Best ways to hide cords and cables in your living room

Modern Australian living rooms are busier than ever, juggling smart TVs, streaming boxes, soundbars, gaming consoles, phone chargers and the occasional robot vacuum dock. The average Sydney or Melbourne home now runs more than 20 connected devices, and all of them come with a snake pit of cables trailing behind the TV unit. The result is a living space that feels cluttered, even when the furniture is tidy.

The fix doesn't have to mean hiring a chippy for a full reno or spending a fortune. Whether you're a renter in a Brisbane apartment or an owner-occupier in Perth, there are simple, budget-friendly ways to manage cables that anyone can tackle in an arvo. From clever furniture choices to smart tech upgrades, the right approach depends on your layout, budget and how permanent you want the solution to be.

Method	Cost (A$)	Difficulty	Best for
Strategic furniture placement	Free	Easy	Renters, quick refresh
Paintable cord covers	$15–$45	Easy	Wall-mounted TVs
Decorative cable boxes	$25–$75	Easy	Power boards and adaptors
In-wall cable management	$80–$250	Moderate to hard	Renovations, owner-occupiers
Fabric cord wraps	$10–$30	Easy	Lamp cords, chargers
Wireless tech upgrades	$80–$500+	Easy to moderate	Reducing overall cord count

Using furniture to your advantage

The easiest and cheapest way to hide cords is to stop seeing them in the first place, and your existing furniture can do a lot of the heavy lifting. A console or lowline TV unit with a solid back panel, like the Besta range from IKEA Richmond or IKEA Tempe, can completely conceal power boards and adaptors while still allowing airflow. Just route cables through small holes drilled in the back, and the mess disappears.

Bookshelves, sideboards and storage ottomans work just as well. Position your TV unit flush against a wall, then place a tall bookshelf at right angles to hide a tangle of cords running to a nearby power point. Storage ottomans are particularly handy for stashing a robot vacuum charger or soundbar cables, especially in compact apartments where every square metre counts.

Cord covers and raceways

For wall-mounted TVs, cable raceways are the go-to solution for most Aussie homeowners. A paintable PVC raceway from Bunnings Warehouse, usually priced between $15 and $45 for a two-metre length, sticks directly to the wall and can be painted the same colour as your feature wall. The result blends in so well that guests barely notice the TV is there at all.

Installation is straightforward, though it's worth taking your time to get the alignment right. Measure twice, cut once, and use a spirit level to keep the track straight. If you're hanging curtains high to make ceilings look taller in the same room, run the cable raceway behind the curtain rod for an even more seamless look. These hanging curtain tips can help you coordinate the two projects.

Decorative storage solutions

When cords can't be hidden, they can at least be corralled. Cable management boxes, fabric baskets and decorative trays are all available at retailers like Harvey Norman, The Good Guys and Adairs, and they turn a messy power board into something that looks intentional. A woven seagrass basket, for example, suits a coastal or Hamptons-style living room and can hide a multi-plug adaptor with room to spare.

Cable boxes with ventilation slots are especially useful in the Australian climate, where summer temperatures can push power boards well above their safe operating range. Look for boxes with rubber cable entry points to keep dust out, which is a particular bonus in Perth or Adelaide where summer dust is relentless. Inside the box, use velcro cable ties to keep individual leads separated and easy to identify.

Wireless solutions and smart tech

The long-term fix for cable clutter is to remove the cables entirely, and Australian homes are adopting wireless tech faster than most. Wireless soundbars, Bluetooth speakers and Wi-Fi streaming devices can eliminate half the leads behind a typical TV unit. Wireless charging pads built into side tables or lamps are another easy win, and they're now standard at most major retailers.

Smart home ecosystems like Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit also help by reducing the need for multiple remotes and IR receivers. A single universal remote or a smartphone app can replace a coffee table full of controllers. If you're already planning a tech refresh, consider how each new device will connect before you buy. A little planning now saves a lot of cable management later.

Built-in and behind-the-wall options

For owner-occupiers undertaking a renovation, in-wall cable management is the gold standard. A licensed sparky in Australia can install a dedicated power point behind the TV, run HDMI and speaker cables through the wall cavity, and finish it off with brush plates for a clean look. Expect to pay around $150 to $300 per point, depending on the wall type and access.

In Brisbane and Sydney's heritage homes, this approach requires extra care, as some walls are double brick or contain asbestos. A licensed tradie will know how to route cables safely without compromising the structure. If you're not ready for a full reno, surface-mounted conduits in a matte black or brushed brass finish can give a similar industrial look with much less commitment.

Renter-friendly quick fixes

Renters can't drill into walls or make permanent changes, but that doesn't mean living with cable chaos. Adhesive cable clips from 3M, command strips and removable hooks all hold cords neatly along skirting boards or under desks without damaging paint. They're available at any Bunnings or Officeworks, usually for under $15 a pack.

Another clever trick is to run cables along the back edge of the floor using thin cord covers that sit flush against the skirting. When it's time to move out, a bit of warm air from a hair dryer loosens the adhesive and the cover comes away cleanly. For lamp cords, fabric cord wraps or simple velcro ties keep things tidy and prevent trip hazards, which is especially important in homes with young kids or curious pets.

If you're keen to dive deeper into living room styling and design, the team behind Sibabeh shares plenty more ideas on their about us page, where you'll find details on upcoming projects and design philosophies. Hiding cords is just one small part of creating a calm, considered space, but it's often the change that delivers the biggest visual impact. Start with one corner this weekend, and you'll be surprised how much lighter the whole room feels.