Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl
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Wall Mounted TV with Hidden Wires Tutorial

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Do you have a flat screen TV? Do you have children? Wish you could mount your TV on the wall for space and safety? Or have you already mounted your TV, but the wires are visible and hang below your screen? GASP—not the dreaded visible wires syndrome!

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Today I have a tutorial to show you How to Install a Wall Mount for your TV AND How to Hide those Unsightly Wires in a cable management system. SANUS sent me their Full-Motion TV Wall Mount and In-Wall Cable Management to use for this tutorial. Before you start thinking that you can’t do this, or that you have to hire an electrician to run power behind the TV, you don’t! And this is a very easy DIY project! The SANUS In-Wall Cable Management System is the coolest product. It allows you to hook up to an existing outlet elsewhere (within 60″ horizontally from your TV)! (Per FTC regulations, you should know that this is a sponsored post for SANUS, but I approached them after researching TV mounts and cable management systems. )

Genevieve Gorder has some good information about why you want to use a SANUS mount in this short video:

Why did I want to use the SANUS mount? Here’s just a few reasons:

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

You can pull your screen out from the wall or press it back to just a few inches away. (The arms extend a full 20″. Further than shown, because our cables are too short to fully extend.)

The power cord plugs into an ultra low profile in wall cable system. All wires are hidden behind the TV.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

The TV can also extend and swivel from left to right. This allows us to be able to watch TV from the adjacent room! Which means the kids can eat pizza AND watch a movie because they can safely sit at the kitchen table and view the movie in the living room. Score one for Mom!  No more pizza stains on the rug or sofa.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Ready to learn how you can easily mount your flat-screen TV on the wall AND hide the wires? Let’s get to it!

Materials:

(I’ve included affiliate links for your convenience. I earn a small percentage from a purchase using these links. There is no additional cost to you. You can read more about affiliate links here.)

Instructions:

This tutorial will show how to install the mount and cable management system in drywall. If you have walls that aren’t drywall, please contact SANUS customer service for help selecting a product for your home.

Decide where you want to mount your TV. Locate the closest studs to the TV. Typically studs are 16″ apart (on center).

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Determine the height you want your TV to hang. View the SANUS HeightFinder page to get exact measurements for hanging the wall plate. Mark the dimensions from the HeightFinder page onto your wall.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Tape the SANUS Wall Plate Template on the wall centered on the desired location your TV will hang. Level the template.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Locate the studs you marked earlier and drill holes through the wall into the studs (2 on top and 2 on bottom) using the 7/32″ drill bit.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Attach the wall plate to the wall using the 1/2″ lag bolts and washers.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Center the Wall Cut-out Template for the cable management system in between the wall studs inside the wall plate. Level the template and trace around it.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Drill holes into the four corners of the traced template. Use a drywall saw to cut between the holes.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

To keep the drywall from dropping into the wall, tape over the cut out before you complete your cuts.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Use a flashlight and mirror or your smart phone to take a picture in the wall. Make sure you have a clear shot down to the baseboard level.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Tape the cable management template just above your baseboard directly below the upper cut out. Level the template.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Repeat the same steps to cut out around the template. When cutting through wood paneling you will want to use a power saw, like a multi-tool.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Feed your cables that attach to the back of your TV through the back of the upper cable management system. (The upper unit has a regular electrical outlet receptacle.) Press the management system into the wall.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Use a flat head screwdriver to tighten the wings that will secure to the inside of the drywall.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Locate and pull the cables and the PowerConnect cable through the bottom cut out.  Connect the PowerConnect cable connectors together and press firmly until you hear them click.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Thread the additional cables through the back of the lower cable management system.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Press the in wall cable management system into the wall and tighten the wings using your screwdriver.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Time to prep your TV for mounting!

