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A mounted TV looks great until you see the tangle of cables hanging under it. In-wall kits are the cleanest fix, but they mean cutting into drywall — not an option for renters, concrete walls or columns. These six methods hide the cables without cutting anything.
Before you start: shorten the run
The fewer cables you have to hide, the easier it is. Plug the streaming stick straight into the TV, use the TV's built-in apps where you can, and put the soundbar on the same HDMI connection (HDMI ARC or eARC) so one cable carries the sound. Many setups end up with just a power cable and one HDMI cable.
1. Paintable cord cover (raceway)
A flat plastic channel sticks to the wall with adhesive tape and hides cables inside. Run it straight down from the TV to the outlet or the media console, then paint it the same colour as the wall. Once painted, it almost disappears. Use the widest channel you can so you can add a cable later.
- Cost: $15–$30
- Best for: plain painted walls
2. Corner and baseboard channels
If the TV is near a corner, run the raceway down the corner instead of the middle of the wall — corners hide lines well. A baseboard-style channel along the bottom of the wall carries cables to an outlet several feet away without being noticed.
3. Wrap a pillar or column
For a TV on a pillar, use a fabric cable sleeve or a slim raceway along the back of the column, away from where people sit. On round columns, a flexible cord cover bends around the curve. A strap-on pillar mount keeps the TV and the cables off the column surface, so nothing needs to be drilled or glued.
4. Let the furniture hide them
Put a console, a sideboard or a narrow shelf directly under the TV. The cables drop behind it and the power strip and boxes live inside it. A tall plant or a floor lamp next to the console hides anything still visible.
5. Use a cord-hiding panel or frame
A decorative wood slat panel or a gallery wall around the TV gives the eye something else to look at and can conceal a cable running behind it. A wood panel behind the TV also makes the screen look built-in.
6. Outdoor options
Outdoors, use cable covers rated for UV and weather, or run cables in a short length of outdoor conduit along the back of a post. Keep connections in a weatherproof box and always plug into a covered outdoor outlet with GFCI protection.
Which method should you choose?
- Plain drywall, renting: paintable raceway, painted to match the wall
- TV above a console: let the furniture hide the drop, and tidy the rest inside
- Brick, concrete or tile: a slim raceway along a grout line or a corner, or a cable sleeve
- Column or pillar: a flexible cover or sleeve on the side away from the seating
- Outdoors: UV-rated covers or outdoor conduit, with a weatherproof box for connections
If you are not sure, start with the raceway. It is cheap, it comes off cleanly, and once painted it is hard to spot from the sofa.
Tidy behind the TV too
- Use velcro ties to bundle cables together
- Label each cable at both ends
- Leave a little slack so a swivel or full-motion mount can move freely
Frequently asked questions
How do renters hide TV wires?
Use an adhesive paintable cord cover, a furniture piece under the TV or a cable sleeve. All of them come off without damaging the wall.
Is it safe to run a TV power cable inside the wall?
Ordinary power cords should not be run inside walls. In-wall setups need a kit rated for it, usually with a recessed power outlet. If you want that, ask an electrician.
Mounting a TV on a column? Read how to mount a TV on a pillar without drilling, or see finished rooms in our living room ideas.
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