How To Hide HDMI Cables In Walls (5+ Ways)

Installing an HDMI cable in your wall is an easy way to keep your home theater setup looking neat and tidy. Hiding wires improves aesthetics, avoids tripping hazards, and protects cables from damage. This comprehensive guide will teach you how to hide HDMI cables properly inside your walls.

Importance of Hiding HDMI Cables

A visible tangle of wires from your TV, cable box, game console, and other devices looks messy and chaotic. Exposed cables along the baseboards or dangling down the wall are not only unsightly but pose safety issues. Tripping over loose cords can cause injury. Pets and young children may also chew on or play with loose wires, damaging equipment.

Hiding your HDMI cables keeps your entertainment center neat and clutter-free. Fishing cables through walls conceals unsightly wires while protecting them from accidents, pets, vacuum cleaners and more. This maintains signal integrity for the best audio/video quality. Tidy media setups also contribute to a home’s aesthetic appeal for homeowners and prospective buyers.

Pre-Installation Steps

Measure cable runs carefully. This ensures you purchase cables long enough to span the necessary distance within walls but not too long to bunch up. Mark measurements on walls with painter’s tape.

Choose flat HDMI cables. These ultra low-profile cables fit more easily into narrow spaces between wall studs. Standard HDMI cords are too thick.

Purchase HDMI wall plates. Wall plates allow you to connect HDMI cables while keeping connections concealed. Buy wall plates with enough ports for sources/devices.

Gather fish tape, drywall saw, low voltage brackets, etc. Useful tools for feeding cables through walls and patching up drywall when done.

Shut off power to outlets. Prevent electric shocks when cutting into walls. Use a contact voltage tester to double check.

Examine your walls. Locate studs for securing low voltage brackets which support long horizontal cable runs. Identify existing wires, pipes to avoid.

How To Fish HDMI Cables Through Walls

1. Cut Access Holes

Use a drywall saw to cut rectangular openings at start and end points. Remove baseboard trim if needed. Make holes centered at stud locations for bracket mounting later.

2. Thread Fish Tape

Feed fish tape through the wall from one access hole to the other. Use glow rods to help guide tape for longer runs. Have someone watch the exit point.

3. Attach Cables

Once the fish tape is visible, remove its hook if necessary. Carefully attach HDMI cables with electrical or gaffer’s tape so connections are secure.

4. Pull Cables Through Wall

Have your partner gently pull the fish tape to thread cables back through the opening. Take care not to tear insulation or damage conductors inside.

5. Mount Brackets at Studs

Use a stud finder to locate studs. Screw in low voltage mounting brackets to attach cables tightly and provide support.

6. Connect Devices

Attach wall plates to each access point. Connect HDMI cable ends to media devices like TVs, Blu-ray players, and games consoles to test signal.

7. Patch Drywall Holes

Mix drywall compound to fill gaps around brackets and openings. Let dry, then sand smooth. Prime and paint to match existing walls for a seamless look.

Fishing Cable Inside Interior Walls

Mind obstruction risks. Be aware of potential plumbing pipes, electrical wires, ductwork when cutting into walls. Refer to blueprints if possible. Go slow and inspect as you work to prevent damage or bodily harm.

Find the shortest path. Take measurements outside the wall to determine the most direct routes between access points. Feed cables through stud bays instead of perpendicular through framing.

Use conduit for extra protection. Install flexible PVC conduit inside the opening to sleeve cables, preventing accidental punctures from screws or nails later on.

Manage tight spaces. In cramped interior wall cavities, try flat HDMI cables. Or bundle together to pull through using plenum-rated cable ties made of fire resistant material.

Get help fishing. Have someone feed the fish tape and cables from the other access point for easier threading through long distances or around corners.

Label your connections. Use a permanent marker to label each HDMI cable end with its device location after pulling to prevent confusion. Write “Blu-ray player” or “Xbox One” etc.

Running Cables Down Two-Story Walls

Mind the exterior wall risks. Outdoor walls contain insulation that can catch on cables when fishing. Watch for fireblocks sealing off floor joists as well.

Plan your entry/exit points wisely. Cut holes in baseboards or floors away from sight lines for a discreet appearance. Prevent tripping hazards in high traffic areas too.

Take advantage of existing openings. Use electrical outlets or old cable jacks to feed wires from one floor to the next instead of new holes.

Extend cables inside floor cavities. Drop down through walls into joist bays, then run cables horizontally to where needed. Secure using cable trays.

Consider conduit for extra protection. PVC pipes sleeve cables going vertically through fireblocked floors, protecting them from compression over time.

Use long, flexible drill bits. Specialty flexible drill bits help make new holes by bending around corners and navigating tight spaces inside walls.

Troubleshooting Problems

Cables kink or get stuck

• Check for snags on insulation, ducts, or nails. Feed stiff wire through wall cavity to clear debris so cables can pass. Use conduit to avoid this recurring.

Fish tape won’t reach other access point

• Transition to glow rods which join together until you achieve necessary length to span longer distances in walls.

Can’t get low voltage brackets to fit correctly

• Adjust bracket placement to sit directly below a stud bay rather than trying to span across multiple studs horizontally.

HDMI cable connection issues

• Test cables to ensure no internal copper conductor damage. Re-terminate ends or replace if needed. Use shorter runs to guarantee signal integrity.

Wall plates loose or misaligned

• Ensure you cut access holes properly centered on studs for secure mounting. Use spacers to fill gaps if necessary before tightening wall plate screws.

Cables move or become exposed over time

• Pull excess slack back into the wall and re-mount brackets for a tighter, more permanent hold. Consider conduit or wire molding to contain cables.

Tips For Clean Installation

• Use cable lubricant to reduce friction when threading wires through walls.
• Neatly bundle up and secure excess wiring in the wall cavity rather than stuffing loosely.
• Label both ends of each cable so you know which device they connect.
• Mount the TV bracket first before installing cables for proper positioning.
• Consider hiring an experienced electrician if working inside exterior or complicated walls.
• Use low voltage brackets designed for cable mounting, not standard electrical ones.
• Purchase cables labeled CL2 or CL3 for in-wall use as they are fire resistant.
• Keep coaxial, speaker, Cat5e and other cables separate from power lines to avoid interference.
• Use existing coaxial or Cat5e wiring openings in walls to also run HDMI if possible.

FAQ

What are other ways I can hide HDMI cables?

If fishing inside walls is impractical, you can hide cables along baseboards using white wire molding, behind furniture, under rugs and carpets, through ceilings, in columns or cabinetry, under flooring, or via alternative wireless HDMI solutions.

Is it safe to install my own cables?

Running cables inside exterior walls or through fireblocks requires special firestop materials and training. Hire an experienced electrician if uncomfortable working around insulation, electrical systems etc. They have the tools and knowledge to safely route cables through complicated construction while adhering to building codes.

How do I connect devices if the cables terminate inside the wall?

Use HDMI wall plates which allow you to connect media devices. Wall plates feature a removable cover that hides the ports when not in use for a streamlined appearance. This keeps connections accessible but concealed.

What if I need to add more cables in the future?

Leave pull strings attached to cables so you can easily run additional HDMI wires through the same wall path later on as your system expands. Conduit also works to reserve space for future cable runs.

Can I fish HDMI cables through the floor instead?

Yes, you can route cables underneath floor joists inside the cavity before popping back up where needed. This allows connections to devices placed across the room from the media console while keeping runs hidden.