One idea that I have seen is if it is impossible to tuck the cord out of sight is the make a festive snuggie - gold or silver lame' are always good for it like is done for wall sconces that have hanging cords - I am sure others will have some good ideas .....

Lynne

Gracie, I use the "command" hooks along the side of my mantle (the ones that are easy to remove later). My mantle is white and I use a white ext cord. The hooks hold the cord close to the side, so it isn't as noticeable.

One year I finally said, "To heck with it" and called the electrician to come and put an outlet at the end of the mantle. What little damage he did to the drywall, I patched and painted over. Not an expense one wants to have in the month of December, but since then, every Christmas I smile as I plug things in.

Now, more to your question:
Sometimes I want tiny lights down the center of my table. I had a new leaf cut out of MDF and had a big hole drilled in the center. I attached a surge protector to the underside. From the surge protector, I run an extension cord under the table and down the table leg. I tried and tried to think of something that could camouflage the extension cord from the bottom of the leg to the wall outlet. I came up with NOTHING.
So, instead of trying to hide it, I took the cardboard roll that holds Christmas wrapping paper (sort of a very long toilet paper roll) and threaded the extension cord through. Then I wrapped Christmas paper around the roll and tied off the ends with ribbon, letting the extra paper at each end flair out. Now, instead of trying to hide it, I purposely bring attention to the cord - which I think is a good thing, as I know people won't be tripping on the way to the buffet table.

P.S. Of course, I have to put a large button hole in the center of my table cloth, but if I don't use lights, I always have some sort of centerpiece that sits on top of the buttonhole.

Oldalgebra- Very creative ideas! Thank You! So is the outlet on your mantle or next to it? You mentioned drywall so I am assuming it is on the wall. I would love to have my electrician put an outlet on my mantle if possible.

Here's how I remember it.
The electrician made a rectangular hole where the new outlet was to go (just above the mantle in the horizontal position, so it wouldn't show too much). Then he drilled a hole in the stud and fed the wire down the wall. THen he broke into the drywall and drilled a hole in the stud and fished the wire through. Then he broke into the wall again and fished the wire through again. Then he connected it to an already existing outlet. I had to patch the two holes because, "We don't do drywall, ma'am,"
{{gwi:1451262}}

Oh my goodness- I have heard that before about the drywall! I had a plumber once leave a huge hole under my bathroom sink- we about froze until we had it fixed! That was quite an idea he had. Why did he not just make a new outlet?

It is a new outlet. It just pulls its power from another run of already existing outlets.
OA

8 years later, great advice for decorating a new home!!!! Thank you oldalgrebra !!!! The battery lights clash so much with the rest. And the table idea is fantastic. I'm even pondering a hole in the holiday rug for the table. Merry Christmas!!!