How To Hide Eyesores Around Your House

In an ideal world, we’d live in immaculate houses with nothing out of place and everything looking like a spread from a home design magazine. But we don’t live in an ideal world and, above all, our homes need to be functional and comfortable, which often gets in the way of perfect aesthetics.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to live with eyesores. Whatever it is that sets your teeth on edge every time you look at it, from a trailing lamp cord to a noticeable crack in your wall, there might be a simple solution to hiding it from view. Here are 25 ways to disguise the eyesores that may be visible around your house.

Get A Storage Ottoman

It’s an obvious solution, but it’s hard to beat. Housekeeping expert Gladys K. Connelly swears by a storage ottoman — or several — to hide any of the unsightly things you keep in your living room.

“It’s one of the best inventions of all time – the perfect place to hide anything you don’t want visible in the living room,” she says. “I keep books, remotes, and even throw blankets in mine, but you can stash anything in there!” You can get them in a huge range of shapes, sizes, styles and colors to match your interior decor.”

Hang Up A Shoe Organizer — Or Three

You might be happy to show off your most beautiful shoes, but who wants to have their grubby sneakers out on display? The answer, according to Connelly, is an over-the-door shoe organizer. These are ideal for hanging on the back of a closet door, out of the way but easy to access.

“These are great for keeping footwear out of sight,” she says. “I keep one in the hallway closet, my bedroom closet and my kids’ closets. There’s never a shoe, boot or sandal on the floor!”

Put Your Modem Or Cable Box Behind Some ‘Books’

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If you can’t hide your modem or cable box in a drawer, why not hide that ugly monstrosity behind a row of books? Not real books, of course — that would look far too messy. Instead, go for a hidden storage book box, which provides a hollowed-out box behind a facade of books lined up together. You can find these online, often made out of real used books and sustainable wood. Genius!

Cover A Light Switch With A Cute Wall Hanging

There are some things you just can’t get rid of permanently because, well, you need light and power in your home. Luckily, an ugly or useless light switch can be covered up in mere seconds with a cute wall hanging. Macrame or tie-dye is perfect for a boho vibe, but you should be able to find something that suits your style, whatever it is.

Cover Wood Stains With A Table Runner

If you can’t get rid of an imperfection on your table and just can’t afford to get a new one, cover it up with a table runner. In fact, why not invest in a few runners, letting you switch them up for different occasions? Your dinner guests will be none the wiser. Table runners come in a virtually endless array of materials and colors, lending to any decor style.

Fix Pot And Pan Lids Onto Your Cabinet Doors

It’s a great idea to hang your pots and pans, but what about the lids?

“It always gets difficult for me to find the right place for storing pot and pan lids,” says interior designer Amira Johnson. “So I just fixed them right on the door of my kitchen cabinet. This keeps the kitchen cabinet and the countertop decluttered, and I can find the lids easily whenever I need them.”

You can either fix them to the inside of your cabinet doors using a DIY method, like adhesive hooks, or by buying a product specially made for that purpose. Another option is to use a lid organizer. These come in all shapes and sizes and can be easily hidden inside a cabinet or sizable drawer.

Mount Your TV On The Wall

There’s no doubt that cables are one of the biggest eyesores in the home, but they’re also necessary. When it comes to your TV, Pattie Kelly from Inspired Home Interiors recommends investing to have it mounted on the wall so your cables can be completely hidden. You might need to enlist the help of a professional for this one, but once it’s done, it’ll be there for years.

Turn Your Air Vents Into Design Features

A stylish air-conditioning vent cover will give a common eyesore a fresh look. Alternatively, a simple way to disguise your wall and ceiling air vents is to paint them the same color as the wall.

“This makes them blend in a bit better,” says Kelly.

We found these retro-inspired vent covers for sale on Etsy from seller TedstuffStore.

Use A Cord Wrap For Your Chandelier

If your beautiful chandelier is let down by an ugly cord and chain, Kelly recommends using a cord wrap to cover it.

“They’re available in a plethora of fabrics with various closures like zippers and velcro for easy installation,” she says. You can find these for sale across the internet, including this one we found on Amazon, which comes in several colors.

Introduce A Rug

As well as being a beautiful decorative addition to a room, a rug can serve a practical purpose.

“Rugs can be used around the home to hide eyesores, such as a soiled area on the floor or cables,” says Jade Holroyd from Land of Rugs. “You can also utilize a statement rug in a room to distract attention from clutter or pet bowls.”

Hide Your Air Conditioning Unit Behind A Decorative Screen

An outdoor AC unit is a necessary eyesore in many backyards. Fortunately, there are many attractive options out there for screens and small fences that can safely hide it. You can find several online that are adorned with faux greenery, like this one from One Stop Plus. These can also be used to hide utility boxes, trash cans, compost bins or anything else that you’d rather keep out of sight.

If you’re feeling creative, you could use a simple bamboo screen and paint it to match the rest of your outdoor decor.

