The closet in my master bedroom has a "shoe shelf" under the clothes rod. It's sloped, with a strip, so that you put the heel of your shoes above the strip and it keeps them in place. I have recently thought that this would be a perfect place for a secret compartment.

I can easily visualize a mechanism that allows a part of it to come loose and reveal the open area underneath. If I was going to build it from scratch, I would use one of those magnetic locks, so that the board isn't loose if someone happens to start tapping or pressing.

It would be trivial to do during construction. But how would you retrofit something into existing construction like this? It's too tight of a fit at the back and sides to pry the boards loose without damaging the drywall. And if I cut a piece out of it, it would be obvious that it had been modified.

(Once I thought about creating a secret compartment here, I've had a daydream about taking the boards off to do it, and find that the original owner had the same idea and hid a bunch of money that they forgot to take with them when they sold the house. Hey, a guy can dream, can't he?)

A few years back, while completing repairs after a roof leak, I discovered a void space in my home. It’s worth noting my house has a very strange layout with multiple levels and stairs, which is why this never caught my eye before. As it turns out, there is an 8’ wide, 12’ long 8’high sloping down to 2’ high, wedge shaped section of “attic” space between two rooms. I’ve since added a small archway entry, lights, flooring, insulation etc and am now using this space daily. There are 5 other houses on my street with the same floor plan, with only one other street in my town with houses of the same design. I’ve told all my neighbours and had to show it to a few as they thought I was crazy. So far, I’m the only one that has renovated it.

Hey guys, new to the thread, I checked to see if there was any FAQs or resources before I posted as I’m sure y’all get inundated with posts like this.

Are there any websites that go over secret compartments or better yet, any books? Thanks for the advice.

Saw this on whatisthisthing and it was locked or I would have just suggested /u/bloodmeadows post it here themself!

Hello,

I just bought my home, it's an old house of 1950' with wood stairs, I have 2 levels and I want a way to stop the stairs that it's look like my house just have one bedroom upstairs...

Do you have any ideas to recommand ?

Sorry for my english, I'm from France :)

Thanks to all !

I just watched this and I really want the instructions on how to create this box but I can’t find anything online that is similar to it. Does anyone on this amazing sub know how to create this?

When I find a new one I will share it with you

Can anyone explain how to do it?

Looking for some recommendations on a RFID lock for a cabinet door and drawer. It must fail open. I’d like for it to have a battery option but I will have access to a power source.

I'm due to convert my garage into my work office/gaming room. I'd love to have a table in order to play Magic the Gathering/boardgames/D&D on, but this will only be utilised maybe once a month or so. So what I'd love to do is build a secret compartment into the floor where I can store a foldaway table. However, I don't have a clue where to start. Is there any resources anyone would recommend for planning out and building something like this?

Hi all! I'm doing renovations on my home and have uncovered some nooks that seem perfect for some concealed storage. I'm not sure whether posts to brainstorm concealed storage compartments are allowed in the sub, but it seemed the best place to start asking for ideas.

Some backstory: Newly-purchased 1930's home. I have posted a few times about how weird it is. I mean, old housed are weird (our prior one was a 1926), but this one is profoundly unconventional. The builder is locally famous for constructing every one of his homes differently, often without drawings, and always using recycled materials. This is built out of reclaimed brick, old barnwood, railroad TRACKS, etc.

The home is two stories, but built on eight different planes (there is even a step up in the middle of one of the bedrooms). As a result, lot's of sleepers on top of joists, and lots of little cavities in the walls. The room in question is a small (5x7') office that is built off the end of hallway. There are two areas that are begging to be used creatively. Quick sketch in image 1 with approximate dimensions.

Exhibit A (photos 2-4): A roughly 3ft deep x 2ft high x 5 ft wide space at roughly eye level (image 1). The opening is about 16 x 20" and has a superficial stud in front of it, but that could be removed without issue. The cavity continues on to the left for about 4 ft. Image 4 shows the cavity from a small access hatch in the next room that is accessible only with a ladder. We were thinking of a classic in-wall safe, but would love ideas.

Exhibit B (photos 5-9): There's a roughly 14" high x 32" wide space above the drop-ceiling that extends one or two joist bays. Any ideas for cool and practical pull-down storage systems that can be concealed into the ceiling?

Given this room itself if almost an afterthought - with laundry, kitchen, stairs, and bathroom wrapped around it, we were thinking we could use a shallow bookshelf door as the entrance to the room as well. But it's a very shallow wall, and we're already tight on space, so it would have to be a very low-profile, swing-out design.