9 Easy Solutions to Hide Electrical Cords Behind Tables and Desks

Organizing and hiding electrical cords is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to improve the look of your home.  It can transform messy to tidy within just a few minutes.  Today we are going to look at how 9 different homeowners used creative and frugal ways to hide electrical cords behind tables and desks.

Tired of seeing messy cords? Here's 9 quick and inexpensive ways to hide electrical cords #homeorganization

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Backstory

One Saturday morning I was sitting, enjoying a quiet moment with my tea and breakfast and looked into my living room.  And I noticed the cord from my lamp dangling on the side table next to my couch.  

And it just annoyed me.

By the way, that cord has been there for a few years.  Just waving in the breeze, not bothering me.  But today, it’s turned into the bane of my existence.  That cord MUST be hidden!  

But how?  What’s the best way to hide electrical cords behind tables?

So I scoured the internet for quick, easy, and frugal solutions to hide these unsightly cords.  Which I am now sharing with you.

How to Hide Electrical Cords Behind Tables and Desks

There are some creative and talented homeowners out there who have found unique yet still practical solutions to this common problem.  Hopefully, one or two will inspire you to tidy up and hide those electrical cords! 

When you see a method that works for you, simply click over to their blogs to get the details on how exactly they hid those cords. 

1. Adhesive Hooks

This seems to be an ideal solution for tables (like mine) that are open underneath. Erin at Lemon Lavender and Laundry found an east solution to conceal cords in Her Office using adhesive Command decorating hooks and adhesive strips. She simply ran the cord up the inside of the table leg and secured with the hooks.

How to hide electrical cords behind table by LavenderLemonsandLaudrey.com #electricalcords
Image courtesy of Lavender Lemons and Laundry

She tidied up the extra cords by coiling them and securing them either underneath or along the back of the table with more hooks and tape. 

Here’s another solution can if the outlet isn’t located immediately behind the table.  Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage used Command cord clips and adhesive strips to snake electrical cords along the baseboards and up to the other side of the wall! 

Creative ways to hide electrical cords behind table by FoxHollowCottage.com #homeorganization
Image courtesy of Fox Hollow Cottage

2. Staple Gun

But you don’t want to run to the store to buy Command adhesive hooks, check out Liz at Love Grows Wild’s simple (yet still just as effective) approach.  First she used tape to secure the cord along the path. Then she secured the cord along the back of her desk’s table legs using a staple gun.

How to hide electrical cords behind table by LoveGrowsWild.com #organizehouse
Image courtesy of Love Grows Wild

3. Sleek Sockets

If you want to upgrade from the Command hooks and adhesive tape, Jen, an interior designer at Jenron Designs, suggests Sleek Sockets.  This kit consists of self-adhesive clips PLUS an extension cord with a blank outlet cover. 

How to hide electrical cords behind table by JenronDesigns.com #homeorganization
Image courtesy of Jenron Designs

She had raving reviews about the product, especially since the adhesive strips were strong enough to hold, but delicate enough to not damage the antique wax finish on a hand-finished table.  And for those with young kids at home, there is a childproof version.

4. Cord Conduit

Sarah at Thrifty Décor Chick found thin cord conduits that are simple to use. These cord covers have a flat side with self-peel adhesive tape, meaning they adhere flush to whatever surface you adhere them to.

Table leg with cord conduit attached to hide electrical cord. image courtesy of thriftydecorchick
Image courtesy of Thrifty Decor Chick

In addition to table legs, Sarah tamed the cords associated with her desk. First, she measured and cut the cord conduits to the right size.  Then she adhered the cord conduits to the back of her desk as well as the wall down to the outlet. 

Deck with cords hidden using cord conduits with adhesive tape. image courtesy of thifty decor chick
Image courtesy of Thrifty Decor Chick

Like other cord covers mentioned in this post, these are easily paintable to match the wall cover.

5. Elevate Surge Protector

Sometimes the most obvious solution is right in front of your nose.  Instead of trying to hide surge protectors sitting on the floor, elevate them! Note that this method works when your table or desk hides the actual electrical outlet.

This idea from Ashley at Bigger Than the 3 of Us uses a wall mounted surge protector to elevate the cords and plugs so they remain hidden.  

How to hide electrical cords behind table by BiggerThanTheThreeOfUs.com.com #electricalcords
Image courtesy of Bigger Than The Three Of Us

6. Zip Ties and Velcro

This solution by Kelley Nan used two methods to secure. First, she used zip ties to secure the electrical cord down the table leg. 

How to hide electrical cords behind table by KelleyNan.com #electricalcords
Image courtesy of Kelley Nan

Second, which I thought was clever, was how she hid the surge protector sideways to the base of the table leg with Velcro strips.  Depending on the thickness and style of your table leg and base, the surge protector could run vertically or horizontally up the leg. 

7. Fabric

This solution at One Good Thing By Jillee was simply ingenious. So easy to create yet yields a sophisticated look.   For her daughter-in-law’s metal table with an open back, Jillee simple cut a fabric with a fun pattern, stretched itacross the back of the table, and attached to the back table legs using magnets.

How to hide electrical cords behind table by OneGoodThingByJillee.com #organizehouse
Image courtesy of One Good Thing By Jillee

And, I think this would also work on wood tables if you don’t mind a few staple holes in the back of table legs.  

For a different approach on using fabric to hide electrical cords behind a table or desk, Bob Villa demonstrated a cute fabric pouch that adds a whimsy touch to a room’s décor.  This is ideal with a surge protector. 

How to hide electrical cords behind table by BobVilla.com #electricalcords
Image courtesy of Bob Villa

8. Pegboard

This ingenious strategy by Becky at Organizing Made Fun requires a bit more effort and time than the other ways, but looks well worth the effort.  I’m a fan of pegboard organization so I was excited when I saw this DIY project. 

How did she do it?  First, Becky secured and hid her cords behind a pegboard, then installed self-adhesive clips and Velcro strips to install the pegboard under the desk.  And with a pegboard she got a 2-for-1 storage approach since she could store desk and craft supplies on the side of the pegboard facing out! 

How to hide electrical cords behind table by OrganizingMadeFun.com #organizehouse
Image courtesy of Organizing Made Fun

9. Cord Wraps

Emily at Style by Emily Henderson used two strategies to hide her two electrical codes under her side table. 

First, for cords that came from other places besides the table in the table, she strung the cords along baseboards with a conduit cover. 

Style by Emily Henderson how to hide electrical cords behind table
Image courtesy of Style by Emily Henderson

Second, for the cords connected to the items located on top of the side table, she threaded them through a cord cover. Cord covers usually come in just white, but can easily be painted to blend into your wall.

Items to Help Hide Your Cords

D-Line 13.12ft Cord Hider Kit, Patented Cable Cover, Hide Wires on Wall, Channel for TV Mount Cords, Raceway Wire Hiders, Paintable, Adhesive, Half Round, 4X 1.18in W x 0.59in H x 39in Lengths, White

Cord Hider 153in – Covers for Wires – Paintable – Wire Hiders for TV On Wall – Cable Management – Cable Raceway – 9X L17 x W0.95 x H0.5 – White

Sleek Socket – The Original & Patented Ultra-Thin Outlet Concealer with Cord Concealer Kit, 3 Outlet Power Strip, 8-Foot Cord, Universal Size, UL Certified (Ideal for Livingrooms & Bedrooms)

Command Round Cord Clips, Damage Free Hanging Cable Clips, No Tools Wall Clips for Hanging Electrical Cables of Christmas Decorations, 13 Clear Cord Clips and 16 Command Strips

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9 Ways to quickly and easily conceal electrical cords behind tables and desks. You've got this! #cordmanagement
Tired of seeing messy cords? Here's 9 easy and inexpensive ways homeowners have concealed their messy cords #homeorganization