How do you hide coaxial cable?

Coaxial cable, often called coax, is the kind of cable that connects your TV, cable box, and other devices to your cable TV service. It’s designed to carry high-frequency electrical signals with minimal loss over long distances.

While coaxial cable is great for delivering high quality video and data signals, it’s not the most aesthetically pleasing thing to have snaking across your living room. Exposed cables dangling from your devices can create an eyesore and trip hazard. Fortunately, there are several techniques you can use to neatly hide coaxial cables for a cleaner, safer home entertainment setup.

Why Hide Coaxial Cables?

Here are some of the top reasons you may want to conceal your coax cables:

• Improve aesthetics – Exposed cables are messy and cluttered looking. Hiding them cleans up the appearance of your space.
• Reduce tripping hazard – Loose cables on the floor can cause people to trip. Concealing cables reduces safety risks.
• Protect cables from damage – Cables that are out in the open can get accidentally stepped on or snagged, damaging them over time. Hiding them protects the integrity of the cables.
• Child and pet safety – Loose cables pose strangulation and chewing risks for kids and pets. Keeping cables out of reach protects them.
• Dust and clutter buildup – Exposed cables collect dust and clutter over time. Concealing them makes cleaning easier.

Overall, neatly hiding coaxial cables results in a cleaner, safer, and better functioning home entertainment system. The time and effort to conceal the cables is well worth it for most homeowners.

Tips for Hiding Coaxial Cables

Here are some of the most effective techniques for concealing coaxial cables in your home:

1. Run Cables Through Walls

One of the best ways to completely hide cables is by running them through walls and ceilings. This fully conceals the cable for the cleanest look. However, this does involve drilling holes through walls and fishing cable through them which is more complex.

If running cables through walls, be sure to:

• Map out the wiring route in advance
• Use existing holes and gaps if possible to avoid new holes
• Drill holes in inconspicuous areas like behind furniture or under baseboards
• Use cable wall plates or connectors to neatly fit cables through holes
• Seal up any gaps around cables with caulk to prevent drafts

While running cable through walls provides the most seamless finish, it does require some handiwork and possibly patching or painting holes later.

2. Hide Cables Under Baseboards

Another relatively easy way to conceal coaxial cables is tucking them under baseboard trim around floors. Simply pry the baseboards up slightly, push the cable underneath, and reattach the trim. The cable will be completely hidden by the baseboard.

When hiding cables under baseboards:

• Look for loose baseboard pieces to avoid unnecessary prying
• Use a credit card or putty knife to gently lift the trim just enough to tuck the cable beneath
• Make sure the cable fits fully under the trim without pressure on it
• Reattach baseboards tightly so they sit flush to the wall

This is a quick, easy cable hiding solution, although it won’t work with all floor trim pieces. It also may not hide very long cable runs.

3. Conceal Cables Behind Moldings

For longer cable runs, another option is concealing coaxial cables behind crown molding, baseboard molding, or quarter-round trim pieces. Simply install the molding over the previously run cables to neatly hide them from view.

When installing trim molding over cables:

• Measure and cut molding pieces to exact length to avoid gaps
• Miter cut any corners for a seamless fit
• Anchor molding securely in place with nails or adhesive
• Fill any gaps with caulk for a smooth look

Using coordinating trim molding is an attractive way to conceal cables along floors, walls, and ceilings.

4. Hide Cables Under Area Rugs

For floors, area rugs provide an easy way to conceal coaxial cables. Simply run cables between furniture and under area rugs to keep them out of sight.

Tips for hiding cables under rugs:

• Place cables along edges of rooms under rugs
• Don’t overlap cables or create tripping hazards
• Use cable ramps or protectors when cables cross walkways
• Consider weaving cables through rug backing to hold in place
• Choose rugs or runners wider than cable length to fully cover

Rugs allow you to quickly conceal cables without any installation work. Just be sure cables don’t get tangled in rug corners.

5. Use Cable Concealers or Raceways

Forexposed cable runs along floors and walls, cable concealers or wire raceways hide cables while allowing you to safely access them. Plastic raceways enclose cables and adhere to surfaces. Concealers like channels or sleeves neatly hold cables in place.

