TV systems have become arguably more complex in recent years with their ability to connect auxiliary devices, usually involving additional cabling. The mess of trailing cables this can lead to is one of the biggest frustrations, and with the evolution of the flat-screen TV, wall mounting has become a popular option, exacerbating the problem. Devices are continually moving towards wireless connectivity, but we will always have the problem of power cables. With the right products and some effort, we can efficiently create a seamless aesthetic.
Wall mounting your TV can save vast amounts of space and compliment your living space rather than intrude on it but how we conceal the cables will depend on the construction of the wall.
Stud Walls
Stud walls can make hiding cables simple, concealing them directly behind the plasterboard. This is not a process to be undertaken without the appropriate fixings, techniques and a little caution!
Once the TV itself is safely mounted, the simplest way to conceal the cables behind plasterboard is to create a hole behind the TV through which the wires can be fed into the wall using a specialist cable routing tool. The cables can be fed out through another hole further down the wall where you want the cables to exit the wall and connect to the AV equipment or power source.
For a more professional finish, you could go a step further. Rather than open holes in the wall, you could install a plasterboard backbox at both points with a brushed faceplate. With a faceplate of this type, the bristles allow cable entry or exit points whilst maintaining a tidier and more professional finish.
Brick / Solid Walls
Solid walls and brickwork are a little more effort, but the end result will ultimately be worth it. You will need to chase out the brickwork to create a channel down the wall to house appropriate trucking or conduit, from the required entry to exit points. The trunking or conduit will allow you to route the cables with minimal damage to the wall. Similarly to the stud wall, you should mount a backbox at each point with a brushed faceplate. Once this is completed, it is a matter of filling, skimming and painting the area of removed brickwork.
Using Trunking
Invasive methods we have discussed above are not for everyone. You may need more easily accessible cables or not have the expertise or tools required to complete the job. PVC trunking is the next best option and can be easily painted to be camouflaged into the decor, leaving it almost invisible when done correctly. In this scenario, the most common installation technique would be to run square trunking along the top of the skirting board, followed by half-round trunking, such as D line trunking, up the wall to the TV.
AV cables for surround sound, often need to travel a further distance and around corners. Quadrant trunking along the skirting board where it meets the floor is ideal for this scenario as it can be made to look like scotia or beading and is available in wood effect colours to match laminate or wood flooring. D line trunking is another ideal candidate for the job as it is flexible enough to run around corners, doorframes, fireplaces etc.
Trunking is available in many decorative varieties of differing shapes and sizes to suit your requirements and environment.
Tips for concealing TV cables
Shorten cables to the required length
Less cable means less to conceal. TV cables are often longer than required, and the cable plugs are usually easily replaced once you have the cable an appropriate length. Coaxial, cat5 and cat6 cables are designed to be cut to length and the plug re-terminated.
Make full use of velcro wraps or cable ties.
Cable ties are a great way to control excess cable where shortening them isn't an option. Coil up the cable and secure with a cable tie to prevent the wires getting tangled, knotted or caught around anything. Cable ties are also useful to secure cables to things like furniture legs or the TV bracket. Velcro wraps are a more recent innovation that have many advantages; environmentally friendly, reusable, adjustable, easy to use and reuse.
Where possible, run cable outside.
This is not strictly a solution to conceal cable, but running cables outside where possible does negate the need to conceal a proportion of the cable. Trunking can be used outdoors without being too intrusive, or you can also use a protective cable guard explicitly designed for protecting cables on outside walls.
Utilise cupboards and wardrobes to run cables through discreetly.
Depending on the property, there are ways to be inventive with your install. Make full use of any existing spaces you can run cable through to keep it concealed with no additional install.
Cables can be run under floorboards, carpet or laminate.
Sometimes there might be a requirement to run a cable from one side of a room to another. This situation can be resolved using cable trunking, particularly if you have a tiled or solid floor, but there may be another way in other circumstances. Depending on the property it may be possible to run the cable under carpet, laminate or by lifting floorboards to drop the cable underneath using cable routing rods.
Using coving to hide cables.
If you are looking to install devices at ceiling height, such as speakers, coving can be a great way to conceal the cables. Where possible, positioning the cable and installing coving to hide them afterwards is the most straightforward install, but often the coving is existing. With a little patience, cable can be pulled through existing coving without too much of an issue.
Kitchen kickboards can hide cable effectively.
If you are running cable through a kitchen area, utilising the kickboards to run the wire behind is a convenient solution. On the whole, kickboards can simply be unclipped, run the cable behind and clip them back into place.
Make the most of wireless solutions!
Generally speaking, wired technology is more reliable and provides better performance. However, wireless technology has evolved significantly in recent years. Sometimes wireless is not an option due to the way radio waves travel. Larger buildings and some specific construction materials do not allow the radio waves to travel freely.
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