The Painters Tape Hack That Ensures Your Cord Covers Are Renter-Friendly

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What you need to know to wall-mount a TV goes beyond simply securing it to the wall — it's just as important to manage the messy cords that instantly draw the eye and ruin the look of a space. You could pay a hefty fee to have an electrician fix the issue, but that could wreck your budget. There are inexpensive cable-management systems designed to hide cords like these, but some kits include strong adhesives that could damage your drywall or leave a stubborn residue, creating a costly headache to repair later. To the rescue comes a renter-friendly, no-damage hack that will leave a clean, tidy look without ruining your walls or leading to pricey fixes: using painter's tape as a protective layer so the adhesive never touches your drywall. 

The covers will stick securely to the painter's tape, and because cord covers are lightweight, the tape will stay where you want it. This is just one of many painter's tape hacks you'll wish you used sooner to help you more easily decorate and improve your home. You'll need a cord cover kit, such as a Delamu cable hider, in a width that will accommodate your TV cords. You'll also want to have on hand a level, pencil, tape measure, painter's tape, and a pair of scissors. 

First, decide where your cord covers will go. Plan the most direct or discreet route from your TV to the outlet, and measure it to see how much cord covering you'll need. Using a level and a pencil, draw a straight path on your wall, then apply a strip of painter's tape along it. Remove the cord covers' tops, and if the tape isn't pre-applied, add it to their bottom halves. Dry fit the covers over the tape, trimming them to size if needed. Once the layout is set, peel off the covers' adhesive backings and press them firmly onto the tape. Tuck the TV cords inside and snap on the covers' tops.

If you prefer an option that doesn't require painter's tape, adhesive products like Command poster strips are another way to mount cord covers to the wall without potentially causing future damage. First, clean the wall with rubbing alcohol. Then, remove the protective papers on both sides of the strips, apply them to the backs of the cord covers, and press them firmly into place along your marked path. Because the adhesive is designed to hold securely and remove easily, they offer a solution for mounting the cord concealers without risking damaging the drywall underneath it.

However, if you still wind up leaving behind small dents or tears in the wall, there are drywall repair hacks that will save you time and money. For instance, if you slightly dent the drywall, fill the imperfections with spackle, allow it to dry per the product's instructions, lightly sand it, and paint it — your wall will look as good as new.