How to Cover Up 6 Common Household Eyesores, According to Designers

Every home has at least one “Why is that there?” moment. Maybe it’s the router blinking like a tiny UFO. Maybe it’s the breaker box that screams
“unfinished basement chic” in the middle of your hallway. Or maybe it’s a cord situation that looks like spaghetti lost a fight.

The good news: designers don’t treat eyesores like shameful secrets. They treat them like design puzzles. The trick is choosing the right tactic:
hide it, blend it, or turn it into a featurewithout making your home harder to live in.

The Designer Rulebook: Hide, Blend, or Make It a Feature

Before we jump into the six biggest offenders, here’s the framework designers use:

• Hide: Put it behind something functional (cabinet, basket, curtain) while keeping access and airflow.
• Blend: Match it to the wall, repeat surrounding colors/materials, or reduce contrast so your eye slides right past it.
• Feature: If it can’t disappear, make it look intentionallike art, furniture, or a styled vignette.

Now let’s cover up six common household eyesores the way designers actually do itpractically, safely, and with just enough flair to make guests think
you have your life together.

1) Cord Chaos (TV Wires, Power Strips, and the “Why Do We Own So Many Chargers?” Problem)

Why it’s an eyesore

Cords create visual noise. Even if your room is gorgeous, a tangle of black wires against a white wall reads like a typo in your décor.
Designers call this “line-of-sight clutter”your eye gets stuck on it.

Designer fixes that work

• Use paintable cord raceways. These slim channels run along the wall, hide multiple cords, and can be painted to match so they nearly disappear.
  Think of them as Spanx for your wiring.
• Hide the power strip in a vented cable box or basket. A cable management box corrals the “octopus” (power strip + plugs) in one tidy container.
  For extra style points, choose a lidded basket and cut a discreet exit hole for cords.
• Anchor cords to furniture. Designers often use removable cord clips on the back legs of consoles, desks, and media units so cords run neatly and don’t droop.
• Shorten the problem. Swap to shorter cables where possible (especially HDMI/charging cords) so you’re not storing five feet of regret behind a nightstand.
• Go “built-in” without remodeling. A TV stand or console with cord cutouts and internal storage hides both cables and the little black boxes that multiply at night.

Safety and sanity notes

Avoid running standard power cords inside walls unless you’re using an in-wall-rated kit or a pro installs it. Designers love a clean look, but not the kind that ends with
“So… the insurance company asked a few questions.”

2) The Wi-Fi Router and Modem (AKA the Blinking Plastic Shrine to the Internet)

Why it’s an eyesore

Routers are necessary, but they rarely coordinate with your throw pillows. They also tend to live in the worst visual spot: out in the open, near a cable jack,
beside a lonely tangle of cords.

Designer-approved ways to hide it without wrecking the signal

• Use a lidded basket with airflow. Designers often recommend baskets (or decorative boxes) because they’re renter-friendly and easy to access.
  Choose one with gaps or a breathable weave so the router doesn’t overheat.
• Style a “tech shelf.” A floating shelf placed near the connection point can hold router/modem neatly. Add a small framed print and a plant to distract the eye
  but keep the router’s vents clear.
• Hide it inside a console with pass-through holes. If you stash it in furniture, give it ventilation and a path for cables. A closed cabinet can work if it’s not a
  sealed box; airflow matters.
• Make it look intentional. Some designers treat tech like an accessory: place it in a curated tray or a box that matches your room’s materials (wood, rattan, matte metal)
  so it blends instead of screaming “utility closet.”

Quick performance check

After you hide it, do a simple “walk test.” Stream a video from the far room. If it buffers like it’s on a treadmill, your router may need a more open spotor a mesh system.
Good design should look great and keep your internet from acting like it’s 2009.

3) The Thermostat (and Other Wall Gadgets Like Security Panels)

Why it’s an eyesore

A thermostat is basically a tiny beige rectangle of authority. It interrupts a gallery wall, hovers awkwardly in a hallway, and has the vibe of office equipment
even in a cozy home.

