Hiding Those Unsightly Wires

Nothing can spoil the look of a room like unsightly wires. We had a couple of these issues that needed addressing in our home. Problem #1 was the messy television wires hanging down from the flat screen television we installed above the fireplace in my office.

As a solution to the problem, I purchased a flat screen television cord cover kit for under $20. 

























The kit comes with two main pieces. The first piece is mounted to the wall with screws that come in the kit, as pictured on the left. The second piece needs to be painted, preferably in the same color as the wall. Two coats of paint works best. It is important to allow the paint to dry thoroughly between coats.

After the paint has dried completely on the second piece, place the television wires in front of the piece that has already been mounted on the wall. Then, simply snap the painted cover in place over it. That's it. What a difference it made in my office!

Unsightly wire problem #2 involved the chandelier in our dining room. Some time ago, I found a great deal on one of those swag-type chandeliers to hang over the table in the dining room. It is the type of light fixture that is plugged into a wall outlet, rather than being hardwired into the ceiling. Since the room wasn't wired for a light fixture over the table, this was an inexpensive way to install overhead lighting. However, having an exposed cord hanging from the ceiling and wall would not be pretty.

The solution for concealing the cord and chain on the swag chandelier was a two-part project. First, I made a simple chandelier cord cover out of scraps of fabric leftover from making Roman shades for the room. This was a way to attractively hide the part of the cord and chain that swags off the ceiling. (If you don't sew, you can buy these cord covers ready-made.)




When swagging the cord on the ceiling, I used a second hook. I made sure I placed the part of the cord with the switch on it on the wall next to the window. It is much less noticeable resting next to the window, partially covered by the drape.

Step 2 involved purchasing a paintable cord cover online from a home improvement store. The one I bought resembles a piece of quarter-round moulding and has an opening on the side to insert the wire. It is also has an adhesive strip on the backside to mount it to the wall.

Before hanging the cord cover, I painted it the same color as the walls in the dining room. Once the paint was dry, I peeled off the adhesive backing and inserted the cord into the opening in the cover, making sure the switch was exposed at the bottom of the cord cover. Problem solved.






To cover those unsightly computer or entertainment equipment wires, cord covers like this are an inexpensive fix. You can find them at any home improvement store. They are flexible, and you can conceal several wires in them. They can also be cut to size and painted, if necessary.


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