What to Do With Your Old Wall-Mounted Phone Jack

What was once one of the greatest technological innovations — the landline telephone — is quickly disappearing from homes, leaving unsightly evidence of its past prominence. If you’re one of the more than 50 percent of homeowners who have opted out of landline service, chances are you still have at least one ugly wall mounted phone jack. So, if you want to be rid of the wall-mounted phone jack for good: Patch it.

First, either remove the box altogether, or cut the wires and tape up the ends with electrical tape so they don’t touch each other. Or, even better, trace the line to its source and remove/disconnect the entire wire. Then you can patch the wall with this tried and true method or a wall repair kit on Amazon.

If you decide to keep the house equipped for a landline phone in case you change your mind or the next homeowner wants one: Disguise it.

Hide the phone jack with a message board made of cork, a dry erase board or a chalkboard. If the jack sticks out too far for the message board to hang flat against the wall, attach a thin, empty picture frame to the back of the board to hold it away from the wall. (This also works to disguise the jack with artwork, of course!)

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Another option: Purchase an empty wood cigar box (or a plain wooden box that looks like a cigar box) online or at a cigar store, cut a hole about the size of the phone jack in the bottom and hang the box on the wall. Attach a couple of small magnets at the top and bottom of the “door” if the box lacks a clasp. Add a handle, and you have yourself a little storage cubbie.

And finally, you can use the space inside the jack as a mini secret safe. With the wires removed, you’ll have space to hide some cash, jewelry or small collectibles. Then find or make something decorative to cover the opening, and no one will ever suspect there’s loot hiding behind it.