How To Hide Unsightly Cable Boxes Without A Media Console For A Neater Look

While entertainment technology has evolved significantly over the years, cable boxes remain as stuck in time as ever. Basic in function and unsightly in form, these bulky appliances never do anything for the living room decor. Making matters worse, hiding them isn't necessarily an easy feat. Not only are cumbersome cable boxes challenging to conceal, but their old-school infrared receivers mean they have to remain out in the open. IR remotes can only send signals successfully when there's line of sight to the box, so you can't tuck the set top box behind a cover and expect it to work every time. In most cases, it will have to hide in a media console for a clean look. And lacking that, you'll need a few helpful tools and a little creativity to get the aesthetic you want from the setup.

If you have a recessed TV or a screen over a mantel, you likely won't have a cabinet to hold your cable box, so mounting it behind the TV will often be the best option. Secure the box on the wall behind the TV with a mounting bracket like a HIDEit mount. Bear in mind you may have to mount your TV with a tilt or full-motion bracket to give the box enough space to fit between the TV and the wall. With the box hidden against the wall, you just need an intermediary to pick up your remote's signal and send it to the box.

Your cable box may pick up your remote's signal even when it's mounted behind the TV since infrared signals can bounce off surfaces. As you're setting the box on the wall, play around with its orientation and test the remote to find a usable position. If you can't control the box while it's hidden, you'll need an IR repeater. Inexpensive plug-and-play IR repeaters like the Cable Matters IR Extender Cable feature a receiver to capture the remote's signal and a transmitter that sends it to the cable box's receiver. You can find different ranges if your box is far from the TV, and some products have multiple ports to control additional devices.

If the cable box can't fit behind your TV, you can maintain a neat look by placing it discreetly away from the entertainment center. The only concern here is running long wires around the room. But rather than worry about hiding cables and cords, you can again neaten the appearance with an easy fix — a wireless HDMI kit. Products like the EDUP Wireless HDMI Transmitter and Receiver have a transmitter to attach to the cable box and a receiver for the TV, allowing the cable box to send the video signal remotely. Add on a wireless IR repeater (e.g., Fourair IR Wireless Repeater) to send the remote signal, and you can control your cable box from almost anywhere, keeping your TV looking as crisp and clean as possible.