- Surface raceways are a solid workaround—seen plenty of jobs where they’re the only sane option if you want to keep the plaster in one piece. Painting them helps, but I’ve also run them low along baseboards or up in corners to make them less obvious.
- Those stick-on switches are surprisingly handy for renters or quick fixes, but I’ve had mixed results. Some brands chew through batteries faster than you’d think, and the adhesive can peel paint if you’re not careful. Not a dealbreaker, just something to watch for.
- Smart bulbs are great for flexibility, but I’ve noticed they can get out of sync if the physical switch gets flipped off. Ever had that happen? Drives me nuts when someone kills the power at the wall and suddenly Alexa’s clueless...
- Found a 1940s baseball card tucked behind a bathroom wall once—made me wonder who put it there and why. Old houses are like time capsules.
Curious—has anyone tried hiding raceways behind crown molding or baseboard trim? Seems like it could be a cleaner look if you’re already doing some finish work.
- Hiding raceways behind crown molding or baseboards works pretty well if you’re already redoing trim. I’ve done it during a couple of flips—makes everything look way cleaner, and buyers never notice the wiring. Just make sure there’s enough space behind the molding, especially with older houses where walls aren’t always straight.
- On smart bulbs, yeah, that wall switch issue is a pain. I started swapping out regular switches for smart ones instead of just using bulbs. Costs more upfront but saves headaches later.
- Those stick-on switches… I hear you on the battery drain. Some brands are better than others, but I’d avoid them for anything permanent.
Funny about the baseball card—found an old ration book in a wall once. Always makes you wonder what else is hiding back there.
Hiding raceways behind crown molding or baseboards works pretty well if you’re already redoing trim. I’ve done it during a couple of flips—makes everything look way cleaner, and buyers never notice the wiring.
That’s such a solid tip. I’m all for hiding the mess, especially if you’re already updating trim anyway. Cleaner lines, less plastic everywhere—just feels better. I do think smart switches are the way to go too, even if it stings a bit at checkout. Less waste in the long run, and you’re not tossing batteries every few months. Funny how old houses always have some weird surprise in the walls... found a stack of 1940s newspapers once. Makes you wonder what stories your house could tell.
Honestly, I get the appeal of hiding wires behind trim—makes for a clean look, no question. But I’ve run into headaches later when someone needs to troubleshoot or upgrade.
True, but sometimes that “clean” hides a mess for the next person. I’ve had to pull apart gorgeous baseboards just to chase down a short. Sometimes a well-placed surface raceway, painted to match, is the lesser evil. Old houses really do keep you guessing... found a stash of marbles in a wall once—no idea what that was about.“Cleaner lines, less plastic everywhere—just feels better.”
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve been down the “hide everything” road and it’s not always the win it seems at first. Here’s how I see it:
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Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had to rip up baseboards and even cut into drywall just to find a junction box someone thought was clever to hide. Looked great until something went wrong.“Sometimes that ‘clean’ hides a mess for the next person.”
- Surface raceways aren’t pretty, but if you paint them to match, they’re barely noticeable. Way easier on the wallet and nerves when you need to swap out a cable or add something new.
- Old houses are wild cards. I once found a bunch of old bottle caps stuffed behind a wall—guessing some kid’s secret stash from the 60s? Never know what you’ll find.
- For smart home stuff, I try to keep things as accessible as possible. If it’s buried, it’s a pain (and expensive) to upgrade later. Plus, tech changes so fast—what’s “clean” now might be obsolete in five years.
- If you’re on a budget, patching up after fishing wires is no joke. Sometimes it’s just not worth the hassle or cost.
I get wanting that magazine look, but sometimes practicality wins out. Especially if you’re the one who’ll be fixing it down the line... or paying someone else to do it.
