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Build Cable management bars help you organize cables and wires in your home office. Here’s how to build them.
Cable management bars (also known as wire management bars or utility rails) are an easy way to keep your wires and cables organized, safely out of the way, and looking tidy.
If you’re like most people, you probably have cords and wires running all over your home office to the point where it looks like an electrician has been wiring your space by hand.
The good news is that there’s an easier way,
one that takes just minutes to install and costs just a few dollars in supplies from the hardware store,
yet can make a dramatic difference in how organized your office feels, looks, and functions.
The Problem
A lot of people don’t like clutter. It just makes it difficult to get around, especially if you have a home office where things tend to pile up on a daily basis. If you don’t have cable management bars installed in your workspace, then you are essentially adding more clutter. Don’t let yourself fall into that trap! Don’t let those power cords from all of your devices get tangled together and ultimately ruin your desk space. With cable management bars, you can keep everything separate and organized. I want to walk you through exactly how I set up my own cable management system and what parts are required in order to do so with ease. Let’s dive right in!
The Solution
The easiest way to get cables under control is with a cable management bar. A cable management bar is just what it sounds like—it’s a long,
thin, flat board used to organize and contain all your cords. You can attach it horizontally or vertically on any wall, post or baseboard of your home office—the hardware you need comes included with most kits. The best part about these bars? They keep things nice and tidy without taking up any floor space at all; once you’ve secured them in place, simply run your cables through holes on either side of the bar. This can be especially helpful if you have multiple computers or monitors because they will be easier to reach behind a cord-free desk space.
Tools Required
Tape Measure, Pencil, Ruler, Wood screws and PEGS and Screwdriver. The size of Cable management bars you will require will depend on how many cables you have to hide and how much floor space you have available for hiding them.
It’s better not to be too conservative about it because
if you buy more than required that leaves extra which can always be used at a later date in another room or office.
You’ll need wood based L Brackets so that your cables aren’t just sitting behind your desk
but instead they are suspended from beneath the desk allowing air flow to pass beneath helping prevent cable failure.
Step 1 – Planning
The first step in building cable management bars is planning out where you would like to install them. The top of your desk is a good place, if you are short on space and don’t want your cables taking up too much room on your desktop.
Or, try installing them along one of your walls and using a few lengths of rope or chain (or both) to attach them.
Make sure you give yourself enough slack between each bar so that cables can hang from all of them without touching one another.
That way, you will be able to keep cords separated and organized when they’re plugged into devices on multiple different surfaces.
Step 2 – Building the Upright Posts
The upright posts are what actually holds up your cable management bars, so you will want to make sure they are built properly. You can do so by using two 2x4s and attaching them directly into your wall studs using construction adhesive. The overall height of your upright posts should be 28 from floor to ceiling in order to support all types of hanging cables and components.
Step 3 – Attaching Cable Managers
The easiest way to install your cable managers is by using zip ties. To do so, loop one end of a zip tie around your cable manager and through its metal loop. Bring both ends of the zip tie together and attach them with a metal fastener. Repeat until all loops are filled and you’re left with four long tails protruding from your cables manager.
Step 4 – Finishing and Mounting Them in Place
Installing cable management bars can be fairly simple. Use sturdy L-brackets and screws to mount each end of your cable management bar in place. Then, attach Velcro straps or other cord management products (like ties) at regular intervals throughout your cable bar,
so that you can secure multiple cords using just one Velcro strap or tie.
