On the first day of the computer age, tangles of wires began to take over our lives. Most computers have lots of wires hanging out of them. They look ugly, they get in the way, they trap herds of dust bunnies, and they can create a hazard, especially for children and pets.
In this article, you'll find out how to tame the snarl of wires both on and under your desk, making them less of a nuisance. We'll even tell you how to get rid of some of them.
Reducing the Number of Wires on Your Desk
Going wireless is a good way to begin to reduce the number of wires you have. The downside is that this will mean buying wireless versions of things you might already own, but if you're yearning for neatness in your computer area, this approach is for you.
Keyboards and mice with wireless connections back to your computer are widely available. They come with a little transmitter or receiver that plugs into a USB port so no special features are required on the computer itself. With these devices you'll eliminate the two most visible wires, right off the bat. One thing to consider, though, is that wireless keyboards and mice typically need batteries, so keep an extra set on hand. And you might want to keep your old keyboard and mouse around, just in case. Wireless speakers are also available, and you can even set up a wireless webcam (see our article, Install a Wireless Webcam.
Reducing the Number of Wires Under Your Desk
Look at the mess under your desk and the first thing you'll probably see is a pile of power cords—for the computer itself, the monitor, and maybe others for extra equipment like a printer. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to get rid of those (but we'll talk about how to handle them later in this article).
You'll also probably notice the network cable that connects your computer to your network or the Internet . Because they typically need to stretch the longest distance, those cables are the worst offenders in terms of snaking across the floor where someone could trip over them. Getting a cable to the place you need it can also force you to drill holes all over the house. You can eliminate that cable by connecting your computer to a wireless network (see our article, Build a Home Network). Once you have a network, some printers can even connect wirelessly to it—look for printers that say "Wi-Fi enabled" or something similar on the packaging.
Taking the Easiest (and Cheapest) Route to Organizing the Cables That Are Left
No matter how enthusiastic you get about eliminating all the wires in your computer life, you'll likely have some left at the end of the day. The key to reducing the remaining clutter is to bundle those wires together, so what's left looks like one big cable, instead of a spilled bowl of spaghetti. The zero-cost way to do that is to raid the kitchen and grab the twist ties that come with food-storage bags or garbage bags.
Gather all of the wires together, and attach twist ties every couple of feet. You'll have a cleaner look in no time. For a stronger alternative, you can buy nylon or Velcro cable ties at most hardware stores. Once you have your wires bundled together, you can even bind them to a table leg, if you're so inclined. A word to the wise: if you decide to attach the wires to the underside of a desk or anywhere else with nails or staples, do the fastening to the material that's attached to the wires, rather than the wires themselves to avoid damaging them.
Going for the High-End Solution or Solving Special Problems
If you feel very strongly about the neatness of the end result (for instance, if it will be visible to clients or your mother), you'll need to bring out the big guns. Many electronics or office-supply stores sell hollow plastic tubing with a slit running down its entire length made especially for wire management (as the pros call it). You can gather all of the wires together neatly (maybe bundling them as described above), and then push them into the middle of the tube, which closes around them and gives the appearance of a single, thick strand.
If you have cables that must cross areas where people walk, creating a tripping hazard, consider going the long way around with power and network cables, avoiding traffic areas altogether. If the room has a drop ceiling, you might be able to run the cable through the ceiling without creating an eyesore (although you might want to use some tall plants to hide the area where the cable goes up the wall into the ceiling). The best option in many cases requires another trip to the hardware, electronics, or office-supply store. A heavy rubber cord cover might be just the ticket: hollow chambers made to hide cables and stick securely to the floor with adhesive.
