How to Install a Recessed Outlet Behind Your Wall-Mounted TV

📺 Power management is the final hurdle to a truly professional-looking home theater setup. Nothing ruins the clean aesthetic of a flush-mounted television like a tangle of black power cords snaking down the drywall to the nearest baseboard outlet. Installing a recessed outlet allows your TV to sit perfectly flat against the wall while keeping your electrical connections safe and hidden. By using a pre-wired power bridge kit, you bypass the complexity of hard-wiring new junction boxes into your electrical system, making this a manageable project for a Saturday morning that yields a clutter-free finish.

1. Mark Your Outlet Holes. Identify the exact mounting position of your TV bracket. Trace the template included with your power bridge kit between the vertical studs directly behind the TV, and repeat this process at the bottom near your existing floor-level outlet.
2. Saw Your Wall Openings. Use a drywall saw to cut along your traced lines. Go slowly, and do not press the blade deep into the wall to avoid hitting hidden cables or plumbing.
3. Route Power Through Wall. Feed the provided Romex or specialized power cord through the top hole and guide it down the inside of the wall cavity to the bottom hole. Use a fish tape if the insulation in your wall makes the cable difficult to slide.
4. Secure Top Outlet Box. Insert the top recessed box into the wall cutout and tighten the mounting wings until it is flush and secure against the drywall. Snap the outlet insert into place once the wiring is connected.
5. Attach Bottom Power Inlet. Attach the power inlet bracket to the bottom hole near your baseboard. Connect the cord you fished earlier to this inlet and secure the assembly to the wall.
6. Verify Power and Mount TV. Plug your power cord into the bottom inlet and the wall, then test the top outlet with a voltage tester before plugging in your television. Once confirmed, mount your TV to the wall bracket.