How to Install a Recessed Power and Cable Outlet Behind Your TV

Dangling cables are the single biggest eyesore in an otherwise clean living room setup. When you mount a flat-screen television, you want the hardware to disappear into the wall so the screen looks like it is floating rather than tethered to the floor by a thick nest of wires. A recessed media box is the professional solution that solves this by hiding both your AC power plug and your HDMI connections inside the wall cavity behind the panel. Successfully pulling this off requires confidence in cutting drywall and a basic understanding of electrical circuits. You are essentially extending an existing circuit to a new location while maintaining fire safety standards. When done well, you will have a clean, code-compliant connection that stays hidden even if you switch out your TV mount for a low-profile fixed bracket.

  1. Find Hidden Studs First. Use a stud finder to identify the framing behind your mounting location. Trace the template provided with your recessed media box between two studs, ensuring the box clears any wall bracing.
  2. Slice With Precision. Use a drywall saw to cut along your traced lines. Go slowly, and keep the blade depth shallow to avoid hitting hidden pipes or wires inside the wall.
  3. Thread Power Through Wall. Run a piece of 14/2 Romex electrical cable from an existing nearby outlet to your new wall opening. Fish the wire through the wall cavity behind the drywall.
  4. Match Colors, Ground First. Pull the Romex into the back of your new recessed box and secure it with a cable clamp. Strip the wires and connect them to the receptacle according to color codes: black to gold, white to silver, and copper to the green screw.
  5. Run Fire-Rated Cables. Feed your HDMI or optical cables through the low-voltage side of the recessed box. These do not require electrical boxes and can hang freely behind the wall.
  6. Lock Box Flush, Not Tight. Insert the media box into the opening and tighten the integrated mounting wings until the flange sits flush against the drywall. Snap the decorative faceplate into place.