Electric wires, shoelaces, cables coming from various household appliances to sockets can prettyly spoil the appearance of the room, become an easy “target” for small children, “toothy” pets. When there are a lot of electrical appliances, the question arises: how to hide the wires so that they are not visible or they are minimally noticeable. There are many ways, most of them are easy to translate into reality with your own hands.
Why is it necessary to hide the electric wires, why they should not be within reach:
it is ugly - plexus heaps of cords in the most prominent places greatly spoil the appearance of the room, violating the integrity of most interiors, especially the "historical". The only exceptions are spaces decorated in the style of techno, industrial, loft, art-belief;
it’s not safe - it’s easy to catch, fall, get injured by the cable stretched across the room. Children whose teeth are cut, many pets, are able to gnaw electrical wires out of curiosity, which often leads to electric shock of varying severity.
In addition to the cords themselves, it is advisable to hide the “boxes” of extension cords, along with many gadgets sticking out of them.
Hiding wires in the wall
The most popular option is when the cable is hidden directly in the wall - the so-called "hidden wiring." To do this, cut the appropriate recesses in it, where they put the electric wires, cover the recesses. It turns out dusty, long enough, but if the work is done efficiently, dangerous parts are reliably hidden - to see, and even more damage them, without violating the integrity of the wall will fail.
In concrete / brick wall
It is advisable to lay the electrical wiring at the stage of repair, better - the layout of the room. While the walls are bare, there is no decor on them, the damage will be minimal. It is important to know that “pulling” the cable diagonally, which is sometimes done for reasons of economy, is unacceptable - hidden electrical wiring is laid only horizontally and vertically. This will quickly fix it in the event of an accident, minimizing the risk of electric shock. The minimum distance from the ceiling to hidden wires is 15-18 cm.
To begin with, a wiring plan is drawn up, the markup is made by the construction or laser method. To make the strobes, take a puncher, grinder or shtroborez. Details are attached to the brick, concrete wall with dowel clamps. After the cable is laid, the grooves are primed, covered with plaster, the wall is leveled.
In the drywall wall
Installation of electrical wiring under drywall is much easier than in concrete. Here you should also lay the cable along a clear route so that multiple screws do not damage it. To begin with, the frame is “assembled” from aluminum profiles, drywall. It is required to lay the cord in a special corrugated pipe, which has a fire safety certificate. When a plasterboard wall is already available and it is necessary to lay a cable in it, then a layout diagram of the electrical equipment is drawn up. The cords here extend horizontally, vertically, including through the holes in the metal profiles supporting the drywall.
Floor mounting, ceiling
Placing the wiring on the ceiling is convenient if the latter is partially or completely made of drywall, stretch films, hollow wooden, plastic false beams. Such coatings perfectly mask all cables, corrugated pipes, and other communications. This is convenient in cases where the floor, walls are almost ready, they have a unique, highly artistic coating - it is problematic to change anything.
Cables are let on the floor, if it is done on the ceiling, walls are impossible. Then the screed is made four to seven centimeters thick - under such a layer it is easy to hide any number of electrical wires. Another factor of convenience is the placement of sockets, switches as close to the floor (30-90 cm.). Here you will have to ditch the wall for installing the socket boxes quite a bit, the cable savings will also come out significant.
It is important to choose the most durable, heavy corrugation for each cord, and install most of the wiring at a distance of 20-30 cm from the wall.Fastening to the floor is carried out using flexible punch tape, textile material or on a grid.
Skirting boards with cable channels
Collapsible plastic skirting boards are equipped with holes in which the cord is inserted, several wires simultaneously. Advantages of skirting boards with cable channels:
no need to ditch the walls, violating their integrity, spending time on repairing bumps;
the ability to beautifully hide all wires, almost anywhere in the apartment;
the element is flexible enough - it will turn out to be used even if the wall is crooked;
the baseboard is easily washed from various contaminants, does not fade under direct sunlight;
the item is available in various colors, matched to the existing flooring.
The cable channel is located inside the structure in the center or in the removable upper half. The first option is suitable when you need to hide three or four wires, the second - for several thick cords. The baseboard is important to choose by color, width, mount it from the inner corners of the room. All corners are closed with special decorative pads, purchased with skirting boards.