When using cable concealers and raceways:

• Look for low profile designs that fit flush to surfaces
• Choose colors matching your walls or floors to minimize visibility
• Only fill to about 50% capacity to allow room for expansion
• Avoid bending cables tighter than allowed bend radius

Cable raceways and concealers work well for straight cable runs in visible areas. Just take care not to overfill them.

6. Wrap Cables in Coordinating Materials

For a simpler cable hiding solution, you can just wrap exposed cables in coordinating materials to blend in with your décor. Options like self-adhesive cable wraps, braided sleeve tubing, intertwining cables, or electrical tape allow you to cover cables in minutes.

When wrapping cables:

• Choose colors and textures matching your walls
• Wrap cables neatly without bulges and kinks
• Keep cable bundles loose enough to avoid signal loss
• Take care not to tightly wrap any connectors or ends

Wrapping cables is quick but doesn’t hide them. It mainly improves aesthetics and reduces dust buildup.

7. Run Cables Along Corners and Edges

When running exposed cables, positioning them neatly along corners and edges helps them blend in. Run cables where walls meet floors, where moldings meet walls, or tucked behind furniture.

Tips for positioning cables discreetly:

• Only run cables along edges when necessary
• Keep cable runs as short as possible
• Use cable clips to neatly attach cables against surfaces
• Paint cables to match the color of the surface they’re attached to

Running cables along seams and edges minimizes how visible they are. Just take care not to create tripping hazards.

8. Bundle Cables Neatly

For areas with multiple exposed cables, neatly bundling them together can drastically improve the look. Use velcro straps or zip ties to group cables, coil excess slack, and prevent tangled messes.

When bundling cables:

• Group cables traveling in the same direction
• Keep bundles as compact as possible
• Avoid overtightening ties or straps
• Position bundles to minimize visibility
• Allow enough slack in cables for equipment adjustments

Neat, compact cable bundles not only improve aesthetics but also make dusting and cleaning easier.

9. Use Cable Boxes or Raceways

For spaces where you need to conceal a lot of cabling, cable boxes or raceway systems hide tons of cables neatly. Plastic cable boxes fully enclose jumbled cables while raceways route them through organized channels.

Tips for using cable boxes and raceways:

• Install under desks, behind entertainment centers, or in closets
• Choose high capacity options with room for expansion
• Only use approved low voltage boxes to avoid fire risks
• Label cables clearly for easy identification later

Cable boxes and raceways keep cable clutter fully out of sight in storage areas. Just be cautious of overfilling them.

10. Call an AV Installer for Help

For complex home theater setups with wall mounted TVs or multi-room audio systems, calling a professional AV installer is wise. They have the expertise to neatly route cables through walls, ceilings, and furnishings for an integrated clean look.

Benefits of using a professional include:

• Custom cabling design for your unique space
• Access to advanced fishing tools for hard to run cables
• Ability to conceal cables in walls, ceilings, and floors
• Precision cutting, mounting, and finishing for a seamless look
• Improved performance with optimal cable types and minimal length

Although hiring an installer costs more upfront, it saves you time and results in a meticulously installed system.

Tips for Installing Concealed Cables

Here are some additional tips to follow when concealing cabling in your home:

• Leave extra length for repairs – Don’t run cables too taut. Leave some slack for adjustments.
• Avoid sharp bends – Sharp cable bends can damage cables and degrade signal.
• Watch cable minimum bend radius – Don’t bend cables tighter than manufacturer specifications.
• Keep dust and dirt out – Use grommets when running cables through holes to avoid debris accumulation.
• Don’t overload concealers – Only fill cable concealers halfway to avoid jamming cables.
• Label cables – Label each end of concealed cables so you can easily identify them later.
• Test cables before concealing – Make sure all connections work properly before permanently hiding cables.

Properly installing concealed cables takes planning but yields much cleaner results in the long run.

Conclusion

Exposed cables running across floors and draped behind TVs and computers can make your home look messy and cluttered. Thankfully there are a variety of effective techniques for concealing coaxial cables in your home. Options like cable boxes, raceways, cable sleeves, cord covers, and strategic furniture placement allow you to hide away unsightly cables for a cleaner look. For whole home video and audio systems, hiring a professional AV installer is wise to neatly route cables through walls and ceilings. Taking the time to properly conceal cables improves aesthetics, reduces tripping hazards, and creates a cleaner living environment while still allowing you flexible access to your devices. Your home’s décor and technology can coexist in harmony with some clever cable management solutions.