Cats, cords, and laptops
March 18, 2011 7:44 PM Subscribe
I need a way to store laptops and power cords in the living room that doesn't look horrible. I looked at this question and while the answers are creative, they won't work out for my situation.
We live in a great, 100 year old flat. I love it but have one complaint: there is literally ONE outlet per room (because after all you only need a plug for those newfangled radios).
We have the power situation figured out (combination of many surge protectors plus renter's insurance) but are struggling with how to deal with the laptops and power cords. Right now, there's a surge protector with power cords connected to our laptops stretched across the living room. Not only does this look awful, the wires are irresistible to Capone and Bugsy.
I'm looking for a piece of furniture (little table?) in which we can store the laptops and their power supply so that we have a single cord running out the back to the outlet and the power cords anchored inside of the table. Goal is that the laptop cords can be used some distance from the table then stored with the laptops. I don't know why this is so difficult to find; maybe my Google-Fu is failing and you can help?
We live in a great, 100 year old flat. I love it but have one complaint: there is literally ONE outlet per room (because after all you only need a plug for those newfangled radios).
We have the power situation figured out (combination of many surge protectors plus renter's insurance) but are struggling with how to deal with the laptops and power cords. Right now, there's a surge protector with power cords connected to our laptops stretched across the living room. Not only does this look awful, the wires are irresistible to Capone and Bugsy.
I'm looking for a piece of furniture (little table?) in which we can store the laptops and their power supply so that we have a single cord running out the back to the outlet and the power cords anchored inside of the table. Goal is that the laptop cords can be used some distance from the table then stored with the laptops. I don't know why this is so difficult to find; maybe my Google-Fu is failing and you can help?
Check out the search functions of flickr and lifehacker.com
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 7:52 PM on March 18, 2011
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 7:52 PM on March 18, 2011
We simply have a coffee table that has a shelf—when we're not using our laptops we put them on the shelf and put the cords back in the bookcase behind the sofa. Neat and tidy.
posted by oxford blue at 8:00 PM on March 18, 2011
posted by oxford blue at 8:00 PM on March 18, 2011
Response by poster: OK, this might be an organizational issue on our part or bad sofa positioning. I think what I really want are retractable cords somehow... if we put the power cords under the couch, that is then a "challenge" to Capone/Bugs and really really fun to drag out for playing/chewing.
posted by sfkiddo at 8:07 PM on March 18, 2011
posted by sfkiddo at 8:07 PM on March 18, 2011
Response by poster: MidSouthern Mouth: do you have any recommendations?
posted by sfkiddo at 8:09 PM on March 18, 2011
posted by sfkiddo at 8:09 PM on March 18, 2011
Best answer: Belkin's laptop hideaways are now discontinued, but you can still find them for sale here and there. There's also the BlueLounge CableBox, which you could hide the power bricks in, and wrap the power cords themselves in cable wraps of your choice.
posted by evoque at 8:48 PM on March 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by evoque at 8:48 PM on March 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Do you have an Ikea? They've got several options. Minimizing clutter is their specialty. We've got a desk with a top that lifts up. There's room inside for two laptops, power supply, etc., and a hole where your single cord (or more) can snake out the back.
posted by Knowyournuts at 8:56 PM on March 18, 2011
posted by Knowyournuts at 8:56 PM on March 18, 2011
Best answer: Yeah, IKEA has some nice-looking laptop furniture and workstations that hang on the wall and fold out. The router wall box can hold power strips, though really as could any well-ventilated non-flammable wall cabinet. Think vertically! I've got my router perched high in this corner shelf.
Don't shut plugged-in equipment in close, stuffy, spaces or overload your power outlet. See also the cable management stuff. I have no idea if cable outlet kit works but ostensibly you use it to drill holes into furniture through which to pass cables.
If you don't have an IKEA by you, steal its ideas!
posted by nicebookrack at 9:38 AM on March 19, 2011
Don't shut plugged-in equipment in close, stuffy, spaces or overload your power outlet. See also the cable management stuff. I have no idea if cable outlet kit works but ostensibly you use it to drill holes into furniture through which to pass cables.
If you don't have an IKEA by you, steal its ideas!
posted by nicebookrack at 9:38 AM on March 19, 2011
Skiddo,
Lifehacker has a list that might help.
Flickr has a few cool examples, such as this, that, and the other.
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 5:42 PM on March 25, 2011
Lifehacker has a list that might help.
Flickr has a few cool examples, such as this, that, and the other.
posted by MidSouthern Mouth at 5:42 PM on March 25, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by bottlebrushtree at 7:51 PM on March 18, 2011