For timber, concrete, plasterboard walls, appropriate fasteners are used here - the skirting board should fit snugly against both the wall and the floor.
Cable channels, their types for masking wires
Plastic channels, where they put it, stick in the cord, called cable channels. This is one of the most convenient options for hiding electrical wires, used after finishing the finishing work. They are often used in the kitchen - it is convenient when the repair is done, but later acquired additional equipment such as air conditioning, washing machine, lighting.
Cable channels vary in color, they are easy to replace, supplement with new branches. The design is made of fireproof materials, the cords in it are most protected from damage from the outside, ultraviolet radiation.The downside here is that it is problematic to choose a color for some interior styles (baroque, environmental, empire, rustic, etc.), although the design looks much better than wires hanging from everywhere. When the cable channel is located on a corner, any ledge, it is easy to hook on it.
The element is made of plastic, metal (galvanized steel, anodized aluminum), it is U-shaped, W-shaped, triangular, semicircular section. Fastening to the wall, floor, is carried out with self-tapping screws, dowel-nails, iron brackets, anchors. There are also flexible rubber, wire, and transparent options.
Camouflage covers
It is possible to make a cover with one's own hand for one, several cords at the same time, from plastic bags cut into narrow long strips. Of these, a kind of “sleeve” is knitted or crocheted, into which all the necessary wiring is inserted. To hide the extension cord with charges, a suitable bag is knitted or sewn.
Some shops offer decorative collapsible covers made of plastic, in the form of tree branches, colored tubes, shiny snakes. This design does not have protective properties, like cable channels, but it is permissible to cover “ugly” wires with it. If desired, a special spiral braid is purchased - it is flexible, has an aesthetic appearance, and allows you to hide both one element and many wires.
Decor stickers, stickers, improvised means
Decorative elements that help to hide or neatly fix numerous cords are sold almost everywhere, they are quite inexpensive. In this way, you can decorate the cord coming from the sconces over the bed in the bedroom. To decorate the cable from the TV, the lace from the heater, running on the floor, will be obtained using a "toy" mini-fence glued to the baseboard. If a plurality of elements are planned to be carefully hidden behind a fence, screed clamps are used.
Decorative clamps are now sold in all electrical stores. They are an adjustable flexible clamp, decorated with leaves, flowers, butterflies, birds, houses. In romantic interiors, the laces are decorated with sequins and feathers, in the children's room - stickers depicting fairy tale heroes, beloved toons.
Wires as an art object
It is easy to create an original contour image from a long cord contrasting with the wall near which it is located. When the cords are long enough, which can be organized intentionally, geometric patterns are laid out from them, whole story paintings - panoramas of cities, animal silhouettes, people's profiles, trees, legs and backs of furniture, framing of mirrors.
Loft-style interiors are also easy to decorate with wires, laying bricks out of them, and deliberately designing huge corrugated pipes coated with bronze paint. The latter also fit in their intended form.
Colored electrical cords can become a continuation of the wall painting, duplicating the pattern on the curtains, the floor, imitating the “missing” parts of various designs.
Cable as a detail of the interior, style
Loft is one of the few interior styles in which it is permissible not to hide, but rather emphasize the presence of wires in various places in every possible way. The original wiring in the "retro" style, which not so long ago was found only in truly old houses, is now offered by many companies specializing in electrical wiring.
In such an interior it is easy to meet:
twisted electric wires "ivory", "copper", "brass";
convex retro switches "under an ivory";
"antique" sockets;
cords imitating aged silver.
In the loft, the wires do not hide at all, but nobody canceled the safety here - when there is a risk of accidental damage, it is better to hide the element in massive cable channels, stylized as copper, steel, corrugated pipes, wooden boxes, etc.
Ideas for hiding cable from TV, home theater
Cables, cords from the TV, set-top boxes, speakers are neatly hidden behind the shelf on which the TV is located. If the screen is decided to hang on the wall - the wire is hidden in a box, matched to the color of the wallpaper, and underneath is a climbing plant, the antennae and branches of which are allowed to curl around the box.
