Hiding the wires from a wall-mounted TV
By Pro Install Greg · Updated · 3 min read
The cleanest result is an in-wall kit: the signal cables run inside the wall and the power goes through a rated in-wall power bridge, so nothing shows below the screen. Without opening the wall, a slim raceway painted the wall color hides the cables almost as well. What you should not do is push the TV's regular power cord into the wall cavity.
Key takeaways
- An in-wall cable kit gives the cleanest look, with no visible cords between the TV and the console.
- A TV's power cord is not rated to run inside a wall; in-wall kits use a recessed outlet and a rated power bridge instead.
- HDMI and other low-voltage cables can run inside the wall when they are rated for in-wall use.
- A surface raceway painted to match the wall hides cables without cutting drywall and is fully reversible.
- Mounting the TV directly above the console shortens the cable run and makes any method look neater.
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The four options
| Method | How it looks | Wall work | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-wall power and cable kit | Nothing visible | Two openings in drywall, patched clean | Permanent installs in owned homes |
| Paintable surface raceway | A slim channel, painted to disappear | None, adhesive or small screws | Renters, brick walls, quick jobs |
| Cable cover behind furniture | Hidden by the console or a plant | None | TVs mounted low over furniture |
| Wood panel or slat wall behind the TV | Cables hidden in the panel | Panel mounted to the wall | Feature walls and new builds |
Why the power cord can't go in the wall
The power cord that comes with a TV is a flexible cord, and electrical code does not allow flexible cords to run hidden inside walls, where they can overheat or be damaged unseen. Proper in-wall kits solve this with a recessed outlet behind the TV, connected through the wall to an inlet near the floor using wiring rated for the job. The signal cables, such as HDMI, are low voltage and can run inside the wall as long as they carry an in-wall rating.
When the wall is brick, stone or tile
You cannot fish cables through a solid wall, so masonry and tiled walls usually get a raceway painted to match, or the cables are routed down behind a mantel or furniture. Planning the TV position around where the cables can go is half the job — something we sort out at the start of every TV mounting install.
A TV over a fireplace is the hardest case, with the longest run and a hard surface; we cover it in mounting a TV above a fireplace.
