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For centuries, people have been locking up their most precious possessions in a variety of secret rooms and compartments. Whether it’s hidden chambers in Egyptian pyramids, mysterious passages in medieval castles or speakeasies during the Prohibition era, it seems that we've gotten pretty good at it over the years.

Just take a look at these two online communities, r/SecretCompartments and r/HiddenRooms, that are full of concealed spaces and other cool spots that are not so obvious at first glance.

From secret book pulls to Narnia-inspired wardrobes, Bored Panda has collected some of the best posts from these groups. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to create some discreet hiding places, continue scrolling and upvote your favorite ones!

#1

My Daughter Just Found The Secret Street I Built Behind Her Wardrobe For Lockdown!

My Daughter Just Found The Secret Street I Built Behind Her Wardrobe For Lockdown!

ellasecretstreet Report

Both of these online communities are full of enthusiasts who enjoy sharing images of their home secrets and sometimes even the process of constructing them. The moderators of r/HiddenRooms encourage users to "post pictures and discussions of hidden rooms, secret passages, discreet minibars, trap doors, and other cool secret spaces."

And more than 72.9K members do exactly that, showing how those places are accessed via an invisible door, which could be camouflaged as a bookshelf, a cupboard or a trapdoor in the floor.

While this subreddit focuses more on entire rooms that are hidden in plain sight, the online page r/SecretCompartments is dedicated to concealed parts in your furniture, decorations or even toys. Since its creation in 2016, it has grown into a community with 206K members who treat their privacy as a top priority and keep their personal belongings and memories safe from curious eyes.

#2

Behind The Murphy Door

Behind The Murphy Door

consuelojorge.com Report

It seems that secret spaces have a wide appeal since people are intrigued by the cunning that goes into creating such spots and things. We reached out to Jill Herro, owner of Secret Compartment Furniture, a company that focuses on creating handmade furniture that is not only beautiful on the outside, but also hides your possessions "in plain sight".

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She was kind enough to talk a little bit more about secret compartments and the reasons why people decide to have them. The idea behind starting her own business came from a personal need since Herro wanted to have a nice piece of furniture to store her valuables in. However, when she started looking, all that she found "looked like some guy's garage project—hardly anything I would want in my home."

"Then, 6 months later, I got laid off from my pharmaceutical sales job and figured if I was looking for nice furniture for that reason, there must be others doing the same," she told Bored Panda. "Since I live one hour north of the largest Amish community in the world with over 450 furniture makers, I figured I would give furniture design a try!"

#4

Mom Finds Her Little Boy's Secret Man Cave Complete With An iPad, Snacks And A Blanket

Mom Finds Her Little Boy's Secret Man Cave Complete With An iPad, Snacks And A Blanket

BitchLibrarian Report

According to her, people want to have discreet hiding spaces in their furniture simply because it’s fun and it "instantly turns everyone into a 12-year-old". But on a more serious note, it just seemed logical to her that hiding your precious belongings in plain view is the way to go.

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"Burglars know to grab the jewelry box, check the bedside drawer, check the dresser drawers, etc.," the furniture designer explained. Just imagine the confusion when your fine jewelry or money is not hidden there: "Their goal is to get in and out in less than 4 minutes. Hide those items in an unexpected place, and they will walk right past it."

#5

Built My Now Fianceè A Model House As Our Buying Plans Were Put On Hold Due To Covid

Built My Now Fianceè A Model House As Our Buying Plans Were Put On Hold Due To Covid

danderson302 Report

"Every show I do I hear a story about someone being robbed, and 'they got the jewelry box, and I don't really care about most of it, but they got grandma's Tiffany necklace from the ‘30s, and it cannot be replaced...' Those stories break my heart. Put the costume jewelry in the jewelry box so they think they got something but put the good stuff in the coat rack!"

#7

The Pantry You Didn’t Think You Needed

The Pantry You Didn’t Think You Needed

Unclestanky Report

#8

Harry Potter Themed “Cupboard Under The Stairs” For My 8 Year Old Daughter For Christmas

Harry Potter Themed “Cupboard Under The Stairs” For My 8 Year Old Daughter For Christmas

Tyronne43 Report

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#9

Secret Bathroom With A Bonus

Secret Bathroom With A Bonus

ShawnSaturday Report

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The solutions people come up with to "outsmart" others are also entertaining to see. "I think people enjoy looking at those things because it is creative and surprising. It is unexpected. It shows time and effort," Jill Herro explained. "I take pride in the fact that my designs look totally 'normal'. Some of the other stuff available out there looks 'unbalanced' or out of proportion."

#11

Hidden Beer

Hidden Beer

i_feel_the_need_ Report

#12

My Dining Room Table Houses A Secret Spiral Staircase

My Dining Room Table Houses A Secret Spiral Staircase

PredatorAvPFan Report

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laurencaswell4 avatar
Lauren Caswell
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Does anyone know when this pic appeared online? I'm wanting to know if it was before or after mid 2017 (it creepys me out when I see it because, well, too long to explain). I want to know if I saw this picture before an event, which would explain everything. However, if it's post that date, it's really uncanny bordering on unsettling for me 😅 anyone who knows where to find out pls let me know

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However, the most difficult part for her was to get the business up and running. While the clients loved her work, it just couldn’t get any traction: "I got zero word-of-mouth referrals because nobody wants their friends to know what that beautiful piece of furniture does! I even have customers who refuse to tell their spouse or adult children what it does. I have had husbands purchase items as a gift for their wife, and not tell them about the secret compartments."

