How To Hide Router In Living Room [5 Great Ways!]

Routers are a necessity in most households, but they aren't always the most attractive piece of equipment. If you're looking for ways to hide the router in your living room, you've come to the right place. We scoured the internet, so you don't have to, and have some router hiding suggestions.

It's best not to hide a router for maximum single strength, but we understand sometimes they just don't fit in with a room's design. Fortunately, there are ways you can hide the router while still maintaining a good signal. You can hide your router by:

1. Hiding it behind your TV
2. Placing it behind a photo frame
3. Creating a router box cover
4. Disguising it on a bookshelf
5. Placing it in a woven basket

We've given you some suggestions on how to hide your router, but keep reading as we elaborate on how to put each one into action. We'll also discuss whether it's okay to store your router inside a cabinet, how to tell if your router is overheating, or even if it can catch fire.

5 Ways To Hide Your Router In Your Living Room

1. Hiding It Behind Your TV

Your TV is likely one of the biggest items in your living room, and whether it's mounted to the wall or on top of a unit, there's ample space to hide your router behind it.

Screw It To The TV Stand

In this living room, the router and other electronics have been screwed to the back of the TV stand. Routers will often have screw hole slots, so all you need to do is drill some screws to the back of your TV stand and attach your router. This method might not work if you have a TV stand you don't want to risk damaging with screws. However, if it's sturdy and you're okay with a few screws in the back, it's a simple way to hide your router.

On The Wall Behind Your TV

Similarly, you can attach your router to the wall behind your TV. You can attach it directly to the wall using the screw hole slots or use a magazine rack like in the example above. In the image example, a cable box is being stored in the magazine rack, but you can use a similar concept for your router.

2. Placing It Behind A Photo Frame

Most people have a console table or other place where they display photo frames in their living rooms. Placing the router behind one is a simple way to hide it. Depending on the photo frame's size, it might not be covered entirely, but it will at least cover up most of it and distract the eye away.

If you need some tips and ideas on how to decorate the table in your living room, check out our other blog post: How To Decorate A Console Table In The Living Room [5 Cool Ideas!]

3. Creating A Router Box Cover

If you're feeling crafty, you can make your own DIY router cover. Or, if making anything sounds like too much work, you can find a decorative crate and turn it on its side for a similar effect. Just make sure to choose something that gives enough space to achieve a good signal and avoid overheating.

Click here to see Vintage Stained Rustic Wood Crate on Amazon.

4. Disguising It On A Bookshelf

Bookshelves are a great place to hide your wifi router. You can strategically place it among some books and let it blend in. Or, you can hide it by purchasing a box designed to look like a row of books like in our image examples above and below!

5. Placing It In A Woven Basket

Woven baskets are in! Everyone knows how great they are for storing things like blankets and odds and ends you don't want out in plain sight. They are also a great place to keep your router. Their opened tops allow for the wifi signal to still be at its strongest. If you choose a basket with a lid, be sure to make sure it has pretty wide holes, so you reduce the risk of overheating.

Click here to see this basket on Amazon.

Can A Router Be Inside A Cabinet?

It may be tempting to hide the router away inside a cabinet, but there are a few reasons why this isn't a good idea. We'll discuss these reasons in terms of functionality and safety.

Functionality

Functionality means how well something does what it is intended to do. The purpose of a router is to receive and send data. To do this well, it needs to be able to send out a signal.

By putting your router inside a cabinet, you could be blocking that signal from reaching outside of it. Dampening the signal can mean slow wifi speeds, and in a time where technology is everywhere, this can be a huge inconvenience. That being said, if you don't want to keep your router anywhere else, you could try placing it in the cabinet and seeing how it affects your signal.

Safety

A not-so-strong wifi signal might be the least of your worries, though. If you put your router in a cabinet that doesn't have a lot of airflow, it can overheat. Any electronics overheating can be dangerous, and it will also shorten the lifespan of your router.

How Do You Know If Your Router Is Overheating?

Routers are rarely turned off, so they put in a lot of work with very few breaks. As we mentioned above, routers can overheat. They can overheat for several reasons. Dust and lint might be blocking the vents causing the router to overheat, or you might have it enclosed in a space with little airflow.

So how do you know if your router has begun to overheat? There are a few signs that indicate your router is overheating. The most obvious is if the router feels very warm to the touch. If you have noticed your wifi signal isn't as strong, it's dropping connections, or the connections are spotty, the router might be overheating.  Another sign your router is overheating is the smell of burnt plastic.

To avoid your router overheating, check it regularly for any dust buildup. You can remove dust and clean your router by using a can of compressed air. Just make sure you unplug it before doing so.

Click here to see compressed air on Amazon.

Making sure its vents are not covered and making sure it isn't near any other electronic devices that omits a lot of heat is another way to prevent overheating.

Can A Router Catch Fire?

Now that you know a router can overheat, you may be concerned it will catch fire. Fortunately, the chance of a router catching fire is very low. There are some cases in which routers have caught fire, but this is not usually due to overheating. Lightning striking utility poles can cause a router to catch fire, but this is also rare.

If you can't shake the fear that your router might catch fire, you could unplug it when it's not in use for peace of mind. You can also take some of the steps we mentioned above to reduce the risk of your router overheating.

Final Thoughts

Even though routers should be out in the open for optimal signal strength, routers can also be an eyesore. Hopefully, we've given you some ideas or inspiration on how to hide yours without affecting the signal strength too much. Good luck!

We've told you how to hide your router, but if you need tips on where to put your other living room furniture, check this other blog post: How To Place Living Room Furniture.

FAQs

How do I hide my Internet box?

The best way to hide your internet box is to store it securely, such as behind a piece of furniture or in a closet. Alternatively, you can purchase a decorative cover for your router or modem to blend in with your home decor.

Can you cover a WiFi box?

Yes, you can cover a WiFi box. As long as the cover does not prevent the box from getting adequate ventilation, you should be able to cover it safely.

Can I put my modem in a cabinet?

Yes, you can put your modem in a cabinet, but you should make sure there is ventilation to prevent it from overheating. Additionally, it may be best to keep the modem away from any electronic devices to prevent interference.

What do I do with my WiFi box when I move?

When you move, you should unplug and disconnect your WiFi box from its power source. Depending on the type of WiFi box, it may be necessary to reset it to its default settings in order to use it in your new location. Back up any important files before disconnecting them.