You’ve seen the photos on Instagram. A sleek, paper-thin OLED TV hangs on a white wall like a piece of high-end art. No wires. No dangling black snakes of plastic. Just a clean, floating screen. Then you look at your own setup. It's a disaster. There’s a tangle of HDMI cables, a bulky power strip sitting on the floor gathering dust, and a Roku or Apple TV box Velcroed to the back of the set like a parasitic twin. Honestly, it looks terrible. If you want that high-end look, you need an in wall media box. It’s the literal missing piece of the puzzle that most people overlook when they buy a new TV.
I’ve spent years helping people mount displays, and the biggest mistake is always the "wait, where do the plugs go?" moment. Most people assume they can just hide everything behind the TV, but modern TVs are getting so thin that there is zero clearance. If you have a standard recessed outlet, the plug itself sticks out too far, pushing your expensive TV away from the wall. An in wall media box solves this by creating a deep cavity inside the drywall where your power, data, and streaming devices can actually live.
The Problem With "Standard" TV Mounting
Standard setups are clunky. Even the "slim" mounts often fail because of the cables. Look at the back of your TV right now. You probably have at least two HDMI cables, a power cord, maybe an Ethernet line, and perhaps an optical audio cable. That’s a lot of bulk. When you try to push the TV flush against the wall, those cables resist. They bunch up. They strain the ports.
The in wall media box is basically a plastic or metal enclosure that you install between the studs of your wall. It’s not just a hole; it’s a structured environment. It gives you a place to tuck away those massive "wall wart" power bricks that come with things like the Amazon Fire Cube or your internet router. Without one, you’re stuck either letting the wires hang or trying to jam them into a tiny space that eventually causes the HDMI heads to snap. It’s a mess.
Heat is the Silent Killer
Let’s talk about something most "pro" installers don't even mention: heat. When you sandwich a streaming box between a hot LED panel and a flat wall, you’re creating a little oven. I’ve seen Apple TVs throttle their performance or even shut down because they can’t breathe. An in wall media box provides a larger volume of air. Some of the higher-end models from brands like Legrand or Sanus actually have vented covers. This allows air to circulate, keeping your hardware from frying itself over a long Netflix binge.
How to Choose the Right In Wall Media Box
Size matters here. Don't just buy the smallest one you find on Amazon because it’s cheap. You’ll regret it the second you try to add a gaming console or a soundbar breakout box.
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- 9-inch boxes: These are great for basic setups. If you only have a small streaming stick and a power plug, this is fine. It fits between standard 16-inch-on-center studs easily.
- 17-inch or 20-inch boxes: This is where the pros live. These larger enclosures can hold a power strip, a small network switch, and even a compact cable box. Brands like Legrand AV (specifically their On-Q line) make these with "universal" mounting brackets. You can use zip ties or Velcro to secure your gear to a grid inside the box.
- Plastic vs. Metal: Most residential installs use plastic (ABS) because it doesn’t interfere with Wi-Fi signals. If you put your Wi-Fi router inside a metal box, you’ve basically built a Faraday cage. Your internet speed will tank. Use plastic unless you’re in a commercial building where local fire codes require metal for "plenum" ratings.
Installation Isn't as Scary as It Looks
I know. Cutting a giant hole in your drywall feels like a point of no return. But honestly, it’s one of the most forgiving DIY projects you can do. Because the TV covers the box, your cuts don't even have to be perfect. You just need a drywall saw and a stud finder.
Most of these boxes come with a "template." You tape it to the wall, trace it, and start sawing. The box has "dog-ear" tabs—similar to what you see on recessed lighting—that flip out and grip the back of the drywall as you tighten the screws. It's solid. It's not going anywhere.
Dealing With Power (The Legal Stuff)
Here is where people get into trouble. You cannot—and I repeat, cannot—just run a standard TV power cord inside the wall. It’s a major fire code violation (specifically NEC 400.8 in the US). Extension cords and TV power cables aren't rated for the heat or the environment inside a wall. If your house burns down and the fire marshal finds a zip-tied extension cord inside the drywall, your insurance company might just walk away.
