Mount a TV on the Wall and Hide the Cables

Mounting a TV on the wall transforms a living room—it saves space, improves the viewing angle, and looks intentional instead of improvised. But a TV mounted to bare drywall with cables running down like vines undoes all that work. The cables are not just ugly; they're a fire hazard if they're not run properly, and they collect dust. Doing this right means choosing the right mount for your TV and wall type, running cables safely through the wall or in a professional-looking channel, and terminating them cleanly at both ends. A clean wall-mounted installation takes planning but no special skills—just patience and the willingness to spend half a day drilling and fishing.

1. Locate Studs First. Use a stud finder to locate two vertical studs on your wall, then mark their centers with a pencil. Measure to the height where the TV's center should sit—typically 42 to 60 inches from the floor depending on your seating distance. Mark the center point horizontally between two studs or directly over one, depending on your mount type. Check behind the wall with a small drill bit to confirm no pipes or electrical lines run vertically at that spot.
2. Secure Bracket to Studs. Attach a level to the mounting bracket template provided with your mount and secure it to the wall with tape. Drill pilot holes through the template into the studs using a bit slightly smaller than your lag bolts. Remove the template, then drive lag bolts or studs-appropriate anchors into each hole, leaving about half an inch of bolt visible. Slide the bracket onto the bolts and tighten with a wrench, checking level in both directions.
3. Map Your Cable Route. Decide whether to run cables inside the wall (cleaner, requires more work) or in a raceway channel mounted to the wall surface (easier, visible but can look professional). If running inside the wall, use a drywall saw to cut a 2.5-inch hole behind where the TV will mount and another hole lower on the wall where cables will exit to your receiver or outlet. If using a raceway, mark the path with a level line and cut a notch at the TV end and receiver end.
4. Route Cables Safely. Bundle your HDMI, power, and network cables together using cloth tape or velcro straps. If running inside the wall, feed the bundle through a plastic conduit secured with staples every 18 inches, starting from the upper access hole and working down. Staple the conduit to studs or backing boards so it doesn't sag. If using surface raceway, snap the channel onto the wall along your marked line, then lay cables inside and snap the cover on.
5. Plug In at TV End. Feed the cable bundle up through the wall access hole behind where the TV will sit. Attach a low-voltage in-wall rated plastic box around the hole opening (these come in single and dual gang sizes). Separate your cables and plug them directly into the TV inputs, or feed them through a small wall-mounted power strip if needed. Tuck excess cable into the box and snap the cover plate closed.
6. Connect at Receiver End. Feed the cable bundle down and out through the lower wall access hole or raceway endpoint. Attach another low-voltage box at the exit point. Connect power cables to an outlet or power strip, then connect HDMI and network cables to your receiver, soundbar, or network device. Label each cable at both ends with adhesive tags so you know what's what if you need to troubleshoot later.
7. Patch and Paint Neatly. If you ran cables inside the wall and need to seal the access holes, use a drywall low-voltage wall plate with pass-through knockouts rather than filling the hole completely. This lets you access the cavity later if cables fail. Apply spackling compound around the edges of the wall plate, let it dry, sand smooth, and paint to match. If the holes are small enough and you're using a raceway, you may not need to patch at all.
8. Mount and Test Everything. Have a helper steady the TV while you align its mounting holes with the bracket arms. Insert bolts and tighten firmly but not excessively—check that the TV is level side to side and tilts smoothly. Plug in power, turn on the TV, and cycle through all inputs to confirm HDMI connections work. Check that cable strain isn't pulling on any connectors by gently tugging on the cables near their connections.