Many designers propose not to hide the wires, but simply decorate them with colored ribbons, for decorating an apartment in the style of pop art, indoor plants (curly ones are optimal) - for an eco-style, hollow snags-boxes, wooden panels, if we are talking about classic interiors .
When you have to hang the bracket for a heavy TV, the design of the first one is chosen to fit all the sockets there. Sometimes a wall box is mounted on the wall where the TV screen will be placed, in which the cords from the speakers, the DVD player, and other electronics will hide.
Tips, ways to hide wires in the workplace
In the home office, so that it looks neat, the laces coming from the computer, the router also need to be removed. A clerical clip will allow you to “let in” a cord that gets tangled under your feet, under the table surface - from its very edge. The clip is easy to fix on the wall, shelf, and from several of these parts you get a kind of dividers for the inputs of different charges. If possible, the wires hanging in the area around the back of the table are simply curtained with a textile curtain. Some of them can be arranged in a mini-hammock - the “head” of the extension cord can easily be placed there, along with chargers that greatly interfere with the table.
Some firms produce special wire dividers - two or more cords are neatly laid inside a wooden, plastic, rubber or metal structure. Cool store option for holding wiring, looks like two wire electric towers.Pockets made of plastic bottles and clothes pockets look funny - they hang the product on a wall outlet, turn on the charger, and the phone itself and the cord from it are quietly in the pocket.
By a simple modernization of the table, which has spacious drawers, all the electrics will neatly hide there.
How to hide wires from charging
Modern people often have to charge several devices at the same time. When they are all inserted into one “tee” or “multi-tail” charging is applied, with three to five cords for different devices, all the elements are assembled under one stationery clip, attached to any nearby surface. Some purchased options are separator boxes with four to six figured holes through which only the “tails” of the charges are displayed. Such a product is easy to do with your own hands, by upgrading a simple shoe box covered with a cloth wrapped in colored paper.
Safety - how to hide wires from a child
Many companies that produce household goods produce a whole series of protective elements designed to protect the little man from electric shock. Companies such as Ikea produce convenient clamps for wires - they are difficult to cut, break, and two or four cords can easily fit inside.
Special integrated designs that allow you to charge your phone or tablet are built into any furniture surface - they are easy to place outside the reach of a child. The same company produces boxes, handbags, covers on buttons - extension boxes are hidden in them, partly electric wires, which allows you to give a neat appearance to the whole room. For individual devices, there are completely wireless designs - to charge a tablet, phone, player on them, simply put the gadget on such a charger.
If protection items for shoelaces, extension cords could not be purchased, all “dangerous” items are hidden in large cardboard, plastic, wooden boxes, which are placed in places inaccessible to the baby.
Conclusion
Wireless technology is still not widespread - the vast majority of electrical appliances have to be plugged in. The output is sheltering the cords in the cable channel, into the wall or under the baseboard. It is also possible to make a real work of art from a long wire using original decorative elements. Qualitatively mask electrical cables, cords from all appliances to the ceiling, the floor is usually helped by electricians.
Electric wires, shoelaces, cables coming from various household appliances to sockets can prettyly spoil the appearance of the room, become an easy “target” for small children, “toothy” pets. When there are a lot of electrical appliances, the question arises: how to hide the wires so that they are not visible or they are minimally noticeable. There are many ways, most of them are easy to translate into reality with your own hands.
Content
The need for wire masking
Why is it necessary to hide the electric wires, why they should not be within reach:
Hiding wires in the wall
The most popular option is when the cable is hidden directly in the wall - the so-called "hidden wiring." To do this, cut the appropriate recesses in it, where they put the electric wires, cover the recesses. It turns out dusty, long enough, but if the work is done efficiently, dangerous parts are reliably hidden - to see, and even more damage them, without violating the integrity of the wall will fail.
In concrete / brick wall
It is advisable to lay the electrical wiring at the stage of repair, better - the layout of the room. While the walls are bare, there is no decor on them, the damage will be minimal. It is important to know that “pulling” the cable diagonally, which is sometimes done for reasons of economy, is unacceptable - hidden electrical wiring is laid only horizontally and vertically. This will quickly fix it in the event of an accident, minimizing the risk of electric shock. The minimum distance from the ceiling to hidden wires is 15-18 cm.
