How to Hide TV Wires After Wall Mounting: Raceway vs In-Wall Explained
You've got a beautiful wall-mounted TV. Then you look down and see a bundle of cables dangling against the wall. It's the most common finishing problem after any TV mount — and it has two clean solutions: surface raceways or in-wall concealment.
Here's what each option involves, which walls they work on, and how to decide what's right for your home.
Why Cord Concealment Matters More Than You Think
Visible cables don't just look messy — they're a tripping hazard, especially for kids and pets. A properly hidden cable run finishes the job and makes your wall look intentional, not improvised. It also protects the cables themselves from getting pulled or kinked over time.
The good news: hiding TV wires isn't a big project. Most homes can be done in under an hour, and you don't have to open walls to get a clean result.
Option 1: Surface Raceways (External Concealment)
A raceway is a slim plastic channel that attaches directly to the wall surface. It runs from behind the TV down to the outlet, hiding all the cables inside. Most raceways are paintable — a quick coat of wall-colour paint makes them nearly invisible from across the room.
What makes raceways a great choice
- Works on any wall type — drywall, brick, concrete, tile — no drilling into the wall cavity
- Perfect for renters: installation leaves minimal, patch-able marks
- Fast to install — typically done in 20–30 minutes
- Completely reversible if you move or redecorate
- The most affordable cable concealment option
The trade-off
The channel itself is visible on the surface, even when painted. In most rooms it's barely noticeable, but if you're after a completely seamless finish with nothing on the wall, you'll want to consider Option 2.
For renters, condo owners, and anyone with brick or concrete walls, raceways are almost always the right call. They're practical, affordable, and leave no permanent mark on your home.
Option 2: In-Wall Cable Concealment
In-wall concealment hides cables inside the wall itself — completely out of sight. A professional installer cuts two small holes (one behind the TV, one near the baseboard outlet), feeds the cables through the wall cavity, and finishes cleanly around each opening with a cover plate. From the front, the wall looks like there are no cables at all.
When in-wall is the right move
- You want a completely invisible, zero-hardware finish
- You own your home (no lease concerns)
- The wall is hollow drywall — this is a must; in-wall doesn't work on brick, concrete, or masonry
- You want the longest-lasting, most polished result
What to know before you go in-wall
In-wall concealment is more involved than a raceway install, and one thing often surprises homeowners: the power cord can't simply be run loose inside the wall. Canadian building code requires power to run through a proper recessed outlet box — not a bare cord in the cavity. The right approach is to install a recessed outlet behind the TV so the power cord stays completely behind the screen. A professional installer sets this up correctly from the start, so there's no safety risk and no code issues.
This is also why in-wall jobs benefit from an experienced hand — done wrong, it's a problem you can't see until it matters.
Which Option Is Right for You?
A few quick questions to guide your decision:
- Is it a hollow drywall wall? In-wall is possible. Any other wall type → raceway.
- Are you renting? Raceway is the safer choice — no wall penetration, no lease complications.
- Do you want zero visible hardware? In-wall gives the cleanest finish.
- Is value the priority? Raceways are the more economical option and still look great when painted.
Tips for a Cleaner Finish Either Way
Paint the raceway before you call it done
An unpainted raceway against a coloured wall sticks out. A paintable PVC raceway takes about 10 minutes to paint and becomes virtually invisible when it matches the wall. This single step makes a major difference in the finished look.
Measure cable length first
Before buying a raceway, measure the drop from behind the TV to the outlet. Too much cable bunched inside the channel is just as messy-looking as cables on the wall. Trim or organize cables before you run them.
Keep cables accessible
Whether you use a raceway or go in-wall, route cables so you can still swap a device without tearing everything apart. A raceway with a removable cover makes this easy. In-wall installs should end at a pass-through plate — not buried or inaccessible connections.
Plan the outlet location
For in-wall installs, the cable exit point should land at or near an existing outlet. This keeps the visible portion of any remaining cable run as short as possible.
What a Professional Cable Concealment Install Looks Like
When SharpStage handles cable concealment, we assess the wall type first, confirm which option makes sense for your home, and execute a clean finish — whether that's a painted raceway that disappears into the wall or a full in-wall run with a recessed outlet box and a tidy pass-through plate at both ends.
We work on all wall types across the GTA and Hamilton — drywall, brick, concrete, plaster, you name it. Same-day service is available at no extra charge, open 8 AM–8 PM, 7 days a week. And you pay only after the job's done and you're satisfied.
Text or call us at 437-599-5020 and we'll tell you exactly what your wall needs — honest, straightforward advice, no upsell.
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