Alternately, read our article on hiding speaker wire.
When you first decided to start a home business, you probably didn't realize just how many cables and wires a home office could entail. You realize now that the cables with it are not only annoying but also unattractive. Whether your home office is in the bedroom, living room, kitchen — or a room of its own — there are some simple ways to hide those ugly cables and keep an attractive room décor.
ORGANIZE YOUR CABLES
Before hiding cables within your home office, you should take time to organize them. First, determine how many cables and wires are underneath or near your desk. Note the size and length of each cable — where it is coming from and where it ends. You probably have a series of cables linking your computer monitor, hard drive, printer, cable modem unit, phone line, computer speakers, mouse and keyboard.
Next, clean the cables using a dry dust cloth. For safety reasons, avoid using polish or water. To make life easier later, label all your cables with cable labels. These stick to the cables and are color-coded for easy recognition of your cables in the future.
Thirdly, consolidate your cables. Minimize plugging and unplugging into wall outlets by using a power strip, preferably one that is lightning-resistant or one that offers power surge protection. Once your cables are organized, continue with the tips below on hiding cables.
To prevent cable clutter on the floor, cover cords with Flexiduct Cord Protectors. These protect your cords and help keep your floors clear and safe. They come in a variety of colors so you can easily match them with your bedroom décor.
Braided sleeving is another way to disguise and protect cables. Flexo® PET has an expandable Polyethylene (PET) construction that is moisture, cut and abrasion resistant. It can stretch to 150% to cover connectors and irregularly shaped areas of wire runs. It also comes in a range of colors and patterns.
HIDING CABLES WITHIN YOUR LIVING ROOM HOME OFFICE
Your living room is where you entertain guests and spend time with the family. You want to keep this room always looking clean, organized and beautifully decorated. A home office can either take away from the décor or add to it.
Hide cables for your living room office using colorful accessories to match your décor; and choose cable-hiding products with the most camouflage. Use the space underneath your desk to your advantage (CableOrganizer® also has desk organizers to help). Place a table lamp or floor lamp near your office area to draw your guests' eyes away from your desk and cables. You can also hang wires and cables along a wall behind your desk using cable clamps, twist locks or mounting bases.
HOW TO HIDE CABLES WITHIN YOUR KITCHEN HOME OFFICE
Kitchens often have limited space for a home office, so you'll want to utilize your space wisely. The cables should be kept off the floor if possible because most spills occur in the kitchen. If they are located underneath your desk, place them on a raised wooden or plastic platform to keep them off the floor.
For hiding cables in your kitchen, use safe cord protectors to keep your cables shielded from spills, splashes and heat. The Rialto™ Power and Data Distribution Floor Raceway works well in home spaces — including the kitchen — with Spill-Proof Technology™ that prevents moisture from creeping into its outlets.
RUNNING CABLES ALONG WALLS IN YOUR HOME
If you have one or more cables running along the walls of your home, you can hide these so they will blend with your home decor. One of these products that let you hide cables within your wall is through a clever, non-metallic raceway, the WireHider® Latching Duct Raceway System. The specially designed “safety hook” latch design in this unit appears like a chair molding or baseboard, disguising wires and cords within it. Its PVC construction allows you to use latex paint to match the raceway to your current wall color.
Still looking for great cable management products? Shop at CableOrganizer® for many more cable organization items here.
