Hiding TV Wires

If you’re going to invest a lot of money in an entertainment system, you need to go the extra mile and make sure it looks nice in your home. This can be a fairly simple job, you just need to ask yourself: “how far do I want to take this?”

Why should you hide your TV wires? Because it looks nice. This might be the only wire showing, but you can clean it up to make it look clean. If you do have an A/C outlet, then you are good. If you can install one, even better. If you do not have an A/C outlet exactly where the TV will be hung, then the A/C cord will show. It is against home code regulations to place A/C cords behind walls due to this causing fires.

This is a two-part section–one for those starting from scratch, and another for those with a wall in place already and just want to install various component wires.

Starting from Scratch:

Starting from scratch means you have taken off the drywall and are left with the studs.

1. Decide where you want your TV. Make measurements to where you want TV and where you will have your components (Blu Ray, cable box, surround sound, etc.) Are they going to be directly under the TV? Or are they going to be away in a corner where they are not seen?
2. Make sure the wiring behind the wall is up-to-date.
3. If wires are up-to-date, have your electrician add an A/C outlet where you want your TV and components. Also ask your electrician if he/she can install an electrical box for your component wires on both ends.
4. If not possible, have your electrician give you some options and act accordingly. It’s always better if you can have an A/C outlet just for the TV.
5. During the time that the wall is bare, call you cable/satellite provider to come and install. This would be easier for the installer since they don’t have to worry about dry wall. All they have to do is drill holes in the studs from the outside to the components and TV.
6. Now you can use those holes in the studs to install all the other components you would like to install. Make sure you measure where you want components and TV so the wires are not short. It is best if they are at least two feet out of the wall from either end–this gives the wires some slack to be able to move around if needed.
7. Run wires through the studs from TV to components.
8. Install anything else you want before the drywall goes up. (lighting, extra electrical outlets, etc. )
9. Measure on the studs where the bracket will go later–this makes things a lot easier when you’re ready to place the bracket on the wall.
10. After the drywall is up and the paint is dry, place TV bracket up and install.

Starting with Wall in Place:

1. Look for wall studs in the area that the TV and wires will go. Make sure you look for horizontal and vertical studs.
2. Once you decide where you want the TV, make sure you run wires between the two studs where the bracket will be secured onto.
3. Decide where you want your wires to come out from on both ends. Make sure it’s next to a stud so an electrical box can be installed.
4. Use an electrical box to mark where to cut holes next to stud.
5. Use a drywall saw to cut hole. Don’t worry if you make a wider hole since the box will be secured by a nail to the stud and the hole will be covered by a face plate.
6. Run all component wires though holes making sure you have at least 2ft of slack between the TV and components.
7. Check that all wires work.
8. Open back of the box with a screwdriver and run the wires from the wall through the box.
9. Place the box inside the wall. Secure the nails on the box to the studs and check if this sturdy enough. Now do the other box.
10. Install face plate to the electrical Box.
11. Connect wires to all components.
12. Install your wall mount and TV.
13. Have only your TV A/C cord showing from the TV to the electrical outlet.

This may seem like a lot of steps but I guarantee you it’s easy. This will take you half a day to complete due to making sure things work and measuring. Trust me, it will be worth it. It will be John Dapper approved.

J. Navarro