Other Tips & Design Ideas

How to Hide Electrical Cords in the Middle of a Room: 10 Ways

Written by

Rosanne Jones

Writer, Designer

FACT-CHECKED BY

Steven D. Carrico

Architect

how to hide electrical cords in the middle of a room

Sometimes, an electric cord lying in plain sight is all you need to ruin your room’s aesthetic. Imagine spending all the hard work designing and cleaning your room, only to have some tangled cords messing everything up.

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll show you how to hide electrical cords in the middle of a room. The TEN methods below will help you either hide the cord completely from sight or turn it into an eye-catching accessory for your room.

Easy Methods to Hide Electrical Cords in Your Room

The thing about hiding electrical cords in center of room is that it depends on lots of factors such as room layouts, pre-existing furniture, the cord’s length, and your budget. Without further ado, let’s see what works best for you.

1. Hide The Cord Under Area Rugs

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Let’s be honest, not everyone has the time for elaborative methods to hide cords in middle of room. Area rugs are pretty much the easiest way to conceal wires.

However, only UL-listed cords and plugs should be tucked under rugs, as they don’t pose fire hazards. This method shouldn’t be applied to older cords for safety reasons.

Hiding cords under area rugs work best when the cords themselves are thin and flat. Thicker wires should be positioned in low-traffic areas to reduce tripping hazards.

I also recommend taping the cords to the floor to keep them in place. Depending on where you’re sticking them, you might need either floor tape or carpet tape.

One downside to this method is that parts of the wire might still be sticking out. This is where other “tactics” come in.

2. Tuck The Cords Under Furniture

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When parts of the wire peek out from the rug, hide them under furniture. Although any furniture will do, low-profiled upholstery is better at hiding electrical wires.

High-rise furniture, on the contrary, might still leave the cord visible. In such cases, figure out how you can seamlessly tape the wire under the furniture’s bottom.

Cable clips or zip-ties are suitable for sticking wires to furniture as well, especially when you fear that ripping the tapes out might damage your upholstery.

However, this method is not without flaws. The most noticeable one is that it may require changing your room layout, which might not always be for the better.

3. Decorate The Cord

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When it’s impossible to hide the cord, why don’t you turn it into a part of your interior design? The tripping hazard might still be there, but at least your room looks prettier.

Normally, I’d decorate the cord with colorful yarn or wool, highlighting the wire and making it more eye-catching. This way, you’ll be less likely to trip on the electrical cable.

For best results, pick yarn colors that go with your overall color scheme. For example, I’d go for muted red or royal blue as complementary colors for sage green rooms.

Another variation of weaving yarn around electrical cords is colorful beads. The quirky look will surely match rooms with a youthful and upbeat ambiance.

To reduce the likelihood of someone tripping over the wire, consider taping the wire so it’ll stay in one place on the floor.

4. Turn The Cords Into Wall Arts

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When there’s nowhere to hide the cables, why not get creative and turn that tangled mess in living room into beautiful wall arts for an awe-inspiring centerpiece?

I usually suggest wired wall arts when the cord’s color contrasts nicely with your walls. The wire should also be long enough to form distinct shapes.

There are many ways to approach this method, of which the most common are wired skylines or simplified designs such as motivational messages or abstract shapes.

To make wall arts more visually interesting, incorporate color accents such as green leafy vine or red bird stickers. These stickers will also help the wire stay firmly in place.

5. Utilize Decorative Baskets

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A clutter of cords can be tricky to hide, especially when there’s no furniture or rug to conceal them. In cases like these, a decorative basket can be your best shot.

To keep the cords from tangling when put in a basket, tie each wire neatly with tape. It’ll ensure your basket, and then, your whole room come across as more organized.

For a cohesive look, pick basket styles that blend well with your room. Interior design with a Boho-chic vibe, for instance, will go better with woven rope baskets.

Alternatively, you can get creative by opting for quirky boxes of faux books, which work especially well for rooms with bookshelves.

6. Hide Behind Wall Arts

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When the cords running up your wall aren’t long enough for making artworks, your next best bet is hiding them behind wall arts or wall decorations.

For this to work, your wall decorations need to be big enough. Otherwise, the accessory will draw further attention to the unsightly wires, which can be quite counterproductive.

Some large wall decoration ideas you should consider including oversized tapestry, full-length mirrors, poster-size photographs, or big floating shelves.

If parts of the wire are still visible on the wall, paint the exposed cord the same color as the wall. At least the electrical cord won’t be sticking out like a sore thumb.

Of course, you’ll also need to hide the cords on the floor. Do so by keeping them hidden underneath a rug, furniture, or inside a decorative basket.

7. Install Electrical Outlets On The Floor

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If your working desk is right in center of room, consider installing electrical outlets on the floor. Now, you can bid farewell to messy wires strewn haphazardly on the floor.

Floor sockets usually go unnoticed, and it’s pretty easy to conceal them. Additionally, these outlets are straightforward to install, making them suitable for DIY projects.

Remember to keep the outlet covered with rubber mats. These will protect the socket and ensure malfunctioned sockets cannot electrocute you or other family members.

8. Opt For Cord Covers

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Keep your room’s organized look by hiding the electrical wires underneath cord covers, which can be found in most cord management kits.

  • Prepare a cord cover with the same length as the wire you need to hide.
  • If possible, pick a cord cover with the same color as your wall. Otherwise, paint the cover first before hooking it up to your wall.
  • Mark where you want to hang the cover.
  • It’s essential that the marked lines are parallel to the floor and the wall’s height. Slanting cord covers can look unsightly just like tangled wires.
  • Install the cord covers to hide the wires according to the product’s user guide, which will indicate which type of anchors or screws you need.

Similarly, cable coach skirting boards are another viable choice for when you need to conceal electrical wiring.

9. Stick The Cord Under Floorboards

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The best way to hide cords desk middle room, this will require you to move your floorboard and make room underneath for the cords. Here are the necessary steps:

  • Step 1: Pick a floorboard with no pre-existing wires/pipes underneath.
  • Step 2: Use a multipurpose saw to cut through the board’s tongues; make sure not to go deeper than 8 mm.
  • Step 4: Locate the nails keeping the board and joist together
  • Step 5: Step 1: Mark the cut line based on the nails’ position
  • Step 6: Use the saw to cut through the nails. If your saw blade can’t handle the tough nails, make sure you remove the nails first.
  • Step 7: Insert the pry bar’s tip into the floorboard’s edge
  • Step 8: Gingerly lever up the board along its edge’s length until there’s a gap big enough for you to slip your hand.
  • Step 9: Remove the board.

When removing the floorboard, remember to wear protective gear such as cut-resistant gloves and safety glasses.

10. Optical Illusion, Why Not?

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Roll up your sleeve for a fun DIY project. To cleverly keep hidden extension cord, you can hide the messy wires under your leggy furniture with a fake wall.

  • Prepare a cardboard large enough so it can cover your furniture’s legs.
  • Paint the cardboard the exact shade of your wall’s colors.
  • If your wall has a skirting board, use a pencil to mark where the skirting lines would be on the cardboard.
  • If there is more than one exposed cord, use a zip tie to keep all the wires in one place for easier arrangement.
  • Place the “fake wall” behind the furniture so that it covers the electric cords.

Conclusion

I understand how frustrating it can be to see a mess of tangled wires around your room. By learning how to hide electrical cords in the middle of a room, you’re already halfway to reclaiming your clean and organized living space.

Of course, it’ll take some time to figure out what works best for you. I’m certain you’ve already found what you need. If that’s the case, be sure to send this article to your friend and family.

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