This is why a high-quality in wall media box often comes as a kit. These kits include a "power bridge." You install a recessed outlet inside the box and run Romex (standard house wiring) down to a "power inlet" near your floor outlet. You then use a short jumper cord to connect your wall to the existing power. It’s totally code-compliant because you aren't permanently wiring anything into the house's electrical panel. You're basically creating a sophisticated extension cord that is actually rated for wall use.
What About the Smart Home?
If you’re into the smart home scene, the media box is your best friend. I’ve seen people hide Philips Hue Bridge hubs, Lutron Caseta bridges, and even small Raspberry Pi units inside these boxes. It centralizes your "brains" right behind the TV. Since these boxes are usually located in the center of a room, it’s actually a great spot for Zigbee or Z-Wave hubs to reach the rest of the house. Just remember the plastic-vs-metal rule I mentioned earlier.
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Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think these boxes make it harder to upgrade. "What if I get a bigger TV?" they ask. Well, that's the beauty of it. The box stays in the wall. As long as your next TV is at least as large as the hole you cut, you’re golden. In fact, it makes upgrading easier. You don't have to fish new cables through the wall every time you get a new 8K display or a new console. Everything terminates inside that box.
Others worry about structural integrity. Unless you’re cutting through a load-bearing stud (which you should never do), a 14-inch hole between two studs isn't going to make your house fall down. Just stay in the "bay" between the wood. If you hit a stud, stop. Shift the box over four inches.
The Cable Management Nightmare
Even with a box, you can still have a mess if you aren't careful. Use short cables. If you only need 18 inches of HDMI to get from your Apple TV to the port, don't buy a 6-foot cable. Shoving five extra feet of wire into a small box defeats the purpose. Use "slim" HDMI cables to save even more space. Brands like Monoprice make "Certified Premium" slim cables that handle 4K 120Hz without being the thickness of a garden hose.
Real World Examples
I recently worked on a project where the client wanted a "Gallery" style TV. This particular TV (the LG G-Series) is designed to sit absolutely flush against the wall. There is no gap. Zero. If we hadn't used a recessed in wall media box, there would have been no way to plug the TV in. We used a Legrand On-Q 17-inch box. Inside, we tucked an Apple TV 4K, a power supply for a LED backlight strip, and the bulky power brick for the TV itself.
When we were done, the TV sat 0.2 inches from the drywall. It looked like a museum piece. The client’s wife was thrilled because the "clutter" was gone. That’s the real value. It’s not just tech; it’s aesthetics. It’s peace of mind.
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Actionable Steps for Your Setup
If you're ready to stop looking at that wire nest, here's how you actually get this done.
First, get a stud finder. Find the two studs behind your TV. You need to make sure there isn't any plumbing or major electrical running through that specific bay. Usually, if there's a bathroom on the other side of the wall, pick a different spot.
Second, buy a kit that includes the power relocation. Look for keywords like "recessed media box with power kit." This saves you from having to buy separate electrical components.
Third, when you cut the hole, use a vacuum. Seriously. Drywall dust gets everywhere and it's a nightmare to clean out of the ports of your expensive TV. Have a friend hold the vacuum hose right under your saw as you cut.
Finally, use Velcro, not zip ties. You will eventually want to swap out a streaming box or add a new game console. Cutting zip ties inside a cramped wall box is a recipe for accidentally snipping an HDMI cable. Velcro straps are reusable and much easier to manage in tight quarters.
Once the box is in, pull your HDMI and Ethernet cables up through the bottom of the box. Plug everything in, mount the TV, and enjoy the fact that you can finally see your baseboards again without a curtain of black wires blocking the view. It's a Saturday afternoon project that completely changes the vibe of your room. It makes the technology disappear, which is exactly what good design is supposed to do.