Secret Rooms That Are Hidden In Clever Ways
Secret rooms are a luxury that most of us don't live with. However, for some homeowners, the privacy and mystery that a secret room offers were too much to resist. When it comes to hiding prized possessions, sneaking off to a place where no one can find you, or simply having a room that guests will be in awe of, secret spaces are the perfect solution. Builders have become more innovative over the years. Trickster baseboards are nothing compared to the hidden pool, sunken table, and various other secret spots these homes have cleverly been designed with. Let's take a look at some smartly disguised rooms.
The Trick Bookcase
This is one of the more classic hiding tricks. We've probably all seen a movie where a bookshelf opened to another room. However, most people don't expect that unusual features such as those in movies would actually exist in real life.
Especially considering that the bookshelf is flush with the wall, it doesn't seem at first that it would open. Rather, it appears to be a built-in that came standard with the house. Instead, the shelving mimics a door, swinging open to reveal a room.
A Secret Study
If you've ever felt like you just needed some time to yourself in the peace and quiet, you'll appreciate this room. It may be on the small side, but that's all you really need when you're alone, anyways.
Though there aren't any windows, that just allows for more privacy. With a leather seat and footrest, a heater that looks like a fireplace, and a reading lamp, it's the perfect spot to catch up on a good book.
The Door In The Floor
To the left, you can see what the room likely looks like when guests are over. You have a fireplace and a window on either side of a plush, blue chair. It would seem like that's all that's going on in this room. However, if you look closer, you'll notice something in the floor.
That something is a small piece of metal that you'd probably only inspect if you were checking for something. Sure enough, the item is a handle to pull up a door carved into the wooden floor. This one doesn't lead to a staircase, but to a ladder going down.
Now That's A Man Cave
Some men only dream of having a room to themselves, much less a hidden one. This space takes the typical "man cave" to a whole new level. To the left, you can see the ladder that someone would have climbed down in order to get to this room.
From there, you have elevated wood planks that act as a wooden bench and could easily be dressed up for a bed. The space is dark and small, which is perfect for the theater setup that the homeowner has. With a large screen and surround sound, it's like a personal movie theater.
The Narnia Dresser
Here we have an opened-up dresser with a few pieces of clothing hanging up. As you can see, the back has been cut open. Furthermore, the wall that the cabinet is pushed up against is not a wall at all.
Either the homeowners opened up this wall or leaned the dresser against it in such a way as to hide the opening that leads to another room. For all we know, the space could have been intended as a walk-in closet attached to the room.
A Narnia-Inspired Play Room
It's safe to say that the family who lives here is probably fans of the Narnia series. They also must know an artist because those walls did not paint themselves. The room is covered from wall to ceiling with scenery made to look like we just walked into Narnia.
The fact that there aren't any windows is actually perfect since it helps to preserve the illusion of being somewhere else. The kids who own those toys must love playing in this space. It's a safe spot for them to feel like they can be on their own and away from parents.
The Mysterious Staircase
The first thing that's obvious about this staircase is the fact that it has impeccable woodwork. Whoever these homeowners are, we hope that they appreciate architecture and have a taste for the incredible design here.
However, the design does appear to be, in part, a coverup. It is so intricate that it almost distracts from the obvious crease below the staircase where a door might be. Many staircases have spaces below them, though. Perhaps this one is special.
A Harry Potter Getaway
Just as you may have expected, this area is not used for storage at all. Rather, it's a hangout area, likely for children. Similar to the Narnia playroom, this space is clearly based on a story, in this case Harry Potter.
In the book, Harry is forced to live under the stairs since his caretakers refuse to provide him with a proper room. That's why you see the "Wizards Only" sign on the door. It's a good thing there's plush carpeting in there or it may be a little uncomfortable.
Not An Ordinary Bookcase
We know what you're probably thinking: we have already seen a bookshelf change into a door. However, this bookshelf is a little unique. For starters, you'll notice there are two bookshelf cases next to one another.
Not only is this trick door twice the width of the last one, but it appears to operate differently. The last one opens up manually like a door. In this image, the man looks like he's pushing a button.
A Secret Room
These bookshelves part so that they lie flat against two separate walls while facing the opposite direction. While we thought before that they were up against a wall, it turns out that they were, in fact, blocking a large entry into this room.
Though the dim lighting prevents us from seeing all of the details of the room, it's clearly a larger space. You can see a door handle illuminated which suggests there's either a closet or a bathroom connected.
A Modern Ballroom
This room is not ordinary, even without the trap door reveal. For one, it's huge. For two, it has almost no furniture in it. Our best guess is that it's used as a ballroom.
Whoever might own this house is definitely an entertainer. There's enough space here to throw the party of the century. Just look at that skylight! You might be thinking that's where the surprise is, but it's actually a lot more obvious than you'd think.