Designer ways to camouflage it (without messing up function)

• Build a mini gallery wall around it. Designers love this because it feels intentional: the thermostat becomes “part of the arrangement”
  instead of “the thing ruining the arrangement.”
• Add a floating ledge nearby. A slim shelf can shift attention upward and provide styling real estate (a small print, a vase, a candle).
  The thermostat stays accessible, but your eye reads “decor moment.”
• Use a perforated cover. If you want to cover it, choose something designed to allow airflow and easy access. (A tight box cover can interfere with accurate readings.)
• Use a tall plant as a soft screen. A leafy plant placed nearby can partially obscure the view without blocking the thermostat completely.

What not to do

Don’t tape art directly over a thermostat that needs airflow or frequent adjustments. If you cover it, make it hinged or easy to move, and keep it functional.
The goal is “invisible,” not “mysteriously inaccurate temperature readings.”

4) The Electrical Panel / Breaker Box (The Metal Door You Pretend Is “Temporary”)

Why it’s an eyesore

Breaker boxes are practical and… aggressively not decorative. They also tend to land in high-traffic zoneshallways, mudrooms, finished basementswhere you absolutely notice them.

Designer approaches that still keep it accessible

• Hinged artwork or a framed photo collage. Designers often suggest mounting a large frame over the panel with hinges or a simple swing mechanism,
  so it looks like art but opens easily when you need it.
• A mirror that doubles as a cover. A mirror can visually expand a narrow hallway and disguise the panel at the same time. Make sure it opens easily
  (again: hinges are your friend).
• A shallow cabinet built to blend in. In mudrooms or laundry rooms, a slim cabinet front can make the panel look like part of the built-ins.
  The key is maintaining clear access.
• Paint it the wall color (or incorporate it into a mural). For the lowest effort, paint only the exterior cover to match the wall.
  This reduces contrast so your eye stops fixating on the box.
• Use a folding screen if you need a no-install option. A small room divider can hide the panel without touching the wallespecially handy for renters.

Safety note (the non-negotiable part)

Keep the panel easy to reach. Don’t permanently block it with heavy furniture. You want “designer hidden,” not “emergency treasure hunt.”

5) The Kitchen Trash Can (Because Even the Cutest Kitchen Still Produces Garbage)

Why it’s an eyesore

Trash cans are visually bulky, often mismatched with the kitchen, and guaranteed to end up in photos when you’re trying to show off your backsplash.

Designer favorites for hiding it in plain sight

• Pull-out cabinet insert. Designers love pull-outs because they’re invisible when closed and convenient when cooking. If you’re remodelingor even retrofitting
  this is the gold standard.
• Pantry placement. If you have a pantry, hiding trash inside keeps the kitchen looking calmer. It’s a simple “close the door on clutter” win.
• Under-sink solutions. If plumbing allows, under-sink storage can tuck trash/recycling away. Bonus: it keeps the floor visually clean.
• Furniture-style disguise. Designers sometimes recommend building or buying a piece that looks like a narrow cabinet but actually houses the bin
  so it stays close to prep areas without looking like a trash can.
• Make the visible option prettier. If hiding isn’t possible, upgrade to a streamlined can that matches your hardware (stainless, matte black, white)
  and place it where it looks intentional, not accidental.

Extra tip: reduce the “trash zone” vibe

Add a washable runner, a small wall hook for reusable bags, and a discreet odor-absorbing solution nearby. Designers think in “stations”:
when the whole area feels planned, the bin stops feeling like a random object.

6) The Litter Box and Pet Supply Corner (Love the Pet, Not the Plastic Box)

Why it’s an eyesore

Litter boxes are necessary, but they’re rarely the look you’re going forespecially in small homes where the “best spot” is also the most visible spot.
Designers typically aim for solutions that control sightlines, add storage, and make cleanup easy.

Designer-approved ways to hide it (that still respect the cat)

• Use a furniture-style enclosure. Think bench, cabinet, or side table designed to hide the box inside, with an entry cutout.
  It reads like furniture, not pet gear.
• Convert unused space into a “litter closet.” Designers often tuck litter boxes into under-stair nooks, laundry rooms, or a spare cabinet where ventilation and access make sense.
• Try a sink skirt or curtain for open storage zones. A simple fabric skirt (attached with hook-and-loop tape) can hide supplies and the box underneath,
  while adding softness and textureespecially in bathrooms or laundry areas.
• Create a dedicated pet station. Pair the hidden litter solution with a basket for scoops, liners, and deodorizer. When everything has a home, the corner feels curated.

Comfort and cleanliness matter

Keep airflow in mind, choose easy-to-wipe materials, and make sure your cat has a calm route in and out. The best designer solution is one your pet will actually use.
(A hidden litter box that the cat refuses is just an expensive modern sculpture.)

Real-World Experiences: What These Fixes Look Like in Everyday Homes (Extra)

Designers love big reveals, but most homes aren’t photo shootsthey’re living ecosystems. Here are a few real-life style scenarios (the kind designers run into constantly)
that show how these ideas play out when you’re juggling budgets, kids, pets, and a phone that needs charging every six minutes.

Scenario A: The “Floating TV, Dangling Cords” Living Room. A family mounts a TV beautifully… and then realizes the cords create a vertical line straight to the outlet,
like an arrow pointing at the one thing they didn’t want you to notice. A designer solution here usually stacks fixes: a paintable wall raceway to control the vertical drop,
a console with closed storage to hide the power strip, and cord clips behind the console legs so nothing loops onto the floor. The transformation is weirdly emotional:
the room suddenly feels more expensive, even though the “upgrade” was mostly organization.

Scenario B: The Router That Lives on the Floor (Because That’s Where the Cable Comes In). This is the classic “internet altar in the corner.”
The designer approach is to raise itliterallyby adding a small shelf or a slim console table near the connection point. Then they disguise it with a breathable basket
(lid optional) and route the cords neatly through the back. The key learning: hiding isn’t the only goal; improving placement can actually boost Wi-Fi performance, too.
When tech looks intentional, homeowners stop feeling like they’re living in a temporary setup.

Scenario C: The Thermostat That Ruins the Gallery Wall Dream. Hallways are prime gallery wall territory… until a thermostat sits right in the middle like it pays rent.
Designers often solve this by expanding the gallery: instead of one “perfect” row of frames, they build a cluster that wraps around the thermostat so it becomes part of the rhythm.
The thermostat isn’t hidden so much as visually “absorbed.” The result feels artsy and deliberate, and nobody’s first thought is “Is that a Honeywell?”

Scenario D: The Breaker Box in the Finished Basement. Homeowners try to ignore it. Then someone wants to paint the walls, and suddenly the breaker box is the only thing
anyone can see. Designers typically pick between two routes: a hinged art piece (fast and affordable) or a shallow built-in cabinet (more custom, more seamless). The experience
most people report is reliefbecause a once-random utility object now matches the room. And importantly, access stays simple, so the solution works during real-life moments
(like when a space heater and the treadmill decide to fight for dominance).

Scenario E: The Trash Can That’s Always in the Background. In smaller kitchens, the trash can often ends up right where you prep food, which is practicalbut visually messy.
Designers love pull-out cabinets for this, but if a remodel isn’t happening, they look for “soft control”: move the bin into a pantry, shift it under the sink, or place it at the end
of an island with a tidy mat and a cohesive container style. People are surprised how much calmer a kitchen feels when the bin isn’t the loudest object in the room.

Scenario F: The Litter Box Compromise. Pet owners often feel stuck between “cat comfort” and “company is coming.”
Designers tend to use furniture-style enclosures because they solve multiple issues at once: visual concealment, odor control (with proper ventilation and cleaning),
and storage for supplies. A popular trick is the fabric skirt under a sink or open consoleeasy, renter-friendly, and instantly softer-looking. The lived experience here is practical:
cleanup becomes simpler because everything is contained, and guests don’t clock the litter setup immediately. The cat usually doesn’t mind, as long as entry is easy and the space isn’t cramped.

The pattern across all these homes is the same: the “fix” isn’t about perfectionit’s about reducing friction. When cords are corralled, panels are disguised, and pet zones are
contained, the entire home feels more intentional. And the best part? You don’t need to redesign everything. You just need a few smart moves in the spots your eye keeps landing.

Conclusion

Household eyesores aren’t moral failuresthey’re just the side effects of living in a modern home with electricity, internet, and (sometimes) cats.
Designers cover them up by choosing the right strategy: hide, blend, or feature. Start with the most visible culprit (cord clutter is usually the loudest),
then work your way through routers, thermostats, panels, and the daily-life zones like trash and pet supplies. The payoff is bigger than you’d expect:
a cleaner visual field makes your whole home feel calmer, more polished, and more “you.”