Despite an increasingly wireless society, we still live in a world largely tethered by cables. These cables can often be the bane of our existence. Tangled cords, messy desks, ugly aesthetics – cables and cords are a pain, but they’re not going anywhere. Fortunately, there are some innovative cable management solutions to tame those wild and unruly cables. In addition to restoring order to your electronics, these cable management options provide valuable protection against various household hazards. Pets who like to munch on cords, robot vacuums that get cables tangled in their innards as they go about tidying, and curious babies exploring are no match for an organized desk.
Cable Sleeve
Cable sleeves are a great option to gather cables together into a single tube. There are a number of different ones on the market in varying lengths and colors. Cable sleeves are easy to use and offer flexibility when organizing your cables. The sleeve is made from a strong but flexible neoprene material. Simply gather up your cables and wrap the sleeve around them. The integrated zipper or velcro allows you to quickly and easily secure all of your cables in a neat, bendable mesh tubing.
Eight to ten cables can fit comfortably in a single sleeve, and the zipper allows easy access. Furthermore, many of the cable sleeves available can be customized by cutting holes into the sleeve. This allows users to separate cords at different points in the tubing when necessary.
Raceway Channels
If you need to get your cables off the floor, you may want to consider a raceway channel system. Raceway channels allow you to collect all your cables and run them through a plastic enclosure that organizes and conceals them. Raceway channels also offer superb protection against hazards, as cords and cables are completely surrounded by hard plastic. Furthermore, many raceway channels are paintable, allowing them to blend in with the walls of your home or office.
Raceway channels can be found in a variety of different styles and can be mounted virtually anywhere. That being said, raceway channels will take a little bit more effort to set up compared to other options on the list.
Cable Box Organizer
Chances are if you have a lot of electronics, you’re using multiple surge protectors. Unfortunately, these power strips can be a bit of an eyesore. These chunky plastic boxes with various cords plugged into them make them look more like a tentacled sea creature than something that belongs in your house or office. In addition, if you need to access your surge protector regularly, it has to be out in the open for all to see. Luckily, cable box organizers can quickly hide all your ugly power strips.
Box organizers come in a variety of colors and materials to fit any decor and are super easy to use. Simply drop your surge protector into the box, tuck your cables in and close the lid. These boxes can fit a wide variety of surge protectors and have additional room for chunky power adapters and excess cord length.
Hook and Loop Cable Ties
Many people use plastic zip ties to organize their cables, and for good reason. They are strong and are a cheap way to organize cables. Unfortunately, zip ties can cause headaches due to their rigidity. If you don’t use reusable zip ties, then you are forced to cut the zip ties whenever you want to reorganize your cords. Reusable cable ties are an option, but if your cables are in a hard to reach area, it can be difficult to work the release mechanism on the zip tie. Fortunately, there is a better solution.
Hook and loop cable ties function in exactly the same way as zip ties; however, they are much more manageable. The hook and loop system (also known by the brand name Velcro), allows cables to be bundled together securely; however, they can easily be released with one hand. If you find yourself constantly moving and reorganizing your cables, these cable ties are for you.
Cable Clips
Now that you have all of your HDMI cables and power cords neatly organized, you should focus your attention on your workspace. Chances are you have charging cables for your various gadgets dangling all over the place. Fortunately, there are a number of products that can help you organize your desk and get all of those pesky cords out of the way.
There are a wide variety of different cable clips that can handle virtually any workspace setup. Some cable clips utilize an adhesive backing to allow users to easily apply and remove them, whilst others other a more permanent solution by being anchored into the wall via small nails. Whichever type you choose, these little clips can declutter your desk and get you focused in no time.
What are your favorite cable management solutions? Let us know in the comments!
Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox
