Hide your TV wires and cables for less than $10

So I am constantly disappointed at the inability to use my full mental capacity when it comes to "MacGyver-ing" things, seems everyone else has already thought of it and created a brilliant blog about it...except when it comes to hiding television cables in a sane way that does not involve complete home remodeling, building shelves you don't need, digging through a wall (which does not hide your Roku or cable box), or just a random link to an ugly ass plastic sleeve for your cords.  Now I have been known to use PVC for pretty much everything known to man; however, I just wanted this wall to look good without having to tear down the house.

Pretty bad, what with the cable box hanging from a cable (which seems ironic but it's just messy), plus all of the wall patches where I've attempted various fixes to this. I did a search on Pinterest, Google and wherever the heck else I could and found no suitable solutions...and then I thought, why not just use 2x4's? So my gigantic brain came up with a plan, and it's such a complicated one too.  Why not cut out 4 2' pieces of 2x4 (which costs about $3 at your local hardware store...it's called a 2x4x8 for those having trouble following my majestic brain power on this one) into a square, cut some holes in the side and find a painting in my house that will fit perfectly on top, making it easier for the remote brain burning big brother laser blasters from the remote to get through as well.

So I am going to break down this super easy cord hiding project now if I have managed to pique your interest....

Final result:

I know it kind of looks like I just shoved a bunch of wires behind a painting but I assure you it is slightly more complex than that...not much, but it is...

So here is the basic information...I would say this is an expertise level of medium, only because anyone below that level might not have the tools that end up making this project oh so easy.

Time Needed, about an hour, maybe two.

Supplies Needed:

1 - 2x4x8

(and I can go ahead and throw the "cut list" in here, cut it into 4 pieces 2 feet long each)

1 - 2x2x24

(this one will be cut to fit inside your super complicated box)

Drill, with a hole bits of various sizes depending on your wires

Screwdriver or power driver

Chop saw or Table Saw

Deck Screws

Stud Finder

Velcro or Nylon Cable ties

Instructions:

Cut your 2x4 into equal pieces, making 4 - 24" pieces

Pre-drill your holes before using deck screws to make a square

I used two separate hole saws to make different size holes in each side, but this was just what worked for my own use.

I then cut my 2x2 to a size that would fit snug inside my fancy box. The 2x2 is the key to the entire thing working. I pre-drilled holes that were stud length apart, and pre-drilled holes in the sides of the box at the top and the 2x2's.

I then got out my trusty stud finder and checked and double checked for stud location, I also had a chance to clean up where I had patched my previous attempts.

I then, once again, used deck screws to screw my trusty 2x2 into the studs.

Okay, maybe I waited before I cleaned up the paint to see if I could manage to make my box cover up all of the patch work, but it didn't.

Then I double checked the fit by placing my box on the wall, hanging it onto the 2x2...and it fit, magically, so I went ahead and attached it all together by the sides.

Awesome right?

Okay, I still had the problem of so many wires and cables that once I shoved them through the holes it was pretty much still a hot mess.

Enter now, my very favorite velcro cable ties from Harbor Freight.  They are super cheap, and REMOVABLE. Now I love plastic/nylon cable ties as much as the next guy, maybe more, but these are better for some projects.

All neat and tidy now

So originally, I had planned to recycle/upcycle some old cabinet doors for this project but then I thought, how disappointing that would be, to open a cabinet thinking it might be a small doorway to Narnia or something and it was just a jangled up mess of wires and cables...seriously?

So I walked through my house to find the perfect painting to cover my box. I found one that was not too heavy but didn't look awkward sticking so far out from the wall.  You could also cut a piece of plywood to cover this or basically hang whatever you want on top of your box.

So then, I just hammer banged a basic picture hanger onto the 2x4, hung the picture on it and I'm stinking DONE!

For once I didn't get sucked into building an entire window seat, bookcase and passageway to Narnia and kept things simple.

x