Whether your TV set is wall-mounted or freestanding, the sight of thick wires and cables snaking around the back and spilling out of the sides is rarely part of anyone’s living room or bedroom mood board.
The messy cables - and they inevitably do become tangled beyond all logic - look terrible but can also affect the efficiency of your box over time by blocking power or overheating. What’s more, tangled cables can pose a trip hazard especially if they work their way under an area rug or wind up around the middle of the floor.
Short of drilling into the wall and pushing wires into the cavity - largely unappealing for homeowners and unviable for renters - the best way to conceal Medusa-like cable chaos is by using a wire management system or cable tidy.
Designed to pool all the offending wires into one place before being hidden in a visually appealing box or thin plastic casing, these simple solutions promise to transform the space behind your TV or computer for good. For the houseproud, it’s a godsend.
They don’t cost a whole lot either: Amazon has plenty of budget-friendly options at prices that won’t make you wince. We’ve rounded up the best options below so you never have to deal with the scourge of errant wires again.
Shop now
Soundbar vs home theater system: what kind of audio setup do you need?
Best TV deals in the UK for August 2024: Cheap offers from top brands like Sony and Samsung
Best 40” TVs to shop in 2024 for a great home viewing experience
Best alternatives to Sky TV in the UK 2024: Which streaming site offers the best value?
Cable Fixation Clamp
Funnel TV and streaming box wires through this self-adhesive cord concealer which keeps wires neat and tidy against the wall. While the stick-and-peel is fairly strong, nails on either end mean you can keep it fixed to the wall for additional security.
Buy now £5.99, Amazon
Cable Tidy Box
When the sight of endless wires is so distracting that you’re unable to focus on whatever’s actually on the box, it’s time to take action. This set of two cable storage boxes may be on the pricier end of our list, but for the calm they’ll give you’ll be glad of the investment.
You’ll get two sizes of boxes to stuff wires into with a slot on the side allowing them to run in and out without disturbing the bamboo lids. Housing wires this way also means they’re away from curious fingers, perfect for homes with small kids running around.
Buy now £20.99, Amazon
Extension Lead with USB Slots Cable Tidy Box
If you’re making the most out of one power slot by adding an extension lead, make the final look more pleasing on the eye with this cable tidy box. It comes with a purpose-shaped extension lead with five 3-pin plugs and USB ports so you can house all your important tech in the same space. There are vents to ensure power sources don’t overheat and a gap for easy switching on and off.
Buy now £21.24, Amazon
Command 17017CLR Cable Clips
Keep loose cables out of harm’s way with Command’s transparent cable clips. Using the same adhesive as its frame-hanging Strips, the sticky backs will stay fixed to the wall without damaging surfaces including wood, metal and plaster, even during removal. You’ll get four clips in this pack.
Buy now £6.20, Amazon
D-Line White Semi-circle Decorative trunking
From the backs of TVs to computer monitors, keep cables in line with a piece of trunking. This half-circle piece of tubing comes with a self-adhesive base allowing you to fix it neatly to the wall once cables have been fed through.
Buy now £6.25, B&Q
Alex Tech 10ft - 1/2 inch Cord Protector
Don’t like the idea of fixing things to your walls? Have no fear, there is another solution. This split sleeve can be wrapped around multiple cables, keeping cords from splaying out all over the place. The no-install solution comes in various thicknesses and lengths (but can be easily trimmed with scissors) with black or white colours to choose from. The sleeve is also off-putting for pets, stopping cats and dogs from chewing on your precious wires.
Buy now £6.79, Amazon
SOULWIT® 50-Pcs Self-Adhesive Cable Management Clips
Available in black and white, this pack of 50 cable clips offer an excellent management system for any modern home. From the bedroom to the office and TV sets, the sticky-backed designs which are made from anti-static Polyamide66, will keep wires against the wall rather than looped around the floor.
Buy now £11.95, Amazon
VIVO Under Desk Cable Management Trays
Precious about your walls, but don’t mind blemishing furniture? Try these under-desk organisers, which can be screwed into the table surface for extra stability. The low-profile cable management system is made for routing your wires through one space, offering a neater look behind the TV or desk. Also available in white.
Buy now £31.99, Amazon
