Product test
This little thing has solved my handbag problem
by Stephanie Vinzens
Comparing three cable boxes: which one is practical and stylish?
4/4/2023
Translation: Eva Francis
Pictures: Pia Seidel
Life is too short to stare at ugly cables. That’s why I decided to look for a quick and easy solution to hide cable spaghetti – a cable box.
Cables control me and my flat. They’re everywhere and stand out like traffic cones. Time to tame them. But which cable box can manage them the way I envision – that is in an effective and decorative way? To find out, I created a job offer for my personal cable manager.
Your profile
- University degree in hiding cables, ideally featuring a storage compartment
- Experience in handling plug strips
- Resilient personality and stylish appearance
Your tasks
- Gracefully organising annoying chargers
- Professional handling of opening and closing
- Responsible for clearing rooms of visible cables
The three boxes that applied all fit the profile, according to their CV. I invited them to my home for an interview and two weeks of trial work each.
Candidate #1: Relaxdays
Most cable boxes have two openings. The simple Relaxdays design has seven. I like that, as it means there’s less clutter inside the box. I also like the lid, as the grain of the wood gives this storage solution a warm and homely look.
However, the Relaxdays cable manager still seems to be at junior level. It hides the power strip, but only just about. On top, I’d have preferred fewer and smaller holes for more visual calm. The material it’s made of doesn’t convince me either, as the wood feels rough and the plastic has sharp edges. According to its CV, there should be room for two power strips. But I could only make one fit. And I even had to tilt it a bit to close the lid.
Candidate #2: Durable
The Durable cable manager made of plastic fulfils my wish for tidiness right away. It neatly brings cables together in two places, is high enough and has space for two plug strips or particularly long cables that need to be gathered together.
Although this favourite seems to be more experienced, it holds back a bit too much. It lacks that certain something that would make it stand out in a room. Neither its colour nor its shape distinguish it from a shoebox. The silicone cover of the third opening on the top attracts attention, but it also magically attracts dust. That’s another downside.
Candidate #3: Remember
The Cavoline metal box by Remember brings all cables together in one place and could easily manage a second power strip. What I like best about it is that the coloured felt tray, the circular hole on the front and the grey colour are beautiful details. On top of this, the material makes it particularly robust.
Although this candidate fulfils many criteria, its design doesn’t convince me to a hundred per cent. The circular opening looks pretty without cables. Add some cables and it looks messy – especially with colourful cables. That’s why I had to turn the box around so the hole faced the wall and say goodbye to the elegant look.
Conclusion: no one thinks outside the box
None of the three cable boxes made my design heart skip a beat. Although the candidates succeeded in hiding and managing cables at different levels, they haven’t found their own style yet. They all look too much like a shoebox. Where are the creative solutions that feature curves, ornaments or patterns?
Hoping I’ll still find a cable management genius that thinks outside the box, I’m posting the position again. If you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear from you in the comments section.
Header image: Pia Seidel
Pia Seidel
Senior Editor
Pia.Seidel@digitecgalaxus.chLike a cheerleader, I love celebrating good design and bringing you closer to everything furniture- and interior design- related. I regularly curate simple yet sophisticated interior ideas, report on trends and interview creative minds about their work.
