Hiding TV Wires: 5 Clean Methods for Any Wall

A TV mounted on the wall with cables dangling down looks half-finished. A TV with cables hidden looks like furniture. The difference is one hour of work and somewhere between $0 and $150.

Here are the five methods that actually work, ranked from cheapest to cleanest.

Method 1: Just run them through the media console

Cost: $0 Time: 0 minutes Works for: Most living room setups

If your TV is mounted directly above a media console, shelf, or credenza that sits against the wall, you do not need to hide cables at all. Drop them behind the console and let the furniture do the work.

The only trick is cable slack — leave enough length that you can pull the TV away from the wall to access ports without unplugging everything.

When it does not work: If the TV is mounted high on a blank wall with nothing below it, you will still see the cables. Move to Method 2.

Method 2: Surface-mount cable raceway

Cost: $20–$60 materials, or $49–$79 installed Time: 20–30 minutes Works for: Rentals, brick walls, concrete, any situation where you cannot cut into the wall

A raceway is a flat plastic channel that holds cables and sticks (or screws) to the wall. Most come primer-coated so you can paint them to match your wall color, and the finish is usually invisible from more than a few feet away.

How it is done:

1. Route the cables from the TV down to the outlet or media console
2. Cut the raceway to length with a hacksaw
3. Mount it with the pre-drilled screws or adhesive strips
4. Snap the cover on
5. Paint to match the wall

Pros: No wall damage (adhesive versions), works on any wall including brick and concrete, removable for rentals, code-compliant for power cables because they are in an enclosed channel.

Cons: You can still see the raceway up close. It does not disappear, just blends in.

We default to this method for every rental apartment install we do in Los Angeles. Landlords love it because when the tenant moves out, the whole thing peels off clean.

Method 3: In-wall cable concealment (drywall only)

Cost: $79–$129 installed Time: 45–60 minutes Works for: Drywall with open stud cavities and an outlet within reach

This is the cleanest method short of a full outlet relocation. You cut two small holes in the drywall — one behind the TV, one below near the media console or existing outlet — and fish the cables through the stud cavity from top to bottom. The holes get capped with “brush plates” that let cables pass through cleanly.

The critical rule: Never run a power cable (the one with the plug) through a closed wall cavity. It is a fire hazard and illegal in California. Only low-voltage signal cables (HDMI, Ethernet, speaker wire) go through a plain fishing route.

The solution for power: Use a Datacomm or PowerBridge in-wall kit. It includes a proper recessed outlet that goes behind the TV, wired to the existing outlet below. Now your TV power cord plugs into the recessed box, signal cables run through the brush plate next to it, and everything is hidden and to code.

Cost of the kit: $30–$50. We carry them and it is included in our in-wall concealment rate.

Pros: Looks like the TV is plugged into nothing. Completely clean.

Cons: Only works on drywall. Cannot be done on brick, concrete, tile, or plaster. Leaves permanent holes if you later remove the TV (small, patchable).

Method 4: Full outlet relocation behind the TV

Cost: $200–$400 installed Time: 1.5–2 hours Works for: Jobs where you want zero visible cables and the flexibility to reposition the TV later

This is the “pro grade” version. Instead of running the existing power cord through a pass-through kit, a licensed electrician installs a fully new outlet directly behind the TV mount point, wired from a circuit pull in the stud cavity.

The result is an outlet that looks native to the wall, plus a separate signal pass-through for HDMI/Ethernet. The TV can be moved later to a different spot and the outlet stays useful.

When this is worth it: New construction, major remodels, or home theater installs where the TV is the centerpiece and you are already calling an electrician for other work.

When it is not: Rentals, finished homes where the incremental improvement over Method 3 is not worth $200+ more.

Method 5: Floor-channel concealment

Cost: $30–$50 installed Time: 15 minutes Works for: TVs mounted on a wall without studs directly above an outlet — specifically when the cable needs to travel along a baseboard

This one gets used less often but it is useful when the outlet is 6 feet sideways from where the TV needs to go. Instead of running the cable inside the wall (which may not be possible if there are obstructions), you route it along the top of the baseboard using a low-profile molding channel that looks like trim.

The channel is cuttable, paintable, and matches most baseboard profiles. We use it for fireplace mounts where the existing outlet is beside the fireplace rather than inside the chase.

Which method should you pick?

Quick decision tree:

• Rental or no wall cutting allowed → Raceway (Method 2)
• Drywall with outlet within 6 feet below TV → In-wall concealment (Method 3)
• Brick, concrete, or tile wall → Raceway (Method 2)
• New construction or major remodel → Full outlet relocation (Method 4)
• Weird outlet position → Floor channel (Method 5)

Rookie mistakes to avoid

A few things we see homeowners try that create problems.

Running power cords through a closed wall without a pass-through kit: This is the biggest one. It violates California electrical code and is a fire risk. If an inspector or future buyer sees it, they will require you to fix it. Just buy the $30 kit.

Using drywall anchors for the brush plate: The brush plate should screw into a stud or an adequate drywall anchor. Toggle bolts are overkill, but tiny plastic anchors will sag within months.

Cutting too big of a hole: The drywall cut should be just big enough for the plate. Cutting an oversize hole because the plate “looked small” leads to ugly gaps that no amount of spackle fixes.

Forgetting to fish a pull string: Once your cables are through the wall, it is much harder to add new ones later. Fish a piece of nylon pull string through at the same time — you can use it to pull a new cable through later without opening the wall again.

Book a wire concealment job

mountLA does in-wall concealment and raceway installs across LA and Orange County every day. Most single-TV concealment jobs are done in under an hour. Licensed, insured, and code-compliant on every install.