Cord Management Around the House
Hiding Cords from Sight & Puppy-Proofing, too
We recently got a puppy, and while he is a precious bundle of fluff, he also exposed all of our not-puppy-proofed ways around the house! Since Bambino isn’t so little any more, and our last dog was in her elder years when she passed, we never really baby or puppy-proofed this house. The arrival of Ole (short for Olaf), changed all of that. He immediately identified all of our vulnerable cords and cables and let us know that if we cared about our electronics, we needed to do some cord management. Pronto!
Enter bluelounge. I’d used several of bluelounge’s products in my DIY Workroom Makeover last fall, and I LOVE them. So I asked bluelounge if they would be willing to help us corral our cords around the house. They sent me a box of products to try — all kinds of tools and tricks for managing every cord and outlet in our home. It was all stuff we should have done when we moved in, and it has made such a difference. Every room is so neat and tidy, now! AND I don’t have to worry about cords and cables being chewed by an errant puppy — an added bonus!
So whether you have a dog or just need to wrangle the spaghetti-mess behind your television, read on. I love bluelounge’s products and the peace they bring to our cord and cable confusion.
A CableBox — the white box under the lamp — by bluelounge hides a power strip and all of the cables for my computer, phone charger, and even the lamp cord in the DIY Workroom Makeover.
I used another CableBox at the sewing station. It also contains a powerstrip and holds the power cord for the sewing machine as well as the task lamp keeping it all neat and tidy.
The bluelounge Cable Management Tools
Bluelounge sent me a box of their cable management tools which I deployed in a variety of ways. To make it easier, I put all of these items into a bin which I carried from place to place as I worked through the house. Then I had every tool I could possibly need as I worked. I can’t recommend one solution over another, because they all have their individual uses.
One of the best parts about each of these solutions, though, is that they are reusable. Unlike zip ties, for example, the bluelounge Pixi can be used and reused over and over again. That’s particularly handy for people who move a lot — like us. But it is also great, because technology changes, so with these products, we won’t have to run out and buy something else when our TV setup changes over time.
Cable Management in my Home Office
As I said before, I first used bluelounge’s products in my Workroom — my home office, sewing room, library, and art studio. When I redid this room as part of the Fall 2019 One Room Challenge, I purchased some CableBoxes as well as CableDrops to corral all of the cords at my computer area as well as in my sewing station. I was so impressed with how well the products worked — and how nice they looked. You can read more about how I tamed my workroom at the DIY Workroom Makeover page.
Cable Management in the Kitchen
So let’s start in the kitchen. Not a lot of cords to manage here. You might think: I don’t need to do anything in the kitchen. You would be wrong!
Before: the Kitchen
We had two chargers which took up valuable outlet space, and were always a bit of a mess.
The tool: a CableBox Mini
The CableBox Mini comes with a small power strip inside. Using it freed up one of the plugs which are in short supply in our kitchen as it is. And we are able to use the top of the box for storage.
After: the Kitchen
With the installation of the CableBox Mini, we created an electronics command center. Now our PhoneSoap sanitizer sits on top for the whole family to use. Phone chargers peek out discretely. And our all-important cooking speaker is always in its spot. And we have regained an outlet for the mixer or other appliances.
Cable Management in the Living Room
Well before the arrival of the puppy, I knew we needed to do something in the living room. Our TV sits on a vintage dresser which looks great, but does not have a designated space for cords and cables.
Before: Behind the TV
Yep. It was a mess. A power strip, a DVD player, and an antenna. Yuck. Additionally, our Apple TV had to sit on a chair next to the entertainment center. That’s a long story — the fridge blocks the internet signal — but the chair was an unsightly solution. We still needed a place to put the Apple TV, but it needed to be more attractive and less in the way.
The Tools
To tame this mess I used several bluelounge solutions. I started with the CableBin. This I purchased myself — evidently they are phasing them out. But it was perfect for this spot! They come in two finishes: a light wood and a darker wood. And the Apple TV fits perfectly on top. The CableBin is like a trashcan for a power strip and all of the cords. They all fit inside neatly and easily. I also used some CableClips and CableDrops. CableClips hold cables together neatly. The CableDrops attach to the back of furniture, holding the cords in place. They are unobtrusive, come in several colors (including white and black), and help direct cords and cables out of the way.
After: Behind the TV
Look at that! So neat! So tidy! So contained — even inside the CableBin! The only critique I have of the CableBin is that the stickiness on the hooks is too weak. They don’t hold up the power strip. But that doesn’t really matter. It is all contained and hidden. With CableTies to manage the slack in every cable, the mess is no more! The CableTies are fabulous velcro ties that I have used in so many places around the house! Sadly, we can’t make the DVD player and the antenna disappear, but with all of the cords managed, they now sit neatly behind the TV and are no longer an eyesore.
The CableBin at work
Inside the CableBin
Behind the TV
Managing Lamp Cords and Phone Chargers
Our couch sits in the middle of the living room. Great for flow. Not so great when all of the outlets are on the walls. Our temporary solution was a power strip behind the couch — unsightly but practical. This was the first place Ole decided to do some serious chewing, so it was one of the first places we needed some serious puppy-proofing.
Before: the Power Strip
Unsightly. Unsafe. Temporary. And Ole’s favorite place to chew.
After: A CableBox & CableDrops
The CableBox tucks discreetly behind the sofa table — totally out of sight. And the CableDrops guide the cords up off the floor. Getting the cords off the floor means they aren’t a temptation for our eager puppy any more. And again, everything is neat and tidy!
A CableDrop under the table keeps cords off the floor
Several CableDrops under the couch keep cords out of puppy’s reach.
A CableBox keeps everything neat and tidy behind the couch.
Cord Management in the Bedrooms
I have also deployed CableBoxes and other solutions in each of our bedrooms. In Bambino’s room we had a mess of plugs for lamps, the aquarium, and a variety of other electronics which needed to be corralled. Now it is neat and tidy, plus the CableBox which I used creates a platform for his jars of treasures. At each of the bedside tables in our master bedroom, CableBoxes hide a power strip into which lamps and phone chargers are plugged. I also used CableDrops to snake the charging cables up onto the top of the bedside table. They stay in place, always at the ready, and we never have to hunt for the chargers. At my dressing table, I also have a CableBox for another power strip. Here I plug in my lamps as well as a hairdryer and any curling irons, etc, that I may need.
A CableBox fits neatly on the bedside table or under the bed.
In our child’s room, a CableBox keeps the cords and cables for the aquarium, lamps, and chargers neat and tidy and out of the way.
My bedside table top
I also used a CableBox under my dressing table which keeps all of the cords tucked away and out of sight.
As you work to corral your cords and cables around your house, I hope you find solutions that work, too! A clutter free home includes good cord management, for sure.
