Your Expert's Guide to Cable Management

Preparing for Cable Management

You’ll find plenty of cables in a data management centre, a laboratory or even a home living room. And without the right management they can quickly cause a jumbled mess of coiled wires that can be unsightly and a nightmare to untangle and understand. Crucially, mismanaged cables can be a safety risk too. 

Effective cable management has many benefits, including:  

• Improving ease of use: By keeping cables well organised, you’ll easily understand which leads are linked to which devices, making removing and adding them quick and simple. You won’t waste any time uncoiling jumbled cables to find the right one.  

• Easy troubleshooting: If a device or a connection isn’t working as it should be, well ordered cables allow for potential problem leads to be easily identified and tested. 

• Reducing safety hazards: Loose leads can be a trip hazard. Even worse, jumbled and coiled cables may result in overheating that can trigger dangerous and damaging electrical fires. 

• Improved aesthetics: Unordered cables are an eyesore, whereas well managed cables can be hidden away or at least made unobtrusive. This helps to create a visually appealing working environment or home.

Using Cable Management Solutions

There are a variety of cable management solutions available to you – each suitable for different situations and requirements – from overhead cable trays to underfloor trunking and floor boxes.  Let’s look at the most commonly used cable organisation systems.  

Bench trunking is simple to use, easy to install and one of the most effective ways to manage cables. It involves a system of compatible components that securely house cables to keep them organised, out of sight and safe. You’ll also see it called electrical trunking or surface trunking, but we’re talking about the same kind of solution.  

These systems are made up of straight sections of hollow trunking which cabling can run through. Angled sections then join them together and lead to compatible boxes and bench units. Bench trunking can be attached to workbenches, desks, walls, beneath shelving units or wherever else is most convenient. By keeping cables fully enclosed, they’re safe and organised but also easy to access. Bench trunking is commonly used in offices and makes an ideal under-desk cable management solution. 

We stock a wide range of bench trunking units at CEF, including both aluminium bench trunking and PVC bench trunking components. 

Use of Desk Grommets and Cable Outlets

Desk grommets are ideal for massive desk clutter. They are round, eyelet-like accessories that can be fitted into a hole in the desk. The cables then pass through this hole, keeping them neatly tucked away. Most desks come with pre-drilled holes for grommets - if yours does not, you will need to drill a hole yourself.

• Find or drill a location for a grommet or cable outlet.

• Try UK favourites like the Signum cable outlet kit for this purpose.

Desk Cable Management Solutions

For a more feature-rich solution to your cable woes, consider investing in a desk cable management tray or an under-desk cable tidy. For example, the Ikea desk wire management trays are attached conveniently under desks, providing an organised space for all your cables.

• Ensure the tray is correctly installed under your desk for easy access.

• Organise your cables effectively within the tray to best utilise the space.

Cable Conduit

Cable raceways are adhesive rails that are fitted directly onto your desk or wall. They are useful if you must add or remove cables frequently. PVC round conduit has the advantage of easy access and can significantly assist in organising the cables on your desk.

• Install the trunking in a location that allows the easy addition or removal of cables.

• Reddit has a thriving PC setup community – consider looking there for cable trunking inspiration.

Cable Management Boxes

Cable management boxes are an effective way of hiding your power strips and any surplus cables. They are great for office desk cable management and can significantly declutter your desk.

• Size the box before purchase, ensuring it accommodates your power strip.

• Run related cables cleanly to and from the box.

Use of Cable Sleeves

Cable sleeves are handy for consolidating many wires into a single, neat tube. They can make your office cable management much easier, particularly for PC cable management, where multiple cables are standard.

• Before purchasing a cable sleeve, ensure it fits all your cables snugly without excessive force.

• Try using cable sleeves in conjunction with other methods above for the most organised setup.

Labels and Cable Identifiers

Labels are a simple yet effective tool for managing your cables. They enable you to quickly identify which cord belongs to which device, making it easier to swap out or move devices.

Label your cables based on the device, the source, and the ending point.

• Consider purchasing labels specifically designed for cable marking.

Wireless Devices

The best way to manage cables is to not have them at all. If possible, switch to wireless devices to eliminate cable clutter. Even if you can't be completely wire-free, reducing the use of less important wired connections can make a big difference.

• Consider whether a wireless version of your device performs as well as the wired one and if it fits within your budget.

DIY Hide Computer Cables

DIY solutions can offer a creative workaround for your cable management needs. Using items like PVC pipe, binder clips, and even bread tags, you can create cable conduits, cable catchers, and cable labels.

• Consider repurposing household items to organise, label and hide your cables.