Routing cables behind baseboards and door jambs can give you a neat, custom-install look, without the hassle of drywall repair.

Run wire behind baseboards, crown molding, and door jambs

Fixtures like baseboards and door jambs offer great hiding places for your cables. Better yet, they don't require any drywall repair.

• Make sure to use UL-rated cables labeled CL2 or CL3. The Underwriters Laboratory (UL) looks at heat generated from current flowing through wire, how quickly the cable will catch and spread fire when exposed to flame, and the wire's susceptibility to damage from external stresses. Also, be sure to check your local building and fire code and buy wire accordingly.
• If you'd like to route wire behind baseboard or molding:
  • Carefully pry off the baseboard or molding with a small crowbar.
  • Cut a channel for the wire into the wall using a drywall saw, then score and chisel the studs.
  • Fish your wire through the channel.
  • Install nail plates on each stud to protect the wire.
  • Finally, re-install the baseboard or molding.
• If you'd like to route wire behind a door jamb:
  • Carefully pry off the framing using a chisel, small crowbar, or putty knife.
  • Run the wire between the frame and the jamb. (You might need to chisel out channels for the wire in the frame, so that it doesn't get pinched or compressed when you replace the molding.)
  • Reattach the framing, being careful not to damage any cables.
• For more information, see our guide to running wire inside your walls.

Run cables under your carpet

A large area rug or wall-to-wall carpeting can be effective ways to conceal A/V wiring, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind.

• Be careful not to route your wires in areas where they may be compressed or damaged — for example, under high-traffic areas, or under the legs of couches and tables.
• Keep in mind that unless your area rug is on top of plush, soft carpeting — or unless your carpet is on top of thick padding — your A/V cables may bulge and show through.
• Using flat or narrow cables will make them harder to see or feel through the carpet.
• Check to see if your carpet is tacked or glued down; if it's glued, you won't be able to route cables under it.
• Always run your wires between the carpet and the carpet pad. With the extra cushioning of the carpet pad, the wires are less likely to be pinched.
• Visit your local home improvement store for long, sturdy fish tape made to run wire under carpet. Make sure it's long enough to reach across your entire planned route.

Hiding wire in cabinetry or a closet

Existing cabinetry and closets can be handy places to conceal your A/V cables. Whether you plan to house your audio/video components inside a cabinet or closet, or just route your wires though it, the tips below can help.

• Drill holes large enough to comfortably pass your cables without pinching them.
• Use grommets to protect your cables from the rough edges of cabinetry, and to get a finished look. You can find them at your local hardware store.
• Use wire ties and tacks to bundle and anchor cables to the sides of the closet or cabinet. Be careful not to pinch or pierce any cables.
• If you're pulling more than one cable through multiple holes in a cabinet — for example, if you want to run wire from one end of a built-in bookshelf to the other — you can save time and effort by pulling your cables in a bundle. Don't bunch all of the connectors together, but tape one behind the other to keep the bundle as narrow as possible.
• If you plan to route wire for a short distance inside your wall — for example, to pass wire through the wall between your main room and an adjacent closet — check out our in-wall wiring guide.