Comments on: Hide your desk’s power strip

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:01:13 +0000

http://www.hidemycables.com allows you to create a custom long box to hide wires, routers, and power strips.

By: Outlaw Design Blog » How to Achieve the Ultimate Home Office Setup

Outlaw Design Blog » How to Achieve the Ultimate Home Office Setup — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:18:00 +0000

[...] Hide your desk’s power strip [...]

By: Nelson Real Estate » Earth to Kitchen designers, cabinet makers, et al….

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:18:58 +0000

[...] be on the wall but under the bench, in the cupboard out of sight, with access through a “computer desk like” opening in the counter top. Surely the de-cluttered style looks [...]

By: Risa

Risa — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:46:00 +0000

The electrician in me would also like to suggest that you use an appropriate extension cord. One that’s grounded and heavier gauge, please.

By: Monica Ricci

Monica Ricci — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 04:51:55 +0000

Great stuff… many of my clients are desperate for a cord-concealment solution and this fits the bill, minus the metal basket of course. There are plenty of PLASTIC grid baskets available that would be perfect. Excellent post.
~Monica

By: Erin @ Unclutterer

Erin @ Unclutterer — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 17:49:59 +0000

@snoop — As it clearly states in the article, we do NOT recommend using a metal basket. We do not recommend using a plastic coated metal basket, either. If you’re going to do this, we only recommend using a SOLID PLASTIC BASKET.

By: Kris

Kris — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:41:39 +0000

@Charles .. are the wires all over the room or just in one location? If they’re somewhat centrally located, I’ve seen someone take a tall, thin, round basket with a lid (like a tall laundry basket) made of wicker and put some very small holes up and down in the back where needed. Your cables/wires go in the basket and whatever needs to come out comes out. Just a thought.

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:21:23 +0000

P.S. Martha also suggested using those plastic things that secure bread bags as labels for your power cords. Write on them with permanent marker, attach them to the appropriate cord, and voila– never accidentally unplug your light source again!

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 03:19:39 +0000

Cheyenne, LOVE that idea! Sounds like it would solve most of the problems mentioned in this thread.

By: Charles

Charles — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:50:30 +0000

Not a bad idea, other than the safety issue.

However, anyone have any ideas for a glass desk? I love having the glass because my office/media room is so small, so the glass helps make it look larger, but hiding cable is a bit of a pain. Right now, I’ve traced the wires along the framing so its less noticeable, but talk about a freaking nightmare when I want to replace/change something.

By: Cheyenne

Cheyenne — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:20:23 +0000

I got some hook and loop (aka velcro) strips from my local hardware store and used them on the power strip to attach it to the back of my tv stand- I plan to do the same for my desk.

By: d'Andre

d'Andre — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:31:29 +0000

Looks good for uncluttering, but the other element that is important to me is saving power. To do that, you need the ability to switch off the power strip when you don’t need to have the power bricks energized. There are strips that sense power through one of the outlets and switch the rest off when the main unit (usually the CPU) is turned off. I think these have been featured here on unclutterer, but if not you can find them on http://www.smarthome.com. Otherwise, just having the switch on the power strip accessible would do the trick.

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:39:59 +0000

They make rubber coated versions of this rack that would work nicely and be safer if getting shocked is a concern.

Is it me or is this pessimist central lately?

By: David Reber

David Reber — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:09:14 +0000

Probably not the safest solution but headed in the right direction.

By: snoop

snoop — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:52:34 +0000

Not a good idea.

The metal grid of the bin is too close to the outlets and you could easily shock yourself or create an electrical arc while you are plugging or unplugging a cord–or a partially loose plug could come in contact with the grid and you could get shocked when you touch the metal mesh.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:44:06 +0000

This idea was featured by Martha Stewart years ago. Sorry, Greg ; )

By: Kris

Kris — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:01:02 +0000

Maybe you could put it on hinges on one side and it could fold down to get in there.

By: Karen (Pediascribe)

Karen (Pediascribe) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:43:45 +0000

Hmmmm, interesting. This would be even more cool if you could somehow remove it without having to unscrew it. Only thinking that would be handy b/c sometimes you have to change something out.
Hmmm….