A mess of wires or cables can ruin an otherwise clean-looking installation, so you’ll probably want to conceal or camouflage the wires running to the TV. If you’re going to hide HDMI and Ethernet cable wires inside the walls, you may want to consider professional installation unless you’re knowledgeable about wiring. Audio-video and Ethernet cables that run through walls require a specific rating for fire resistance.

Power cables shouldn’t be routed inside a wall, so you might consider having an electrician install a recessed outlet behind where the TV will be installed.

If you don’t want to go to that trouble and expense, most retailers sell cable concealment kits, also called raceways, that let you hide and organize cables without cutting into the wall. These typically have an adhesive backing, so they can stick to the wall without damaging it, and covers that snap shut once the cables are inserted. Many can be painted to match your wall color.