Hidden/Safe Room

Tex · 01-09-2009, 07:16 PM

Does anybody have a hidden room or closet in their house and is willing to admit it? I'd like to have a hidden closet for emergency storage. I think it would be more cost effective than a LARGE safe. Any ideas for how to hide the entrance and features to include? I think I would include a safe mounted in the floor and covered with a panel or rug. I may include a small wall safe as a decoy. Sturdy shelf space would be a must as well.

If I'm not home, I don't want people to find/get my stuff.

Canadian · 01-09-2009, 11:04 PM

I have a hidden cement crawl space with a steel armored door. It'll be the gun room once my permit shows up. That's it.

The house I grew up in was a victorian home and and built in "servants passages" so they could serve the house and not be seen or heard. Several of the passages came out in the closets so they could do mister and madams laundry without intruding. There was even a servant's staircase and a hallway on the first floor that ran the length of the house.

The other kids in the area loved to play hide and go seek at my house because of all the secret rooms.

CVORNurse · 01-10-2009, 02:31 AM

The way my house is built, my pantry, hallway closet, and the built in "china cabinet" all butt up to each other. I have often wondered if there is any dead space back there, but don't know how I could get to it and keep it hidden. In my brain, it just seems like the depth of the closets and cabinet don't seem to account for all the area. Would be nice though. I am getting pressed for safe storage places right now, and have just barely started.

Tex · 01-10-2009, 02:59 AM

CVORnurse - A tape measure can tell you, or maybe a look from above from your attic. Don't forget to account for wall thicknesses. Typically 4.5". My dad has about 6" between his bathroom and behind a built in desk, but it's not very usable except as a wire run area for aux lighting. You might could store some guns in there if you can build an access door.

My dad frames custom homes and he has put in hidden rooms before. I'll have to ask him how they hid the opening. It wouldn't be too hard to hide a door in the back of a cedar lined closet. Wood paneling could work as well. I think sheetrock wouldn't be solid enough to work with and hold up to long term use.

Power outlets, a small night light, and insulation for sound deadening would be nice.

Rancher · 01-10-2009, 01:56 PM

This seems promising.

Hidden Door Bookshelf

Canadian · 01-10-2009, 02:47 PM

A friend of mine had one of those at his mansion. It was previously owned by a cult. The house had an enormous number of bathrooms and bunk beds in it when they bought it. The book case hid a stairwell that ran to all four floors of the house. Creepy.

StillStanding · 01-24-2009, 04:58 AM

I had a friend who had a fold-down bed and two hidden closets the presence of which were not at all obvious even to frequent visitors. It can be done.

C.Winslow · 02-03-2009, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canadian

A friend of mine had one of those at his mansion. It was previously owned by a cult. The house had an enormous number of bathrooms and bunk beds in it when they bought it. The book case hid a stairwell that ran to all four floors of the house. Creepy.

Eww, that's really creepy. I guess this was somewhere in Canada?
I can't imagine how creepy all the old bunk beds were. What did your friend do with them? I get the willies just thinking about it!

cudalyon · 06-11-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex

Does anybody have a hidden room or closet in their house and is willing to admit it? I'd like to have a hidden closet for emergency storage. I think it would be more cost effective than a LARGE safe. Any ideas for how to hide the entrance and features to include? I think I would include a safe mounted in the floor and covered with a panel or rug. I may include a small wall safe as a decoy. Sturdy shelf space would be a must as well.

If I'm not home, I don't want people to find/get my stuff.

I know a guy who has a hidden room. he simply wnet to a large closet in the basement and built a new wall 3ft out. He covered the wall with paneling instead of sheet rock. He framed out a 3ft door frame, and this is where the paneling comes as an advantage over sheet rock. The small strips that you use to cover the seems of the paneling, covered the crack on both sides of the door. The door opens into the closet, and the strips remain inplace on each side of the door opening still connected to the wall. He took an old style thermostat and mounted on the door. Drilled a hole through the door and the thermostat back plate, and connected a small cable to the thermostat cover that runs through the door and is connected to a latch that simply lifts up when you pull the cable allowing the door to open.

sailaway · 06-12-2009, 08:40 PM

My old house had a dead space between the Chimney wall in the family room and the 1/2 bath in the hall way. The living room was behind and the family room was in front where the entrance was. The total area was about 3'x4'x8' high. The entrance was a removable large return air vent cover. In front of the return vent cover was the tv vcr cabinet. It was placed diagnally in the corner between the fire place and the wall. Not a good place for hiding, but a good place to put valuables for safe keeping. My current house has nothing like this. Look around your house, you might find a small dead space like this, especially if it is not rectangular in shape.