Electronics
Use a hidden hole This sneaky trick is fairly common, and for good reason: it works. If you look closely at this picture, you’ll notice the back corner of the desk has an almost-hidden hole. You use this to thread your cables through, so rather than have them dangling over the front of your desk, they are placed subtly behind your electronics. Many items of furniture now have these built in – Ikea even builds them into dressers and bedside tables – and they are extremely handy.
Use a stand For smaller objects, such as your phone or tablet, a wall mount or desk stand can be helpful. In this example, you can see both a tablet dock and a smartphone dock. This is particularly great if you plan to use your tablet as a virtual recipe book in the kitchen, or if you need hands-free access to your phone. If you don’t want to mount a stand to the wall, desk stands are extremely easy to come by.
Use a wire management tray While a wire management tray isn’t necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing solution, it is effective. These trays are attached to the back underside of a desk. They then hold any wires in place the same way a shelf would, without the need for cable ties or velcro. One major benefit: because they are attached to the desk, they are with your desk for life, so you don’t have to rethink your solution if you move.
Use a cable box A cable box (the white box at the base of the desk) is an excellent way to get your jumbled mess of cables in order. Not only is it effective, but it is budget-friendly and easy to use. You simply thread your cables through the hole at the top (which can typically be opened for thicker cables) and then scoop any excess cables into the insides of the box. Voila! They disappear from sight!
Use cable ties When your excess cables are stretching across a room, they can become hazardous. No one wants to take a trip and be sent flying, so it makes sense to get them in order as quickly and effectively as possible. In this case, you can use a cable tie to bundle any excess wires into a neat package. The remaining cable should then be laid across the floor. You may want to consider using clear tape to keep the flat cable in place.
Use velcro If you suddenly find a tangle of cables surrounding your desk, you need to figure out a way to get those in order. One method that works like a charm is to make use of velcro strips. In this particular example, the multi-socket power adaptor seems to be attached to the underside of the desk, most likely with sticky velcro strips. Once the power adaptor is in place, any ‘excess’ cable lengths are then bundled together neatly and wrapped using a cable tie to hold them in place. You can then velcro the bundle to the underside of the desk.
Secrete those sockets As we add more and more appliances to our kitchen arsenal, we have a greater need for plug points in handy places. It used to be that the only solution was to line up four or five double sockets on the wall. These can be tricky to tile around, and it’s expensive to cut a bespoke splashback to fit. With a few of these pop-up power points in your benchtop and island, you can reclaim your walls and simply tuck the sockets away when not in use.
Allocate a charging drawer The kitchen is often the social hub of the home, and the place where we tend to congregate. Into this informal atmosphere come our gadgets too. However, it’s not always the safest environment for them, with sinks and hot plates, steam and heavy pots. So why not incorporate a charging drawer or cupboard into your kitchen design? Here, the drawer consists of a tray with recesses for each gadget. Hidden away beneath is a charging hub, with a port for every item.
Install central command If you’re building from scratch, or renovating a whole property, look into the feasibility of installing an automation system to control heating, lighting, sound (music streaming) and even window coverings. The ultimate in tech innovation, you can control all your utilities from one place. There are quite a few smart home systems on the market with functions to control different needs, so you could feel overwhelmed by the choice. The key is to write a list of what you specifically need in your own home. Then discuss the list and the layout of your property with a professional installer, who will be able to give you advice on the right system for you.
Use furniture It isn’t always possible or practical to use cable ties or velcro strips, but if you are creative enough, you may not need to. In this example, you can see that the wire is carefully placed so it ducks down behind the desk drawers. In other words, the furniture blocks it from sight. You can then use some clear tape to hold it in place and ensure that it doesn’t fall out from behind the furniture.
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