10 Ways to Organize your Cables (Under $10)

In a time when technology is becoming ever more integrated into our lives, cords emerge as the unsung heroes of our everyday existence. They power our devices and enable seamless communication and data transfer, playing a vital role in keeping our modern world working smoothly.

However, despite their importance, cords often seem to have a mind of their own, tangling into chaotic knots and creating visual clutter in our homes and workspaces.

Cords create a huge sense of visual clutter because they often seem disorderly and disrupt the clean lines of a room. 

Here are a few ways you can manage your unorderly cords:

1. Wireless Devices

Whenever possible, opt for wireless alternatives. For example, invest in wireless charging pads for your devices or use Bluetooth-enabled devices instead of wired ones. 

However, there is one downside to this. Wireless gadgets are NOT AS GOOD AS WIRED ONES. For example, The difference in voice quality between wireless AirPods and wired earphones is as noticeable as night and day. Moreover, it is a huge hassle to connect your wireless earphone to the device You want to use!

Previously I owned a set of Chinese Earbuds (that cost around $30), with one always connecting to my phone and the other one to my iPad. Whenever I wanted to use them with my laptop, I had to manually make my devices forget them every single time!

Now, I own a pair of Apple 2nd Generation AirPods that connect to different devices relatively easily (actually too easily). Whenever I open my Airpod case to use it with my phone or iPad, it automatically connects to my Macbook even if it is placed a few feet away and someone else is using it!

However, using a wireless mouse or keyboard with your computer is totally worth it. Moreover, smart bulbs and switches are among the best inventions of the modern world, that enable you to operate them from your phones from the comfort of your bed or couch, in addition to being cordless!

2. Furniture Placement

One incredible way of managing your long cables is to rearrange your furniture to strategically position outlets and minimize the need for long cords to stretch across the room. This can also help create a more functional and visually appealing layout.

In most cases, the only thing people care about while furnishing their bedrooms is the Socket Placement. The nightstand goes in front of the socket so that you can easily plug your phone or laptop without converting your bedroom into a spider web!

Until a few years ago, the sofas in the living rooms used to be placed against the walls, concealing the sockets and most of the cables. But now in modern settings, the sofas are placed in the center of the living room, making it more challenging to hide the cords. 

3. Minimalism

One way to manage your cords is to declutter your space and minimize the number of devices and cords you have. The fewer cords you have, the easier it is to keep them organized and out of sight.

It is best to keep only one charger for all the devices that fit that charger, in each room. However, this way, you can charge only a limited number of devices at a time (in one place). 

If you prefer to charge all your devices at one place at the same time, you can buy a charging dock which will use only one cord for 3-4 devices. These charging docks typically cost between $12-$30.

4. Multipurpose Furniture

 One genius way of managing your cords is to buy furniture pieces with built-in cord management features, such as desks or entertainment centers with integrated cable routing channels.

The only problem with these types of furniture pieces is that sometimes they may not fit your particular chargers. However, something is better than nothing.  

5. Organization and Concealment

If you are too deep into having a large number of cords in each room of your house, your best bet is to organize them properly to make them less cluttered for a cleaner and more orderly living environment.

Below are different ways in which you can manage your cords.

1. Extension Cover Box

You can get a decent-looking Extension Cover box from Amazon for under $20, or from Temu for under $10. These boxes can fit in your cable extension and the hideous looking plugs or chargers on the extension, effectively clearing out the space and visual clutter on your work table, TV stand, or anywhere else. 

2. Magnetic Cables

Magnet charging cables are a game changer. They coil around themselves and stay put due to magnets. Moreover, most of them are FAST CHARGING CABLES that charge your devices in less time, without cluttering your space. 

You can get these magnetic cables for less than $20 at Amazon, while on TEMU, they cost around $3-$6. 

3. Self-Adhesive or magnetic Cord Clips

You can stick your cords to the side of your table for a cleaner look. This way, they will not get entangled. This will make all the difference in clearing up the space around your extension cable,  where usually all the cables lay, get entangled and create a messy or cluttered look.

On Amazon, these magnetic cord clips cost around $3 a piece, while on TEMU, you can get them for around 60 cents!

4. Cable Wrap

Multiple chargers (or cables) attached to a single extension creates a very cluttered look. You can put all those cables together in a cable wrap, for a cleaner and an uncluttered look.

You can get these cable wraps for under $10 at Amazon and under $3 at TEMU. 

5. Cable Ties

You can effectively organize your cables by tying them with a reusable cable tie. You can either tie different cords together that are attached to the same extension, or use them to tie individual cords before storing them in your drawer. 

These reusable cable ties come in packs of 20-100 pieces. Each pack costs about $10 at Amazon and less than $2 at TEMU. 

6. Under Desk Cable Management Tray

If you work from home and your work table does not have a built-in cable management tray, you can buy one separately online. 

A working station typically has 1 monitor, 2 or more laptops (1 from work and 1 personal), a dock to connect your wireless keyboard and mouse to your laptops, and a desk lamp. Moreover, you would also want to charge you mobile, tablet and smartwatch at your workstation, or at least nearby. 

All these cables can create a lot of clutter that could be an eye-sore. All these cables need to be hidden and the best way to do so is under the table.

These trays vary widely in price. Surprisingly some cable organizing trays are more expensive on TEMU as compared to Amazon. However, you can get a decent tray under $30.

Conclusion

Cables are an unavoidable aspect of our daily lives, serving as the lifelines of our modern technology-driven world. While they may seem daunting at times, the key to maintaining a sense of order and functionality lies in proper management. 

By implementing the various strategies discussed above, such as concealing, organizing, and minimizing cords, you can transform your living spaces into havens of tidiness and efficiency.

 Remember, while cables may be inevitable, how we manage them is entirely within our control, and with the right approach, we can turn their presence from a nuisance into a seamless part of our everyday functioning.