To begin with, a wiring plan is drawn up, the markup is made by the construction or laser method. To make the strobes, take a puncher, grinder or shtroborez. Details are attached to the brick, concrete wall with dowel clamps. After the cable is laid, the grooves are primed, covered with plaster, the wall is leveled.
In the drywall wall
Installation of electrical wiring under drywall is much easier than in concrete. Here you should also lay the cable along a clear route so that multiple screws do not damage it. To begin with, the frame is “assembled” from aluminum profiles, drywall. It is required to lay the cord in a special corrugated pipe, which has a fire safety certificate.
When a plasterboard wall is already available and it is necessary to lay a cable in it, then a layout diagram of the electrical equipment is drawn up. The cords here extend horizontally, vertically, including through the holes in the metal profiles supporting the drywall.
Floor mounting, ceiling
Placing the wiring on the ceiling is convenient if the latter is partially or completely made of drywall, stretch films, hollow wooden, plastic false beams. Such coatings perfectly mask all cables, corrugated pipes, and other communications. This is convenient in cases where the floor, walls are almost ready, they have a unique, highly artistic coating - it is problematic to change anything.
Cables are let on the floor, if it is done on the ceiling, walls are impossible. Then the screed is made four to seven centimeters thick - under such a layer it is easy to hide any number of electrical wires. Another factor of convenience is the placement of sockets, switches as close to the floor (30-90 cm.). Here you will have to ditch the wall for installing the socket boxes quite a bit, the cable savings will also come out significant.
Skirting boards with cable channels
Collapsible plastic skirting boards are equipped with holes in which the cord is inserted, several wires simultaneously. Advantages of skirting boards with cable channels:
The cable channel is located inside the structure in the center or in the removable upper half. The first option is suitable when you need to hide three or four wires, the second - for several thick cords. The baseboard is important to choose by color, width, mount it from the inner corners of the room. All corners are closed with special decorative pads, purchased with skirting boards.
Cable channels, their types for masking wires
Plastic channels, where they put it, stick in the cord, called cable channels. This is one of the most convenient options for hiding electrical wires, used after finishing the finishing work. They are often used in the kitchen - it is convenient when the repair is done, but later acquired additional equipment such as air conditioning, washing machine, lighting.
Cable channels vary in color, they are easy to replace, supplement with new branches. The design is made of fireproof materials, the cords in it are most protected from damage from the outside, ultraviolet radiation.The downside here is that it is problematic to choose a color for some interior styles (baroque, environmental, empire, rustic, etc.), although the design looks much better than wires hanging from everywhere. When the cable channel is located on a corner, any ledge, it is easy to hook on it.
The element is made of plastic, metal (galvanized steel, anodized aluminum), it is U-shaped, W-shaped, triangular, semicircular section. Fastening to the wall, floor, is carried out with self-tapping screws, dowel-nails, iron brackets, anchors. There are also flexible rubber, wire, and transparent options.
Camouflage covers
It is possible to make a cover with one's own hand for one, several cords at the same time, from plastic bags cut into narrow long strips. Of these, a kind of “sleeve” is knitted or crocheted, into which all the necessary wiring is inserted. To hide the extension cord with charges, a suitable bag is knitted or sewn.
Some shops offer decorative collapsible covers made of plastic, in the form of tree branches, colored tubes, shiny snakes. This design does not have protective properties, like cable channels, but it is permissible to cover “ugly” wires with it. If desired, a special spiral braid is purchased - it is flexible, has an aesthetic appearance, and allows you to hide both one element and many wires.
Decor stickers, stickers, improvised means
Decorative elements that help to hide or neatly fix numerous cords are sold almost everywhere, they are quite inexpensive. In this way, you can decorate the cord coming from the sconces over the bed in the bedroom. To decorate the cable from the TV, the lace from the heater, running on the floor, will be obtained using a "toy" mini-fence glued to the baseboard. If a plurality of elements are planned to be carefully hidden behind a fence, screed clamps are used.