Remove the TV stand from your TV. Some flat-screen TVs have screws on the back that will release the stand.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

SANUS includes several TV screws with the wall mount kit. Locate the screws that fit your TV. Use the shortest ones you can to avoid damage to your screen.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Attach the TV brackets to your TV using the screws and washers.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Locate the arm assembly and press it into the wall bracket as shown below:

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Attach the arm assembly to the wall bracket with provided screws (two on top and two on the bottom). You’ll find it a lot easier to tighten the screws if you have a hex bit for your screwdriver. The provided hex wrenches are a little more difficult to turn close to the wall.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

The TV mount should look like this:

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Get the assistance of a Pretty Handsome Guy (or a friend) to help lift the TV and rest it onto the arm assembly.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Attach the provided “click caps” to the TV bracket to secure the TV to the arm assembly.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Plug the TV into the receptacle behind the TV and attach the cables to the TV.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Neatly fold the excess cables and use a zip tie to hold the cable in place. Tuck the excess cables into the arm assembly.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Attach the cable covers to the arm assembly with the smaller hex wrench.

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

Plug the PowerConnect power cord into the lower cable management box. Plug the other end into the closest outlet (not to exceed 60″ horizontally.)

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

You’re done and it’s time to enjoy your favorite shows! Look Ma’, no wires!

Installing a Wall Mount Flat Screen TV + Hiding Cords | PrettyHandyGirl

In the meantime, I’m off to finish watching Mad Men (yes, I’m a little behind on my viewing.) Anyone else still watching that series? I love Joan because she rocks the curvy look ;-).

Wall Mounted TV with Hidden Wires Tutorial

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for SANUS. I was not told what to write or say about the SANUS products. I am very particular about the brands I mention on my blog. This is a company I approached because I read great things about their products. You can rest assured that I don’t mention products or brands on my blog that I don’t like. I will always disclose if you are reading a sponsored post or product review.

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59 replies
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  1. Steve Janz
    Steve Janz says:

    Thanks for the great summary on how to mount your TV. A couple of other tips to keep in mind:

    (1) When installing wiring in the wall, make sure it has a CL2, CL3 or Riser rating on the cable jacket. These are the only type of cable that are allowed to be inside the wall and you want to make sure your install is both Electrical and Building code compliant.

    (2) When purchasing a mount, don’t go off the general TV measurements on the mounting box. You will want to look for something called the VESA spread on the TV and match that same measurement on the mount you purchase.

    (3) If installing in a wall shared with the garage, you must firestop any holes made between the garage and the living space so that wall will keep it’s required fire rating. Otherwise you will be required to bring these holes up to code if you ever sell your house

    (4) It is actually an electrical code violation to pull the TV power cord through the wall. To be code compliant you must use a power transfer Kit like what is shown here or simply have a licensed electrician install an AC outlet behind your TV.

    Reply
  2. Mark
    Mark says:

    Why don’t you learn how to add a 15 amp recepticle behind the tv? I’ve seen that SANUS item before and although it claims to NEC certified, if there was a failure and a house fire resulted from it, I can foresee your home’s insurance company not only giving you shit for this but maybe even not covering the claim. Home improvement stores carry a variety of topical books so the best thing to do (short of hiring a licensed electrican to do the job) is to pick up a book or two on basic wiring and learn the right way to do this. The SANUS item appears to merely be a fancy extension cord that is run through your wall and that is a big no-no according to the NEC.

    Reply
  3. Karrie
    Karrie says:

    I want to hide the cords..I swear I have learned the most amazing things on this site and it turns out to be pretty simple..I always use to leave it all up to the hubby to do..I would love to mount my TV!!! it would look awesome

    Reply
  4. Courtney
    Courtney says:

    I have been looking at the Sanus TV mounting system for our new home. It’s good to hear a first hand account of how easy the installation is. Thanks for the review.

    Reply
  5. Laurali Manieri
    Laurali Manieri says:

    I love the clean look! The fact that you don’t have a Tarzan tangle of wires staring you in the face while trying to watch TV…AWESOME! and even I could do it. I am also in love with the tilt feature. Thanks for cluing me in to this product and for the great tutorial.

    Reply
  6. Kristy Graboski
    Kristy Graboski says:

    I would love this in our master bedroom. We don’t have a lot of space, so this would be a great space saver! Thanks for the chance!

    Reply

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  1. […] you Don’t Love It, a room in your home can become a place to avoid. Last week I hung our TV on the wall in our living room, but was cringing because that big fat TV was screaming “Look at me! Look at me!” It […]

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