Indoor Swimming Pool!
Like a frozen-over lake that melts in the summer, those marble floors just turned into a body of water. If you look closely at the pool, you'll notice that the design at the bottom is the same as the design of the floor from the previous photo.
That means, more than likely, that the floor sunk lower and filled up with water. There must be an intricate system in place to remove the water and bring the floor back up when it's no longer time to take a dip.
Just An Average Apartment
Here we have a somewhat small apartment. The glossy hardwood floors and bright walls open up the room as much as they can, but that still doesn't allow for a dining room as far as we can tell.
To the right, you can see a modest kitchen that flows into the living room. The woman is reaching towards a small surface that's been secured to the floor and is probably what the owners use as their dining table.
The Dining Room Is In The Floor
Especially in urban areas, finding a place with a formal dining room can be just about impossible. These homeowners decided to make the most out of their space by setting their table and chairs into the floor.
What appears to be no more than just an ordinary rug in the center of the living room is a cover for the secret compartment that holds a table and chairs. Some sort of device lifts the dining room set out from the floor and the room becomes a large space where guests can dine.
The Hidden Button
At first glance, this appears to be a plant display next to a staircase. However, you'll also notice that the copper statue to the left is turned upright. Straight out of a movie, the head of this mysterious figurine opens like a jewelry box to reveal a glowing button.
However, it still could be all for show. The homeowners might have the item opened like that to trick guests into pushing a button that doesn't do anything, or could just like the appearance of the strange item out of an appreciation for treasure hunt films.
Hidden Storage
Naturally, the button opens up the plant display, which doubles as a door to the space beneath the stairs. Since most stairs have spare storage beneath them, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that that's where this trick door led.
However, the plant display can easily mislead someone into thinking that there was nothing to see on the other side. After all, not every staircase has to have a closet below it. Most areas below the staircase certainly don't have such a complex entryway.
The Hidden Stairwell
Apart from a section of the floor being lifted up, this living room looks relatively average. You can see that the homeowners have installed a latch to hold up the part of the floor that acts as a door when they want access to their secret staircase.
However, if you were visiting and the floor was closed, you'd probably overlook that an entrance was even there. Especially considering how glossy the floors are, it would be easy to overlooks a slight outline where the door may be visible.
Space Below The House
As you may have expected, the staircase leads to the lower portion of the house. It appears to be a basement, which no one but the homeowners would necessarily know about. Unless you were looking for it, you might assume that the house didn't have this lower level at all.
The staircase seems to lead down not one, but two flights of stairs. That's a lot of depth for a house that is seemingly without a basement. If these homeowners ever plan to sell, this would come as a pleasant surprise to potential buyers.
An Unusual Study
Right off the bat, there's something odd about this study. Apart from being spacious and well lit, something seems unusual about the space. It might be all the emphasis on wood. You have wooden floors, a desk, cabinetry, doors, and even the ceiling.
Speaking of doors, what exactly is the door? There are double doors in the far corner, but that could just be a closet for more storage. Then there is this giant, round door that looks like it came straight out of a hobbit movie.
A Hobbit Entrance
Sure enough, the giant, round cutout was a door. As you might expect, it leads to the hallway. However, why the homeowners would implement a round door such as this one is a mystery. Not to mention it's a trip hazard since the door entry is far from being flush with the floor.
Does this mean that those double doors to the left just lead to a cabinet? It seems like an odd way to get in and out of a room. The round door looks like it was modeled after the door to a vault.
Playroom Surprise
Having a playroom in your home is just about one of the coolest things a kid could ask for. Unless you're talking about a playroom that has a secret room hidden in its walls!
This spacious rec room has a wall of shelves holding all sorts of fun toys and games. What visitors might not realize at first, however, is that the ample shelves open up and lead to another room! We can see that the hidden lair is painted bright red, but the rest of the room is a complete mystery.
From One Sitting Area To Another
This home, with its stylish wood-paneled walls, exudes chic comfort. That red sofa built into the hallway wall looks like a great place to curl up with one of those books or even with a newspaper. And look! The shelf swings open and shows us that there's another room just inside.
The secondary room has another comfy-looking spot for sitting and reading. It's unclear what else might be hiding in there but we're willing to guess that the room is outfitted with everything you'd need for a leisurely afternoon.
Be Cautious In This Kitchen
While we absolutely love the idea of hidden rooms, this particular space has us hoping that the door in the floor is ultra-secure. Otherwise, you could end up taking a nasty spill when you just wanted a little midnight snack out of the fridge!
That being said, how cool is this under-the-floor pantry? It's fully stocked with all sorts of delicious goodies and wine. This is the perfect secret space for a gourmet chef.
Wheels Make This Hidden Room A Breeze To Open
One factor to take into consideration when planning a hidden room or secret space is its ease of access. You want to be able to quickly get into the hidden area when the need arises!