Decorative clamps are now sold in all electrical stores. They are an adjustable flexible clamp, decorated with leaves, flowers, butterflies, birds, houses. In romantic interiors, the laces are decorated with sequins and feathers, in the children's room - stickers depicting fairy tale heroes, beloved toons.
Wires as an art object
It is easy to create an original contour image from a long cord contrasting with the wall near which it is located. When the cords are long enough, which can be organized intentionally, geometric patterns are laid out from them, whole story paintings - panoramas of cities, animal silhouettes, people's profiles, trees, legs and backs of furniture, framing of mirrors.
Loft-style interiors are also easy to decorate with wires, laying bricks out of them, and deliberately designing huge corrugated pipes coated with bronze paint. The latter also fit in their intended form.
Cable as a detail of the interior, style
Loft is one of the few interior styles in which it is permissible not to hide, but rather emphasize the presence of wires in various places in every possible way. The original wiring in the "retro" style, which not so long ago was found only in truly old houses, is now offered by many companies specializing in electrical wiring.
In such an interior it is easy to meet:
Ideas for hiding cable from TV, home theater
Cables, cords from the TV, set-top boxes, speakers are neatly hidden behind the shelf on which the TV is located. If the screen is decided to hang on the wall - the wire is hidden in a box, matched to the color of the wallpaper, and underneath is a climbing plant, the antennae and branches of which are allowed to curl around the box.
Many designers propose not to hide the wires, but simply decorate them with colored ribbons, for decorating an apartment in the style of pop art, indoor plants (curly ones are optimal) - for an eco-style, hollow snags-boxes, wooden panels, if we are talking about classic interiors .
When you have to hang the bracket for a heavy TV, the design of the first one is chosen to fit all the sockets there. Sometimes a wall box is mounted on the wall where the TV screen will be placed, in which the cords from the speakers, the DVD player, and other electronics will hide.
Tips, ways to hide wires in the workplace
In the home office, so that it looks neat, the laces coming from the computer, the router also need to be removed. A clerical clip will allow you to “let in” a cord that gets tangled under your feet, under the table surface - from its very edge. The clip is easy to fix on the wall, shelf, and from several of these parts you get a kind of dividers for the inputs of different charges. If possible, the wires hanging in the area around the back of the table are simply curtained with a textile curtain. Some of them can be arranged in a mini-hammock - the “head” of the extension cord can easily be placed there, along with chargers that greatly interfere with the table.
Some firms produce special wire dividers - two or more cords are neatly laid inside a wooden, plastic, rubber or metal structure. Cool store option for holding wiring, looks like two wire electric towers.Pockets made of plastic bottles and clothes pockets look funny - they hang the product on a wall outlet, turn on the charger, and the phone itself and the cord from it are quietly in the pocket.
How to hide wires from charging
Modern people often have to charge several devices at the same time. When they are all inserted into one “tee” or “multi-tail” charging is applied, with three to five cords for different devices, all the elements are assembled under one stationery clip, attached to any nearby surface. Some purchased options are separator boxes with four to six figured holes through which only the “tails” of the charges are displayed. Such a product is easy to do with your own hands, by upgrading a simple shoe box covered with a cloth wrapped in colored paper.
Safety - how to hide wires from a child
Many companies that produce household goods produce a whole series of protective elements designed to protect the little man from electric shock. Companies such as Ikea produce convenient clamps for wires - they are difficult to cut, break, and two or four cords can easily fit inside.
Special integrated designs that allow you to charge your phone or tablet are built into any furniture surface - they are easy to place outside the reach of a child. The same company produces boxes, handbags, covers on buttons - extension boxes are hidden in them, partly electric wires, which allows you to give a neat appearance to the whole room. For individual devices, there are completely wireless designs - to charge a tablet, phone, player on them, simply put the gadget on such a charger.
Conclusion
Wireless technology is still not widespread - the vast majority of electrical appliances have to be plugged in. The output is sheltering the cords in the cable channel, into the wall or under the baseboard. It is also possible to make a real work of art from a long wire using original decorative elements. Qualitatively mask electrical cables, cords from all appliances to the ceiling, the floor is usually helped by electricians.