You can find cord concealers and cable management solutions in all sizes, shapes, and colors, notes professional organizer Brenda Scott, owner at Tidy my Space. When looking for the best option, she advises considering how many cords you need to hide, whether the concealer is easy to cut to the size of your space, and whether the cable concealer is paintable, “so that you can paint it the color of the wall and disguise it,” she says. With these priorities in mind, we researched top cable organizing options based on durability, functionality, and visual appeal. Our pick for best overall, Yamazaki Home Cable Box, is a roomy option for many different wire types, including bulky power strips. It’s visually unobtrusive, too, and requires no installation, making it a great option for anyone who wants to skip the power tools. Here are the best cable management options. While the plastic exterior may give you doubts about this box’s durability, it’s a sturdy, heat-resistant PC-ABS resin. This material allows for its sleek stature, as well as its durability and overall safety. This design comes in three neutral colors, including white, black, and gray, so you’re bound to find a hue to blend right into your surroundings. This 15.7-inch wide box is suitable for longer extension cords and power strips with up to seven outlets. Though the Yamazaki accommodates strips and cords that may have trouble fitting in other cable-concealing boxes, not all options will fit. We also wish this box came with its own power strip, but you’ll need to provide one. In addition to an appealing but roomy minimalist build, this box boasts an ultra-lightweight feel. It weighs a mere 2.09 pounds, making it a breeze to move around the house on a whim. Lastly, this box does not require tools or assembly of any type, which means all you have to do is remove it from its packaging and place where you’d like to transform cable clutter. You can use this product in virtually any room of the house. It works particularly well in visible areas, such as the kitchen or atop a desk in an office space, as it is among the more visually appealing options you can get for a cable box. We love the wooden top for how it adds to the design but it lacks a locking mechanism. While this is fine in many instances—for instance, if your cables are thin and pliable, or you have only a scant few—it can prove tricky if you’re trying to jam in a bunch of large cords—in which case, the lid is prone to popping off. This cord-concealing box is available in two sizes, medium and large. Springing for the large size, which measures 22 inches wide, provides more surface area. You could place it atop a kitchen counter where you can can use it to prop up appliances such as kettles or espresso machines while concealing the cable and placing complementary accessories nearby. It could also be suitable for raising a monitor atop a desk. This box is notably wide; wide enough to fit many double-row power strips, which is more than most cable boxes can accommodate. It can also fit even the thickest of cables, thanks to two slots that run on each end of the box. With a height of 5.5 inches, you should be able to stack a handful of thicker cords in either direction easily. For this reason, this box is perfect for media centers, office spaces, and family charging stations. That said, the generous size means this box has a bigger footprint. Another option could be more fitting if you’re looking for a more discreet cable wrangler. Installation is straightforward but does require getting a precise measurement with a saw or another cutting tool. Once you have the raceway to size, peel the blue film from the back of it and place it along the edge of your baseboard area. With the cable placed inside, snap the lid onto the main portion of the concealer. One note on installation: the adhesive is incredibly strong, so do make sure you know exactly where you want to position each raceway before sticking it to your walls, particularly if your baseboard area is painted. Another standout feature is the opening and closing mechanism, which you can access from the top of the concealer. This feature allows for opening the top whenever you need to access one of the cables—which is much more convenient than disassembling the whole setup once it’s in place. Speaking of placement, it couldn’t be easier with this product. Peel away the backing on the strip to reveal a sticky adhesive. Once placed, the adhesive is wonderfully strong; this is true whether you use this product on wood, concrete, stone, or short-pile carpet. This rubber cord concealer is also easy to snip to exactly the right length for your needs with a pair of scissors. These clips can work on virtually any flat, smooth surface as long as it’s clean and free of dust (consider wiping down with a bit of rubbing alcohol first). Also, make sure your surface is entirely smooth, as the adhesion will not work on textured areas, including areas with textured paint. The clip mechanism is strong and locks satisfyingly into place, offering a sturdy hold for the wires in your home. Just be sure not to stuff more cables than can comfortably fit, as too much weight can break the clip. All in all, these are an excellent deal considering the number you receive. While it’s not the most attractive option available, this concealer is available in beige, black, gray, and white, making it easy to find a solution that blends into your particular decor aesthetic. Each purchase also comes with two cable sleeves, which you can zip together to increase the capacity.
These organizers come in a two-pack and come with the option to use the included adhesive stickers or screws depending on the surface to which you’re mounting the organizers. Note: these organizers work best on a flat, smooth surface. Once installed, your wires are sure to stay in place, thanks to the super-sturdy screw-top design. This pack comes with two shelves in two different lengths, 17 inches and 16 inches, depending on your needs. While these trays are steel, they can only support up to 6.6 pounds each. We love the clean, modern design element, too; it feels less cumbersome and bulky than some other under-desk shelving options we’ve seen. Inside, you’ll find two sections. The top offers secure, elasticized storage spots for eight cords, as well as mini mesh pockets for other miscellaneous tech supplies. Unzip once more, and you’ll reveal another layer of plush protection, this time with the option to create your own customized partitions. Don’t miss the zipper compartment in the middle, too, which is ultra-handy for stashing Kindles and iPads. In addition to the attractive color and ample storage space, this bag comes with a carrying handle perfect for travel. For example, a cable box may be your best bet for concealing a large powerstrip, as it can hide every outlet and cord in one fell swoop. If you’re trying to conceal TV cords that run up your wall, however, a box isn’t going to help. Instead, you’d want to consider a wall-friendly raceway cable concealer or a sleeve that can zip all the cables together in one tidy bundle. Smaller cords, like USB cords, benefit from options such as ties, clips, bags, or another small-yet-purposeful type of cable organizer.
Organization Options
Prior to purchasing a cable concealer or cord organizer, it’s crucial to account for which cords you want to hide. Consider the width or diameter of each cord so that you can choose the correct diameter of the cable concealer. If you plan to conceal numerous cords in a single spot, double-check that the number of slots, clips, etc., included in your organizer will suffice. Some options come with segmented slots while others feature one main compartment. Similarly, if you’re concealing a power strip for an entertainment center or office that requires feeding the wires out of the organizer, make sure the opening is sufficient for all of the various cords you may have in your power strip.
Material and Color
Cable concealers come in a variety of aesthetic styles. You can find many sleek plastic boxes or clips that offer a minimalist, streamlined look. Other handmade wooden options offer an elevated design and may even double as shelving or decoration. Many cable and cord management options come in an array of basic, neutral colors, which can be helpful for incorporating into your design scheme. In the case of raceway cable concealers, most are paintable, which offers another option for controlling how this product blends in with your decor.
Why Trust The Spruce?
The author of this article, Sophie Wirt, is a proponent of cord and cable tidiness in her own home, and has spent countless hours researching the topic. She assessed each of the items on this list for durability, aesthetic appeal, and overall functionality. For additional insight, she consulted Brenda Scott, professional organizer and owner of Tidy my Space. Another option for storing cords behind your TV is a cable box that hides wires from a power strip. If you’re using a cable concealer box, you may also want to consider cable clips, which can be useful for tacking errant wires. To keep everything nice and neat, Scott suggests labeling each cable. “It makes it easier if you have to troubleshoot tech issues.”
