We live with all the marvels of a digital age. Unfortunately we do not yet live in a wireless age. Attached to HDMI, ethernet, USB, and charging cables, many of our homes have a web of cords and cables threatening to trap and tie us down. This clutter can be unsightly and distracting, a frustrating clutter in our way. Even more concerning, they can also be unsafe hazards, especially to children and pets. Luckily, a host of solutions have been thought up to help tuck cables away using decluttering, cable organizers, and decorating hacks.
How do I organize my cable clutter?
The first step to organizing cable clutter is to take inventory of your cable sources, and track them from their start to finish. You may find cables that you no longer use, or that aren’t attached to anything! Removing any of these cables is a great first step towards decluttering your cable mess. Not sure if you’ll regret tossing that cable? Pack it away in a resealable baggie to avoid it tangling with other cables. Then, after a set time has passed, toss it. Likely it was partnered to an item you no longer use.
A next step would be to consider which of your devices could be replaced with wireless counterparts. For example, consider switching to a wireless mouse or keyboard to further remove cables covering your desk. Many common electronics that you may not have considered now have wireless alternatives.
After completing these steps, you will likely find that there is still a mess of cables covering your desk, your entertainment center, or your workspace. Unfortunately, while the number of cables in your home can be limited, in many cases they are unavoidable. At this point, it may be time to bring in some tools to accomplish the task as only cable organizers can.
What can I use for cable management?
There are a host of tools that can be used as cable organizers to tie together cables running on similar paths. Instead of a chaotic mass of tangled nonsense, cables look much more appealing when laid together on the same route and tied together so they don’t stray. Zip ties are a popular approach to keeping cords together, although they need to be destroyed whenever the cables require adjusting, which can have a negative environmental impact. They also still leave most of the cables open to view, and do a poor job of hiding them. Velcro or button cable ties can accomplish the same job, while being easily adjusted and reused as your setup changes. There are a few DIY options.
Cable clips are another smart addition to any system of cable organizers, working by keeping running along a path and attached to a wall or floor. This stops the cables from becoming tripping hazards or tangling. These clips can come in a variety of sizes to fit your needs and match the cables that need taming. They can be nailed or screwed into a surface that you are willing to put holes into. For a less permanent and destructive option, look for cable ties that are attached using an adhesive backing.
Some cables are messier than others by nature, and need some extra help to be tamed. For those you may find yourself needing an additional set of tools.
How do I manage messy cables?
Cables that tend to be the most messy and frustrating are the ones that are used most often. A good example would be chargers for devices that are constantly plugged in and then removed. Devices that remain plugged in constantly but are moved around over a workspace are another common culprit. Cables that are longer than needed for the space you are keeping a device are another source of tangling. The extra cable always seems to find a way to mix in with other cords and create a mess.
For these problematic scenarios, sometimes the best solution is a cable box. These boxes provide a container for messy cables to be hidden away, and provide a more visually appealing ornament for your workspace. While inside the box may be a jumble of cords tangled in knots, they will be out of sight and out of mind! These cable boxes can also serve as an additional protection to child-proof and pet-proof these potentially hazardous cords.
While these cable boxes are a big visual step up from the mayhem they are replacing, their appearance can be improved even further with a few well executed decorating hacks.
How do you hide cords when decorating?
When thinking of a beautiful home, few people want to decorate in a way that shows off their cables. A home with wide appeal that is exciting to show off is one with all of the cords that make the magic happen out of sight and out of mind. Even with the best cable organizers in use, the remaining evidence of these lines can be conspicuous and distracting.
Creative solutions exist! Covering a tied bundle of cables with a sleeve that matches the color of the wall behind is an effective method of camouflaging. Placing cable boxes inside hollow books on a bookshelf or on books laid on a table is a method that serves to better organize your home with a stealthy disguise. Cables using a path along baseboards can be run through cable trunking – a purpose-made path that can match the color of your baseboard and provide a track for the cables to follow, protected from potential damage, and removed from becoming a tripping hazard. With these solutions in place, cables can be easily disguised and hidden from view.
Conclusion
The job of hiding away and organizing cables may feel daunting, but is managed easily with the help of tools built for the purpose. You can find a system that covers all the bases with a complete system here on Amazon. A mess of tangled cords with no hope of a solution can be sorted out and disguised using a little bit of time, tools built for the job, and some well-placed decorative touches.
