Diagrams showing the correct placement of speakers for surround sound are very helpful, but we hear from a lot of people who say, "How on earth am I going to get cables to all those speakers? I don't want wires all over my room." This concern is actually one of the biggest impediments to people getting surround sound — and it's a shame, because there are a lot of ways to make it work.

If you haven't gotten the scoop on surround sound speaker placement yet, be sure to watch our video on speaker placement basics, or check out our detailed articles on home theater speaker placement and in-wall, in-ceiling, and on-wall speaker placement.

Now let's take a quick look at some of the surround speaker connection options out there. And for more wiring ideas and tips, see our article on hiding home A/V cables.

Flat speaker cable is easy to hide.

1. Run "flat" speaker cable along your baseboard.
If your room is carpeted, the easiest thing to do may be to tuck the cable in by the baseboard and run it along there. Sometimes, people actually run the cable under the carpet straight to the speaker location, to avoid doorways that might interfere with a baseboard run. If you're concerned about making detectable bumps in your carpet, "flat" speaker cables do a great job at solving the problem. If you have hardwood or tile floors, you'll probably want to go for the same "flat" cable mentioned above. You can run it along your baseboard and it's very unobtrusive — it's even paintable, so you can make sure it blends in with the rest of your décor.

2. Look for a wireless surround solution.
Some speakers today, and a handful of surround sound systems, offer a wireless surround speaker option. These speakers do need to be plugged into an power outlet, but they eliminate the need to stretch speaker cables from the front of your room to the back of your room. These days, you can also find sound bar speaker systems that simulate surround sound without using rear speakers. Check out our articles on your options for TV sound and choosing a sound bar system for more info.

3. Run your speaker cables through your walls.
Another solution is to run your speaker cables through your walls. This involves more work at the beginning, but results in an even more finished look. You can install wall terminal plates, so you simply connect your surround speakers to that terminal to get sound to them. Just remember to make sure your speaker cable is rated for in-wall use. See our comprehensive in-wall wiring guide for more info.

In-wall speakers mount flush with your wall.

4. Use in-wall or in-ceiling speakers.
Finally, you can opt for in-wall or in-ceiling speakers. Some people use them just for surrounds; others use them for all of their home theater speakers. They do require more installation work — for in-wall and in-ceiling speakers, you always have to cut a hole in the drywall and run cables through your walls — but they provide a very smooth, finished look. Plus, they have paintable frames and grilles, so you can ensure they match their surroundings. People just love the "invisibility" of these speakers. Again, make sure your speaker cable is rated for in-wall use. Check out our video on installing in-wall speakers to get an idea of what's involved, and find detailed info in our in-wall speaker installation guide.

Tip: As you plan your speakers' locations, try to envision the path along which you'll run your speaker wire. Measure the distances so you can order the right amount of wire, and add an extra few feet per speaker to allow yourself a margin of error. For more details, see our article on choosing and installing speaker wire.