How to hide wires from electrical appliances in an apartment: ideas, methods, photos

The first rule for safe living in an apartment is to hide cables and cords running from electrical appliances to sockets. Designers offer a lot of ideas on how to hide wires so that they don’t interfere with moving around the apartment. Electrical cords can be “buried” in the walls or used in interesting ways in the interior; the main thing is to approach the process creatively.

The need to camouflage electrical communications

There are two reasons why you need to hide the wires and put them out of reach:

1. Violation of aesthetics. Tangles of intertwined cords of different sections and colors create visual noise, disrupting the integrity of the perception of the situation in the living room, bathroom, hallway, and kitchen. The chaos is especially noticeable in original, stylistically executed interiors. The exception is design in the loft, industrial, techno, art-believe styles. Such interiors imply external fastening of wires - “in plain sight”.
2. Security breach. Through the tangle of cords randomly scattered across the floor of the room, it is easy to trip, fall, or get injured. Crawling babies can chew through the thin wire and receive an electric shock. The same applies to pets, who are often left unattended in the apartment.

Hiding wires in the wall

From the point of view of functionality and aesthetics, in order to hide electrical cords, it is better to use the method of creating a layout of cables and massive wires at the initial stage of construction. It is better to hide the wires using a hidden method, which requires scoring the surface.

Power cables and electrical wires are laid in specially made channels, and the installation areas are covered with a solution. Next, the walls are leveled and prepared for painting or wallpapering. The process turns out to be dusty, time-consuming and labor-intensive. But if the work is done reliably, the dangerous wiring can be hidden for a long time, and it will no longer be possible to gain access to it without breaking the wall.

In a concrete or brick wall

It is recommended to secure electrical communications at the very beginning of the renovation, and even better at the stage of creating the layout of the house.

What you will need:

• a drill, and if the walls are concrete, then a hammer drill or wall chaser;
• Lagunda;
• paint brushes, roller, spatulas;
• gypsum powder;
• putty.

To hide wires in a concrete or brick wall:

1. Draw up a layout diagram and mark the wiring attachment points.
2. The walls are marked using the construction or laser method.
3. Using a suitable electric tool, cut grooves of the required width and depth.
4. Lay the cable, securing it with dowel clamps.
5. A gypsum solution is prepared, which is used to fill the spaces of the grooves.
6. The walls are plastered, allowed to dry, and then the surfaces are leveled.

Hidden wiring is laid horizontally and vertically, at a distance of at least 15-20 cm from the upper and lower boundaries. It is unacceptable to fasten cords diagonally according to safety regulations.

Into a plasterboard wall

It is better to hide cables in a plasterboard structure at the stage of finishing work. Compared to installing electrical wiring using other methods, the process creates fewer difficulties.

The main thing is that the finished system guarantees complete security and provides free access to elements that were safely hidden.

Drywall sheets are installed with or without a frame. However, the second option is losing popularity, since it requires cutting load-bearing walls and laying cables inside the grooves. The wireframe method looks different.

The electrical wiring is fixed to a metal frame to which drywall is attached. The profiles are equipped with holes for plastic ties, but sometimes they are missing, so you drill them yourself.

To reliably hide wiring in plasterboard walls, you need:

• plastic or metal corrugation - for greater reliability it is replaced with a cable channel;
• power cable of the required length;
• ground wire;
• drill for drilling holes;
• fastening elements: clips, bushings, ties.

Procedure:

1. A frame is assembled from metal profiles, and on one side it is sheathed with sheets of plasterboard.
2. Distribution boxes are placed, including for sockets and switches. Then, along the route of laying the wires, clips or clamps are secured at a distance of 30-40 cm.
3. The corrugation is pulled through the holes in the frame, and cables are passed through it, which lead to the installation sites of switches and sockets.
4. Connect the elements and check the circuit. If it works properly, the front side of the frame is covered with plasterboard sheets.

Floor and ceiling installation

Fastening electrical wiring to the ceiling is important if the load-bearing surface is completely or partially covered with sheets of plasterboard, tension structures, plastic or wooden false beams. These coverings hide power wiring, electrical cords from chandeliers, sconces, intercoms, and fasteners. Hiding wires in this way is convenient when the repair of walls and floors has already been completed, and spoiling a fresh coating (especially highly artistic) is expensive and undesirable.

The method of lower wiring of electrical networks into the floor is less expensive and convenient, because it is so easy to hide the wiring lines by laying them out according to the diagram and immediately securing them securely. Especially when it is impossible to do this on the walls or ceiling for some reason.

You can hide cables in the floor if:

• it is planned to pour a concrete screed with a height of at least 6 cm;
• minimize the number of electrical wires that will be connected to the junction box;
• competently draw up a diagram that does not provide for overlap of power lines;
• a large cross-section cable with self-extinguishing insulation will be used, passed through protective pipes or corrugation.

The lower wiring of electrical networks is chosen if you need to install sockets and switches at a minimum height from the lower border. Lay the wires at a distance of 20-30 cm from the edge. For this purpose, flexible punched paper tape, textiles, and mesh are used.

Skirting boards with cable channels

Universal structures for laying low-current and power cables can be installed on any surface: ceiling, walls, floor. The interior of certain models is divided into sections, which allows you to safely hide the wires.

Advantages of the cable channel:

1. Beauty.The designs have different designs and colors, so they suit the interior and flooring.
2. Free access to communications. This means easy, hassle-free wiring repairs and upgrades.
3. High degree of protection. Due to its reliable design, the box protects against moisture, which reduces the risk of short circuits.
4. Fire resistance. If a short circuit occurs, the material of the box will contain the spread of fire, and therefore prevent a fire.
5. Flexibility. Thanks to this ability, electrical communications are fixed on inclined, curved, hemispherical surfaces.
6. Easy to attach. There is no need to cut grooves in the walls and then seal the grooves.

Camouflage covers

This method of disguising wiring is most often suitable when you need to hide an extension cord with chargers for gadgets, headphones, or USB cables. Budget camouflage covers in the form of wall organizers or envelopes can be knitted or sewn from any suitable material: fabric, leather, thick oilcloth. Design and size options are easy to find on the Internet. This will help you properly store the necessary accessories and keep them always “at hand,” for example, in a desk or chest of drawers.

Some stores offer decorative collapsible covers made of safe plastic in the shape of multi-colored tubes, shiny snakes, and tree branches. The structures allow you to reliably hide wires, although they do not have the same protective properties as cable channels.

Some manufacturers of electrical accessories produce protective covers in the form of a braid - they have an aesthetic appearance and will fit into any interior.Depending on the internal diameter, you can hide either one or several electrical cords in them.

The braid is easy to knit with your own hands. To do this, plastic bags are cut into thin identical strips, which are connected to each other and wound into a bobbin. They are knitted or crocheted into a kind of “sleeve” of the required length.

Decor with stickers, stickers, improvised means

If it is not possible to hide the wires from the equipment using one of the methods described above, they can be brought out to the wall, ceiling and securely secured with decorative elements intended for this purpose.

Stickers, stickers, plastic holders and even office clips are sold almost everywhere, and they are also very inexpensive. If you approach the problem creatively, you can not only visually hide the wires, but also create a unique composition.

The best and practical options:

1. Decorative clips. These elements are a great way to hide long cords that get in the way under your feet. Stylish or, conversely, multi-colored clips will help you lay the wires on the wall in the shape of a pattern or geometric figure, or run them around the doorway.
2. Colored electrical tape. If the wires cannot be hidden, they can be wrapped with multi-colored insulating tape. The main thing is to choose a shade that will harmonize with the color scheme of the interior. To prevent the decor from becoming aggressive or “screaming”, you should avoid too bright colors.
3. Beads. They can be strung on electrical cords if they are not too thick. In order for the elements to fit, when choosing, you need to pay attention to the middle - the hole must have a large diameter. As in the previous case, it is better to choose beads of those shades that will fit perfectly into the interior.You can string single-color products or combine several harmonizing shades at once.
4. Rope. Jute or hemp is a great way to hide wires in an eco-style interior. The rope is wound evenly around the cables, placing stitches tightly, and then fixed to the wall using transparent clips. If pots with fresh flowers are suspended from the ceiling, the wrapped wires can be pulled between them by throwing them over a hanging cord.
5. Stickers and decals. It is also possible to “hide” excessively long cables and wires on the wall, securing them with transparent clips. And if the shade of the braid of the cords contrasts with the color of the surface, it is better not to mask it, but to play it up with the help of decorative stickers or decals. To do this, showing a little imagination, you need to come up with an original composition and lay it out using wires. Then they will attract attention, but as a work of art.
6. Decorative clamps. Such decorative elements can be bought in all stores today. They are a flexible clip decorated with flowers, leaves, butterflies, birds, sparkles, feathers, which allows you to hide wiring in the living room, bedroom, nursery, kitchen and even bathroom.
7. Panels or curtains. This option is suitable when needed hide the wires from the TV, set-top box, soundbar, home theater. You can use ordinary wooden or soft wall panels as decoration. By attaching two decorative elements to the wall at once, you can hide the wires, but at the same time highlight the entire area. In some interiors, panels can be replaced with curtains. Textile elements are hung on mini cafe cornices, which are easily attached to the wall.

Wires as an art object

It is easy to lay out an original outline image using a long cable that contrasts in color with the wall. If the wires are long enough, they can be used to lay out trees, silhouettes of people and animals, furniture and household items, and city panoramas.

In industrial or loft style interiors, it is also easy to hide wires by laying them out with bricks, electric lamps, corrugated pipes, and intricate geometric shapes.

Multi-colored electrical cords can repeat the pattern on window curtains, wallpaper, parquet, complement fragments of wall paintings, and imitate missing fragments of a complex structure.

We use wire as an interior and style detail

The most specific interior design style is loft. In such rooms, you don’t need to think about how to hide the wires, since you need to emphasize and play with their fastening. Today, outdoor wiring in a “retro” style, which can be seen in houses built last century, is becoming increasingly popular.

Given the high demand, electrical wiring companies offer:

• wires imitating aged silver;
• twisted electrical cords in copper, brass and ivory colors;
• sockets of unusual shape, stylized “antique”;
• ceramic insulators for fastening wires;
• convex wall retro switches.

Loft interiors most often have open wiring, but here, too, fire safety rules must be observed. Therefore, over time it is better to hide it.

How to hide wires from children

Cables and electrical cords not only spoil the appearance of the interior, but also pose a serious danger to the small inhabitants of the apartment.Many companies produce lines of protective elements and devices designed to hide wires and protect children from electric shock. Among the popular ones:

1. Electrical wiring clamps. Made of durable material, they can withstand strong mechanical stress, but are also spacious and allow you to hide from 2 to 4 cords.
2. Plastic or cardboard boxes, fabric bags-covers. They easily hide extension cords and some electrical wires.
3. Special integrated devices for charging mobile devices and office equipment that can be easily integrated into any furniture surface.

For individual devices, it is advisable to use simple wireless designs that can be placed out of reach of children.

If a child is forced to stay home alone, he should not:

• independently turn on or off electrical appliances;
• approach separately lying wires, cords, cables;
• remove plugs from sockets;
• play in close proximity to home electrical equipment;
• touch the surface of electrical equipment with wet hands, much less wash or wipe them with a damp cloth;
• remove protection from household appliances, connect or disconnect wires, replace light bulbs, fuses, and perform other repairs.

Wireless technology is becoming popular but is not yet widely used, so most electrical appliances are still powered by AC power and a wall outlet. An excellent solution to protect the lives of family members and maintain the attractiveness of your home is to safely hide the wires that stick out from all corners. Our recommendations will help you do this without difficulty and large investments.

We have described the most interesting options that will help you quickly hide wires from audio and video systems, computers, office equipment, and kitchen electrical appliances, securing the room and visually improving the appearance of the interior. Add the article to bookmarks, share it on social networks, on thematic forums. Write in the comments about other interesting methods for hiding electrical communications, we will definitely discuss them.