#13

$4000 Plug

$4000 Plug

salc347 Report

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uwprof avatar
just another drone
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This would be better as one of those cable outlets than electrical. Too easy to see if it works or not as an electrical outlet.

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Scrolling through this post, you will see the amount of creativity and cleverness that goes into these projects. There are no limits on what you can do with just a couple of tools and an idea in your head. Making a secret room in your house or thinking of a discreet compartment in your furniture not only provides a safe space for you to stash your possessions and hide your memories, but also shows you that the magic of things is often hidden.

#16

How Do You Like Our Secret Room?

How Do You Like Our Secret Room?

marcbaechtold Report

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Babsevs
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A book heaven.... Just add a little kettle and I would never leave it!!!

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#17

Going Through The Door

Going Through The Door

johnnybegood320 Report

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Becklass
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, Good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight.

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#18

Sleeping Spot On A Plane

Sleeping Spot On A Plane

Ckilp Report

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Two_rolling_black_eyes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are quite common, especially on transoceanic flights like Sydney to London. Its 21 hours for the flight crew from the time they board to the time they get the last passenger off the plane. You need a place for the off shift pilots and attendants to sleep that doesn't take up sellable seat space.

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#20

Secret Bookshelf

Secret Bookshelf

topsecretfurniture.com Report

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Nimitz
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's a company that makes these. They're specifically designed so you can store handguns, shotguns, and even assault rifles in book cases. Cause there's no chance of kids wanting to show their friends this really cool thing their dad got. No way will they result in dead kids...

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#22

Mom Turns Cupboard Under The Stairs Into Harry Potter Room

Mom Turns Cupboard Under The Stairs Into Harry Potter Room

Courtney Bonnet Report

#23

The Blind Pig - My Wife Was Tired Of Whiskey Taking Over The Kitchen, So While I Was Remodeling The Basement I Decided To Find Somewhere Else To Put All Of My Booze

The Blind Pig - My Wife Was Tired Of Whiskey Taking Over The Kitchen, So While I Was Remodeling The Basement I Decided To Find Somewhere Else To Put All Of My Booze

JoeHayhoe Report

#26

Finally Finished My Secret Pocket Door

Finally Finished My Secret Pocket Door

Maxatron4000 Report

#27

I Would Probably Hit My Head On The Doorframe

I Would Probably Hit My Head On The Doorframe

rain_only Report

#28

Bought A House, Came With A Secret Cabinet Behind A Cabinet

Bought A House, Came With A Secret Cabinet Behind A Cabinet

Infinite_Damage Report

#29

Now This Is A Nerd Lair!

Now This Is A Nerd Lair!

ooboontoo Report

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#33

Dad Creates An Awesome Bed With A Secret Room For His Son

Dad Creates An Awesome Bed With A Secret Room For His Son

mossberg91 Report

#34

The New House My Parents Bought Has A Secret Room Hidden Under The Stairs

The New House My Parents Bought Has A Secret Room Hidden Under The Stairs

souper_soups Report

#36

I’ve Been Building Secret Worlds Inside Books

I’ve Been Building Secret Worlds Inside Books

dustyrags Report

#38

A Door I Built To The Storage Section Of My Basement Apartment. Still In Progress

A Door I Built To The Storage Section Of My Basement Apartment. Still In Progress

jaime628 Report

#40

Made This To Propose To My Fiancée! Proposed In Shakespeare And Co. In Paris

Made This To Propose To My Fiancée! Proposed In Shakespeare And Co. In Paris

nhertz22 Report

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#43

I Was Removing All The Wall Plates To Paint My Brother's Room When I Found A Secret Stash

I Was Removing All The Wall Plates To Paint My Brother's Room When I Found A Secret Stash

RynningInThe80s Report

#44

I Built This Wood Wall In My House Today. Couldn’t Resist Adding A Little Something Extra

I Built This Wood Wall In My House Today. Couldn’t Resist Adding A Little Something Extra

Meteorsaresexy Report

#45

A Couple Of The Hidden Movie Room Features In My Rock Climbing Room. (Designed And Built My Me)

A Couple Of The Hidden Movie Room Features In My Rock Climbing Room. (Designed And Built My Me)

TheManRoomGuy Report

#46

Secret Hideout Under The Sink

Secret Hideout Under The Sink

heIIoooo Report

#47

Here's My Hidden Mancave. A Childhood Dream Come True

Here's My Hidden Mancave. A Childhood Dream Come True

Dio-V Report

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Peter Trudell Jr
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and for a bonus, the organ there pipes music throughout the house! (yeah, it's a synth)

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#48

Now That I'm Working From Home Indefinitely, I Have My Dream Office All Set Up!

Now That I'm Working From Home Indefinitely, I Have My Dream Office All Set Up!

_Ziggy_Played_Guitar Report

#49

Not Hidden. But That Could Easily Be Changed

Not Hidden. But That Could Easily Be Changed

LockPickingPilot Report

#50

60's Living Room To 90's Arcade

60's Living Room To 90's Arcade

Satoshis_Dragon Report

Note: this post originally had 81 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.