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I don’t know about you, but when it comes to home decor I find wires to be a huge eyesore. Like, they drive me nuts type of eyesore.

I’ve mentioned dealing with wires before in posts such as How to Reduce Visual Clutter, but now I’m going to show you how to actually do it!

Before we get started, I just want to mention a few safety tips:

• If you’re working near an existing outlet, turn off electricity to the space
• If you’re uncomfortable, don’t do it! The system we’re using is designed and approved for homeowners to use, but no one said you have to do it!
• Don’t do this without an approved in-wall management system! Extension cords thread behind walls are a major source of household fires.
• In this tutorial we are using the PowerBridge Two-Pro-6 Dual Power Outlet Cable Management System (CMS) kit. If you are using a different approved CMS, follow the directions that come with that kit (note that this post is designed to supplement and not replace the instructions in the kit we are using).
• The kit we’re using requires color matching for the wires. If you are visually impaired be sure to have someone with good vision help you out.
• NEVER thread power cords directly into the wall.
• Check your local laws before starting this project, especially if you live in New York or Chicago.

Sound good? OK, let’s get to business!

Materials:

• Your TV and necessary wires
• PowerBridge Two-Pro-6 Dual Power Outlet Cable Management System kit
• Stud finder
• Bubble level
• Pencil
• Drywall saw
• Flathead screwdriver

Directions:

For reference, here’s what our space looked like before we moved the wires:

Yuck! Annoying! Keep this image in your head for the end…

1-) Take the TV off the wall (if applicable)

If your TV is already mounted to the wall, carefully remove it. You’ll also want to move any furniture and decor out of the way.

2-) Mark where you want the inlet and the outlet

Mark where you want the outlet (which goes directly behind the TV) and inlet (which goes near an existing power outlet) with the supplied template. Be sure to follow these guidelines:

• The outlet should go behind the TV so it doesn’t show once it’s all done.
• Outlet and inlet should go between studs and in the same stud space (the inlet will generally go vertically below the outlet). Also make sure there’s no header (a horizontal stud) anywhere between where the outlet and inlet will go. Use a stud finder!
• The inlet should be no more than 60″ from the outlet AND no more than 60″ from an existing power source.
• Use a bubble level when tracing the template to make sure it’s straight.

3-) Carefully cut the areas you marked for the inlet and outlet

Cut the marked areas for the outlet and inlet out with a drywall saw.

4-) Thread the romex 14/2 gauge wire through the outlet and inlet holes

Drop the romex 14/2 gauge wire (provided in the kit) through the outlet hole and and pull the bottom out through the inlet hole. Make sure the wire doesn’t drop completely through the outlet hole!

5-) Thread the romex 14/2 gauge wire through the backboxes

Now that the appropriate wires is in the wall, we need to attach it to the outlet and inlet. Start by threading it through the provided outlet and inlet backboxes.

6-) Connect the outlet box to the romex 14/2 gauge wire

It’s time to start connecting! Connect the romex 14/2 gauge wire to the outlet box by matching up the following wires:

• Pair black wires
• Pair white wires
• Pair green wire (in the outlet) to bare wire (in the romex wire)

7-) Thread the romex 14/2 gauge wire into the holes of the inlet box and thread the appropriate wires through the corresponding holes:

• Thread white wire into hole labeled “W”
• Thread bare wire into hole labeled “G”
• Thread black wire into unlabeled hole

8- ) Tighten screws on inlet box

Once the appropriate wires are thread through the inlet box tighten the inlet box’s screws. This will prevent the wires from pulling out.

9-) Attach the backboxes to the appropriate inlet and outlet boxes

Use the allen wrenches and black screws provided in the kit to attach the appropriate backboxes to the outlet and inlet boxes.

10-) Clamp the romex 14/2 gauge wire to the backboxes

Once the backboxes are attached to the appropriate outlet and inlet boxes, align and clamp the romex 14/2 gauge wire to the snap clamps in the backboxes.

11-) If you have any TV cables (excluding the power cord), thread them through slit in the outlet box, behind the wall, and out the slit in the inlet box.

Make sure you have enough room to connect the cables to your DVD player, speakers, etc.

**Leave power cords out (it’s unsafe to thread power cords through walls)! They will plug directly into the outlet**

12-) Attach the inlet and outlet boxes into the holes into the wall

Screw the assembled outlet and inlet boxes into the appropriate drywall cut-outs with a flathead screwdriver.

13-) Plug it in!

Plug the TV power cord directly into the outlet and attach the extension cord provided in the kit to the inlet and to an existing wall outlet. Once you connect the inlet to your power you should see a green light appear in the outlet you just installed.

Now re-attach the TV to the wall in front of the newly installed outlet and enjoy!

 

Here’s what our space looks like after going through this process:

So that’s how to hide TV wires in the wall! For more DIY and home decor advice check out Inexpensive Tricks to Make Your Old Home Look New Again, DIY Craft Corner Bar, and How to Transform your Kitchen Without Doing a Full Renovation.

***And don’t forget to PIN THIS POST for when you’re ready to hide those pesky wires!***

Woo! This project was featured by Domestically Creative and the Merry Monday Link Party! Feel free to check ’em out!