Liven Up Your Fuse Box

If your fuse box is mounted flush into the wall, you can hide it by hanging lightweight art over it, says professional organizer Darla DeMorrow, who has owned HeartWork Organizing since 2004. The one pictured here, which turns the fuse box into an attractive chalkboard, is available at Etsy from seller MintageDesigns. Just be sure to affix something like this safely, as you don’t want to drive a long nail or screw into any electrical wires coming out of the box.

Alternatively, you could hide it with a large self-stick whiteboard or chalkboard sticker and use it for reminders or important household info. Or you could cover it with peel-and-stick tiles for a pop of color or a funky pattern.

Use WireMold To Disguise Hanging Electrical Cords

One of DeMorrow’s top home-organization products is WireMold. You can use it to fix hanging cords to your wall, and then paint it the same color. If you want to bind cords to the backs of furniture legs to keep them out of sight, use 3M command strips and velcro.

“Velcro everything!” DeMorrow says.

Use An Electronics Organizer

The more people in your household, the more charging cords you’ll have accumulating on surfaces and in the corners of rooms. DeMorrow suggests placing an electronics organizer on your kitchen counter or desk to contain all the cords and keep your gadgets safe.

“Use cute cable winders to take up the slack on cable rat’s nests,” she says.

Update Your Appliances

If you can’t afford to buy all new kitchen appliances, you can give the old ones a facelift for a fraction of the price. Stainless steel-effect contact paper is guaranteed to jazz up the front of refrigerators, microwaves and ovens. You can even use it to makeover your tired cabinets.

Get Clever With Your Cat Litter

This looks like a fairly innocuous clay planter, but it’s actually a large-capacity cat litter box. The plants and the parts are simply nestled between the top and bottom section of the litter box, and it has a filtered vented system to manage dust and odor. You still need to dispose of the cat poop, of course, but it’s a lot nicer to look at than a plastic tray in the corner of your room.

Get A TV That Doubles As Artwork

This one is a little expensive but if you’re in the market for a new TV and want one that will look interesting even when it’s turned off, check out Samsung’s The Frame model. Using a custom, magnetic bezel that goes along the edges and pairing with the white, matte-like frame that surrounds the screen, this TV can actually turn into a beautiful piece of art when it’s not in use.

The bezel has a built-in motion sensor that will display one of your favorite pieces of art whenever it detects someone walking into the room.

Put Your Cat’s Play Area Under Your Bed

You love your cat, but you probably don’t love that tatty, threadbare cat tree in the corner of the living room. If it’s an eyesore you particularly want to get rid of, consider replacing it with a super-cool and very unique den for your feline friend. This labyrinth is a safe play-and-sleep area by designers CatLife, and the best part is — it’s completely hidden under your bed.

Let Your Full-Length Mirror Be Your Jewelry Organizer

A mirror with concealed storage is a dream for every accessory or beauty fan. This single item will clear all that clutter from bedroom and bathroom. Everything from perfume to sunglasses can be tucked away — but always within reach — inside your mirror. It’s like a medicine cabinet for your makeup and accessories!

Pour Bathroom Products Into Stylish Bottles

Don’t like the look of your toiletries in the bathroom or your cleaning products beside the sink? Transfer your liquid products into stylish labeled bottles for a clean, cohesive look. The best part is you can find designs to match your decor across the internet and some will even allow you to write on them for full customization. This three-piece set from Etsy seller LilXAndCo radiates farmhouse chic while keeping your necessities handy.

Dish soap and lotion have never looked so good!

Organize Essential Items In Plastic Shoe Boxes

We all have items we use on a regular basis but don’t necessarily want them out on display. Clear plastic stacking boxes on the floor of your closet is a neat solution. Because the boxes are clear, you can find what you’re looking for right away — and put it back once you’ve used it.

Create A Classroom On Wheels

Kids’ school and craft supplies can quickly take over the whole house. But not everyone has the space to create a designated “classroom” in their home. Anne Gopman, professional organizer and founder and CEO of Organized by Anne, suggests creating a classroom on wheels that will allow you to keep all the materials needed on hand, but out of the way when schooling or homework is done for the day.

Cover Cracks On Old Walls With Wainscoting

If you have old plaster walls, it’ll be no surprise to have a crack or two somewhere in your home. Small cracks can be easily covered with artwork, but bigger problems might need bigger solutions. Blogger Lindsay Fay of A Butterfly House suggests adding a wall feature, like wainscoting or a pegboard wall, depending on the space.

Hide Your Dog Bowls

This piece is a stylish cabinet with a practical purpose for pet owners — a low pull-out drawer with removable dishes. You simply pull out the drawer when your dog needs to eat, and keep it closed the rest of the time. No more food bowls sitting on the floor all day, plus the cabinet offers space for storage!

Hang Fabric On Walls

If you hate the color of your walls (or the wallpaper), but can’t or don’t want to change it, consider putting fabric or burlap on them. This large, forest-inspired tapestry we found on Amazon comes in several eye-catching designs and has stellar customer reviews from hundreds of buyers.

“A water/cornstarch mixture acts like glue,” says Fay. “And it’s easily removed when you want a change or are moving out.”

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