9 Ways To Transform 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. I usually remove and patch any phone jacks in my homes, but there are other options that aren’t so permanent, especially if you’re renting.

Read on for some ways to repurpose, disguise or remove your old wall-mounted phone jacks with tips from an experienced home repair source, Jim Marotta from YouTube’s Get It Done Home Repair.

Remove and Patch

To patch over an old wall-mounted phone jack, you’ll first need to remove the faceplate and electrical box in the wall. Once this is done, attend to the wires. Marotta recommends disconnecting the wires at the main phone box first if possible. Then, snip the wires and tape the ends with electrical tape before tucking them into the wall. Then you can patch the wall with this tried and true method.

Cover with a Message Center

Old wall-mounted phone jacks are often found in kitchens, and these make a great spot for a central place to keep track of important dates and reminders. Hide the phone jack with a message board made of cork, a dry-erase board or a chalkboard. Try to find one with a recessed work surface set into a frame. This will provide clearance for the wall jack behind the board and allow the message center to lie flat on the wall.

Disguise it with Artwork

Canvas art is a great option for hiding an old wall-mounted phone jack. The frame’s structure leaves plenty of clearance for the jack and wall plate. Pick up an inexpensive blank canvas and get creative, or purchase a piece of finished artwork that complements your room’s existing decor.

If canvas art isn’t your thing, look for a picture frame with a recessed back that will clear the raised wall plate. Set a favorite photo in the frame, hang it on the wall and say goodbye to that ugly phone jack.

Add a Mini-Storage Cubbie

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 of the box and hang it on the wall. If the box lacks a clasp, attach a couple of small magnets at the top and bottom of the “door.” Add a handle, and you have yourself a little storage cubby.

Create a Mini Secret Safe

With the faceplate, box and wires removed, you’ll have space to hide some cash, jewelry or small collectibles. There are products sold just for this purpose. A typical design includes a box about the same size as a single gang electrical box. This is installed similarly to an “existing-work” electrical box, with wings that tighten behind the drywall. A magnetic faceplate that looks like an electrical outlet is also included. Once the faceplate is in place, no one will ever suspect there’s loot hiding back there.

Install a Blank Outlet Cover

While this doesn’t completely disguise the jack opening from view, it does assist in making it less conspicuous and is DIY-friendly. Simply unscrew the old wall-mounted phone jack faceplate, disconnect, snip and tape off the wires. Then, install a single gang blank outlet faceplate over the opening. If the screws do not correspond with the existing electrical box, remove it and install a single gang electrical box for existing work in its place. Attach the blank plate, and paint it the same color as your wall.

Convert the Opening to a Light Switch

If you have some electrical know-how, you can turn the opening for the wall-mounted phone jack into a light switch. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this work, then hire an electrician. I did this in one of the older homes I lived in that had a pull chain for the ceiling light in the kitchen. The opening for the old wall-mounted phone jack was the perfect place to run a switch to the light without adding a new hole in the wall.

Buy a Hi-Jack Coverage System

The Hi-Jack Coverage System is a decorative yet functional product designed to cover old wall-mounted phone jacks. The system comes with a bracket that securely fits over a standard phone jack faceplate. A separate unit with a shelf, key hook and integrated picture frame is then affixed to the bracket. The product takes under a minute to install and does not require any tools or materials. As most wall-mounted phone jacks are found in the kitchen, this is another great option to stay organized and improve the look of your kitchen without removing anything from the wall.

Cover it with a Beer Bottle Opener

If you have an old landline phone jack in your kitchen or living room, consider turning it into a readily available beer bottle opener. This works best with a metal phone jack plate. You’ll also need to find a beer bottle opener that has matching screw holes to the ones on your faceplate. If not, you’ll need to drill new holes. To elevate the look, spray paint the faceplate the color and finish you desire. Once the paint dries, attach your bottle opener to the faceplate with screws.

FAQ

Should you keep your phone jack?

You could keep the house equipped for a landline phone in case you change your mind or the next homeowner wants one. However, the likely reality is you don’t need to keep it. “There is no use for the old wiring and jack in the wall,” Marotta says, “except maybe for a place to hang a calendar.”

About the Experts

• Jim Marotta is the host of YouTube’s Get It Done Home Repair, with home repair how-to videos for homeowners. The channel has over 44 thousand subscribers.