A “Faux” Mantel to Hide Those Ugly Cords!
This is a wood working tutorial on how I built a “faux” mantel and floating shelf beneath our flat screen television to hide those ugly cords. When I ran the electrical for this house I almost put two holes in the wall so we could run the cords behind the sheet rock however, we didn’t own this television at the time and I really didn’t want to put them in the wrong place! And it turned out to be a good thing that I didn’t because this tv would have required two separate holes – one for the power cord and one a mile away where the majority of our electronics get plugged in. Which means that for the past two years of living here those cords have been driving me crazy!
It was time to come up with a solution that (apparently) did not include taking my massive television down from the wall because, after two years, that was clearly not going to happen and I just had to face the fact that I didn’t WANT to put holes in my wall because if I had I would have done it by now! I decided the least conspicuous thing would be a shelf that also looked a little like a mantel that would even kind of look like the television was sitting on top of it a little bit. It needed to be just far enough out from the wall that the cords could be run behind it. I got to the drawing board!
The back of my mantel is a brand new 1×6 cut to length that I painted white. Then I cut a rough-sawn oak 2×4 (from the stash my wood working grandparents’ left me out in the barn) at the same length which I then cleaned up and stained to match the buffet. (The stain is called Dark Walnut by Minwax.)
With the stain dry I attached it down the center of my 1×6 using several 3″ screws. I was not shy with the screws here, they are what allows this piece of wood to look like its “floating” and they are all that is keeping in there!
I cut four pieces of scrap 2×4 and screwed them to the studs along my straight line that I made with a level and a pencil. Using 2x4s meant the mantel would be 1 1/2″ out from the wall – plenty of room for the cords.
With that done I tucked my cords along the brackets and I hung my mantel. I screwed it to the 2×4 braces by putting a screw in each brace below the “shelf” and then filled the screw holes with white caulk and viola!
Enjoyed the project?
Suggested materials:
- 1x6 painted white (local lumber yard)
- Rough sawn 2x4 stained (recycled barn wood)
- Screws and a drill (local fleet store)
Comments
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Kathy dengell on Oct 14, 2017
I bought those covers that they are talking about. Your idea is so much more attractive.
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GrandmasHouseDIY on Oct 16, 2017Thank you Kathy :)
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Bruce Hampton on Oct 16, 2017
Looks good I probably would have extended the left side of the mantel to add another flower as well but sometimes things that close to the tv distract me so probably would leave it open. Of course just my opinion.
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GrandmasHouseDIY on Oct 16, 2017Hi Bruce, I know I really almost did that when I made the shelf, but because the tv isn't centered I was hoping extending the shelf to the one side would make it look more "correct"
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Lisa Sinclair on Nov 06, 2017
I love this idea! and it looks great! I have an idea to make the hanging of the 1x6 easier. Use a french cleat, that way you wouldn't have to drill thru the front of the 1X6, so no filling of holes and painting. And if you need to change out the TV, or add some thing to the mantle, you just lift the mantle up and out of the way. Do what needs to be done then rehang the mantle on the cleats
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GrandmasHouseDIY on Nov 06, 2017A french cleat is a great idea! I'm using one right now on my headboard and they are very practical. Thanks for coming by and commenting!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Obviously the electrical lines have to be plugged in somewhere. Is the "mantle" low enough so it touches the buffet and so the cords just go behind the buffet and plug into the wall?
Very clever idea and it looks awesome!! You wrote that you "..filled the screw holes with white caulk and viola" . I understand the white caulk bit, but what is viola?