22 Ways to Hide Computer Wires

One thing I find really annoying is having cables everywhere. There’s my computer cables, my phone charger, my kindle charger, my headphones, all in a big jumble together. When I need one cord I have to untangle it from the rest of them.

how to hide computer wires

If you are anything like me, you know how real the struggle is. Whether you have a glass desk, an open desk, or a closed desk, the mess of cables is a huge eyesore. Below, you will find 22 ways to hide computer cables, and all your other cords as well.

Contents

Under-desk Basket

An under-desk basket is a quick and effective way to hide all of your cords. They screw into the bottom of your desk and you put all of your cords in it. Quite a few options, though not all of them, are wire. The wire baskets make it so that you can have your computer cord still trail to the nearest outlet, but any extra cord will be hidden in the basket.

A Basket

Not only is a basket a great option to hide your cables in, but it would also be a cute addition to any room. You simply put all the cables into your basket of choice and put it wherever you want! It is a plus if the desk is already close to an outlet so that the basket can be close to both the desk and outlet. To keep it more organized, if the basket has handles, you can put the cords through them to the nearest outlet.

A Box

For this, you will need a cardboard box, an old shoebox would work just fine, and scissors. You cut a hole on one of the shorter sides of the box, then lay a power stip in it with the cord going out the hole. Next, you will need to make holes on the longer side of the box, one for each of the outlets on the power strip. They should be lined up with the outlets as best as possible as well. The box can go on your desk with most of the cables in it and just the amount you need for the cable to be plugged into whatever device you need. A bonus of using a box is that you can decorate or paint the box to match the room and put knick-knacks on top of it.

Behind Objects

Do you want all of your cables out of sight and have a nicely decorated space? One way to get both is by hiding your cables behind, and under, other objects. It could be a stack of books, a vase full of flowers, binders, or even a desk organizer. You can use an empty binder, tuck the cables inside it, then put some other books on top of the binder, and no one would even know the cords were in there! Depending on where you place your computer, a small decoration will hide the cable before it goes off the edge of the desk to the nearest outlet. You can add personal touches to your space while hiding cables at the same time.

Zip ties

Zip ties can be very helpful when dealing with cables everywhere. With all of the cables connected, it gets rid of the mess of cables, instantly making it neat. Then you can move all of the cables at once and don’t have to deal with untangling them. If you choose to use zip ties, be sure to put them along the entire length of the cables, not just one at the top and bottom. They will get loose in the middle and still be a mess. Put one every few inches to keep all of them together.

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Another way to use zip ties is by wrapping them around the legs of your desk. First, use a zip tie to group the cords together. Then, all you have to do is put a zip tie around the cables and leg of the desk. This will keep all the cables together and keep them out of sight. However, this will depend on the type of desk that you have, if it is an open desk or one with a back.

Velcro Straps

This is a very similar idea to the zip ties, however, they are velcro instead. You can use them to tie all the cables together or to organize them better. To use them in a similar way as zip ties, you would gather all the cables together, then secure them with the velcro strap. Another way to use velcro straps is by folding a cord then wrapping a strap around just the one cable. Then you can put them all in a drawer or box. This would keep more of the cables out of your way, and keep them organized. Another reason velcro is a great option is because you don’t have to cut it to separate the cords if you choose to use a velcro strap to secure them all together.

Command Hooks

Command hooks are a fast and inexpensive option for hiding cables. You stick them to the desk, going on the back or bottom and then down the legs. Then all you have to do is put the cords in the hook. The one thing to think about before buying command hooks is the size you will need. Command hooks come in many sizes, so you want to make sure that the cable fits. You also don’t want the hooks so large that they are too big for the legs of your desk.

Cable Hooks

Cable hooks are similar to Command hooks, but they are specifically made for a cable. They are small and will help keep any space organized and neat. However, they are made to fit one cable, so you may need quite a few. You can make a trail of them along the back of your desk or the bottom of it and then put the cables onto the hooks. This will keep your space organized and hide all of your cables from sight while keeping them separate and easy to find.

Cordline Wall Cable Channel

This one will depend on where your desk is. The nice thing about these is that you can put all of your cables in them and they will be completely hidden. However, it sticks to the wall, which is why this will not be an option for everyone. One option for this would be to put it right where the floor and wall meet and have it go to the nearest outlet. The cables wouldn’t be an eyesore trailing on the floor, and they would all be contained. They are easy to paint over so you can have them match the wall color in the room.

Wire Sleeve

A wire sleeve is essentially a sweater for your cables. It’s a piece of fabric with a zipper. You wrap it around the cables and zip it up. This will group all of your cables together to help make everything appear much cleaner, and make it easier to hide them. You will only have to attach it to your desk to hide all the cables easily. To hide it under your desk, you can use tape, zip ties, or velcro straps to secure the sleeve of cables to the leg of your desk.

