable clip solutions
Almost invisible with their clear plastic clip, this pack comes with 100 items to use around the home
The magnetic fixing makes it easy to open and close. Ideal for beside tables and home offices
Handy for when you have several cables running from one space, such as the back of a TV unit or gaming station
4. Cable raceway or trunking
Cable raceways, also known as cable trunking, are ideal for disguising cables such as those from string lights or wall-mounted televisions which may be dangling down a wall. A raceway sits over the cable and acts as a covering track, which from a distance can look like an interior design feature if the work is done well.
Jo Lubbock, the owner of Perfect Order and a professional home organiser and declutter, shared with me: "Raceways stuck along skirting boards or up a wall work well for TVs and routers, and you can paint them to match the colour palette of your room so they don't become an eyesore."
The covers in this MUDEELA Cable Trunking Kit from Amazon are self-adhesive and can be cut down to size using a small handsaw. It may also be worth using a level device like the Firecore Small Spirit Level from Amazon to make sure you're attaching them in a straight line.
Jo is a professional home organiser and declutterer based in Lymm, Cheshire, who also runs Perfect Order, where the tagline is "creating calm from chaos". She's been featured in Ideal Home several times this year, and cables behind the TV or under the desk are one of the first things clients ask her to sort.
5. Floor cord covers
Floor cord covers are similar to cable raceways except they stick onto flooring to cover up cables running across the ground. They're a great choice in homes where there are less electrical sockets so cables frequently have to stretch across the room which, if unaddressed, can quickly become an unsightly trip hazard.
Graeme Shelley, managing director at Factory Direct Flooring, recommends: "Where a cable has to cross the floor, consider a purpose-made, low-profile cord cover suitable for the surface. Check that it sits securely without moving or curling at the edges, and choose a colour close to the flooring to make it less noticeable. On wood, laminate, LVT and vinyl, check the flooring manufacturer’s guidance before using adhesive-backed products, as unsuitable adhesives may damage the finish or leave residue."
It's important to note that floor cord covers and tape are best used on hard flooring surfaces where the adhesive can stick. Gluing the covers down is still an option if you're working with carpet but you then won't be able to move your covers around without potentially ruining your flooring.
Wood-effect floor cable covers are handy for rooms where there are less electrical sockets so you need to run cables around the edge of floors
Graeme Shelley has 20 years’ experience in supporting customers with their project needs from sourcing to buying. As managing director of Factory Direct Flooring, Graeme leads a team of experts helping customers with all their flooring needs across wood flooring, vinyl flooring, LVT, SPC and laminate floors
How not to hide cables
After speaking with the five professionals, they also shared their advice on what you should definitely not do when seeking to conceal cables. The below could all lead to damaging your cables as well as electrical risks:
- Bending cords in an unnatural direction
- Tightly packing too many cords together in a storage solution
- Painting your cords with paint that isn't suitable for electricals, or is flammable
- Tightly tying your cables in string or zip ties
- Keeping your cables too near to a wall mounted heater or other heat source
One final solution for cables with longer wires, such as in kitchens where small appliances are taking over your worktops comes from Homebuilding & Renovating's editor, Beth Murton. "I saw these Upgraded Cord Organisers from Amazon on social media and think they'll be perfect for my kitchen," she said. "I've got cables that need tidying up and I can wrap the excess around these, attach them to the back of the appliance out of sight, and be left with much neater surfaces as a result."