J-Channel Cable Raceway

This is a similar idea to a wire sleeve, but you can attach it to any surface. A J-Channel has an adhesive back that you can put on the back of your desk, the bottom of it, even the legs. It has an opening that you can slip all of the cords into and then you’re done. They can be ordered in varying lengths, and you can have more than to quickly hide all of the cables along the entire back of your desk to keep them out of sight.

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Cable Covers

Cable covers are a plastic strip with one side flat to lay on the floor, while the top has a bit of a curve to it to fit the cables. They can be purchased in a few different colors so you can get one to possibly match your floor or carpet. Cable covers are nice because you don’t have to worry about stepping over loose cables. It also can help your cords blend in even when they are in plain sight, depending on if the color matches the flooring or carpet.

Ribbons

Ribbons are a fast way to get your cables organized. You can buy ribbon, or even plain string, almost anywhere. Then pick a cable, fold it into a circle, and tie the ribbon around it to keep it together. This will keep any cables put away from getting tangled together and make it faster to get the cable you need. By doing this, you can put any cords you don’t need away, clearing up space and making it easier and faster to hide any cables that you use daily.

Power Strip Under Desk

If you have a lot of cables, chances are you already have a power strip. Attach it to the bottom of your desk, or even the leg of your desk, using an adhesive, to hide all of the cables quickly. The only cord trailing across the room would be the power strip to connect to the wall outlet. The rest of your cables would be hidden under the desk. You can also shorten the cables by using a velcro strap, zip ties, or string so that they don’t hang down underneath the desk.

Toilet Paper Rolls

Have any toilet paper rolls lying around? Gather them up, roll up your cords, and put them in the toilet paper rolls. You can then put them in a drawer or box to keep them out of sight. They will be organized and much less of a mess. It will make any cords look neater and make it easier to hide any you need to be left out since there won’t be nearly as many on your desk.

Duct Tape

Do you know how Duct tape can be used for anything? Hiding cables is yet another use for Duct tape. There are two ways you can use it, one being by labeling the cords. You fold them up and then put a bit of Duct tape around them to make sure they won’t come undone. Using a marker or Sharpie, you can then label which cable is which, if you want to, then put all the cables in a box or drawer.

Another way you can use Duct tape to hide your cables is by taping the cords to the underside of your desk. It can even go on the legs of the desk if the piece of tape is small so that it doesn’t become visible. The whole point is for it all be hidden. Duct tape would be a fast and quick way to get all of your cables together and hidden. This is probably not a good option for a glass desk though.

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Cord Tape

Cord tape is a great way to hide the mess of cables and keep them secure. It removes much easier than Duct tape, and is designed with cables specifically in mind. There are two options for cord tape, one for floors in general and another just for carpets. You won’t have to worry about tripping over cables since they will all be on the floor and they won’t be a huge mess since they will be attached to each other.

Binder Clips

Using binder clips to help hide and organize your cords is quick, and possibly something you already have on hand. One way to use them is to keep all your cords together. It will be important to mke sure the binder clips fit all of your cables bundled together though.

Another way to use binder clips is by attaching them to the edge of the desk. Pull the cables through the handles, and your cords are organized and easily reachable. Once again, it is important to make sure the binder clips are big enough to fit onto the edge of your desk. Go to this blog post to see a way make them cute and for even more ways to hide your cables.

Under-desk Privacy Screen

A under-desk privacy screen has two slots at the top that you stick you cords into, sometimes with additional pockets on the inside for some extra storage. That depends on the brand and price of the product though. This is a great option it you have an open, modern desk with no back to it. This product will hide all of your cables and give you a bit more privacy.

Cable Kit

Yes, you can buy a kit that will have everything you need to organize all of your cables. They can come with cable clips, a box for the power strip, and clips to put all of your cords within reaching distance. What you get depends on the kit you pick, and the price. The lower the price, the less stuff you get. It is a great option if you want to get everything all in one go and not have to worry about getting the next thing to get it all set up. It would also be quick and easy since everything you need to hide your cables is in one kit.

Charging Station

A charging station, or charging dock, will come in handy for anyone who has a lot of devices. When you buy one, it will come with a lot of cables for any devices you may need. The cords are much sorter than what the devices come with when you buy them, and they will all be in one place. The charging station should be able to fit most devices, even a tablet or iPad. When looking for one to purchase, make sure it is compatible with your devices. You don’t want to get one for Apple products if you don’t have any Apple devices!

Switch to Wireless

Wireless and Bluetooth devices seem to be getting more and more popular every day. That’s probably because they are very useful. Switching to wireless and Bluetooth devices would make it so that you don’t have nearly as many cables to deal with. There are many ways to do this, even by just simply switching to a wireless mouse. Wireless and Bluetooth devices can be expensive though, so this will probably not be a reliable option for everyone. But if you really want to hide all of your cables, getting rid of a lot and instead getting a wireless option is a great way to go.