The people who installed this secret storage area were smart to include wheels at the bottom of the hidden door. This way, it's a breeze to open and close, which might not be the case without the wheels.
Step Into The Poster
The poster that this homeowner decided to use as a cover for their hidden doorway is very appropriate. Carter the Great was a famous magician, known for his amazing tricks and incredible acts.
While we can't see much of what's behind the door, it appears that this hidden room might house a theater. Perhaps there's even a full stage back there where the homeowner can put on magic shows for their friends!
A Hidden... Ballroom?
This is definitely one of the more elaborate hidden rooms that we've seen. Built into the elegant wall of recessed, fully-lighted shelving is a door that opens into what appears to be a really large room. The tiling on the floor, the chandelier, and the arrangement of the furniture indicate that this might be a ballroom or another room where large groups of people can gather.
That's real luxury right there! Most people don't have a ballroom in their home at all, let alone a hidden one.
Hidden Stairway
This secret room is the ultimate in security. In the event of an emergency, the family can simply press a button and reveal a "panic room" where they can safely ride out any unfortunate situation. This is a trend that an increasing number of homeowners are turning to.
Of course, the room could be used for fun activities too, like a hidden theater or game room. Not everything has to be so doom-and-gloom these days!
Where Is She Going?
It's pretty hard to guess what's happening in this photo. We see a large, carpeted room with not much color at all except for a splash of red in the furniture and flooring. And in the background, it looks like a woman is disappearing into a... hole in the floor? What on Earth?
But it turns out that the opening leads to something very exciting! Read on to see where the woman is going.
Here's Where The Slide Leads
That "hole" in the floor was actually a sophisticated trap door leading to a fun slide that drops its passengers off into a bright and sunny playroom below!
This room feels much friendlier than the space above it, and looks like a place you could really let loose and have a good time. This home is in rainy London, so it makes sense to have an indoor area for the kids to blow off some steam.
Just Look For The Green Vase!
If you're ever visiting this home and find yourself lost, just look for the large, lime-green vase in the hallway and you'll be set. The vase is the tell-tale indicator that there's a room hidden behind the stone wall, because you certainly wouldn't guess there was anything out of the ordinary there otherwise!
It appears to be a large bar behind that secret opening, making it the perfect place to while away the hours until someone finds you.
The Perfect Spot For A 'Dr. Who' Binge
This homeowner is clearly the biggest Dr. Who fan on the planet! They even have a TARDIS (that's the time-traveling phone booth from the series) in their home, that secretly conceals a hallway.
The entryway leads to... what else? A private theater. It's obviously the best spot in the world to binge on Dr. Who. We wish we had a better shot of the theater itself, but can guess that it's pretty spectacular.
A Simple Staircase
Here we see what appears to be a basic stairway leading up from the basement or ground level of a home. Nothing too exciting, really, apart from the stylish wood detailing.
But as we know, looks can be deceiving. Can you guess where the secret opening is here? You'll see it in the next picture, but try and guess first. Perhaps there's a switch hidden in those shelves somewhere, or maybe the staircase will retract to reveal a doorway.
Looks Can Be Deceiving
It turns out that the entire rear wall recedes and we're able to get a peek of the room beyond. It appears to be one of the entries, to the home, perhaps at the basement level as we theorized earlier.
The stairs might lead to a master bedroom or other room that the homeowners prefer to keep separate from the rest of the house, whether for privacy issues or security concerns.
A Counter-Hacker Lives Here
Ed Skoudis is a cybersecurity professional and the mastermind behind NetWars and CyberCity. Naturally, someone with such a vast knowledge of cyber crime has a secret room in his home office!
From a first glance, it appears that this is a run-of-the-mill bookshelf, flanked by a medieval suit of armor. The only odd thing is that there are only a few books scattered on the shelves. Wait until you see what's behind the ordinary-looking bookcase, though.
Behind The Shelf...
When you swing the doors to the shelves open, a large room is revealed. This is an office fit for a king -- at least, a king of cybersecurity. Three are multiple computer stations as well as plush rugs and a nice overhead chandelier.
This is the perfect spot to safely work and rid the world of cybercriminals, one bad guy at a time. Although it's not visible in the photo, there's also a comfortable seating area against a wall of windows, so it could be a nice place to take a nap, too.
Chamber Of Secrets
Just think... if you visited the people who live in this gorgeous home, you might never have a clue that they own an extensive wine collection. That's because they keep their precious bottles stored securely underground, in a cellar that's invisible to the outside world.
Once the door is opened, though, you can see that there's quite an impressive collection just down the stairway. Those must be some valuable bottles!
A Secret Sauna
Blended in perfectly with this wallpaper design is the subtle outline of a secret door. Push it open and a heavenly sight awaits -- a luxurious steam sauna! It's the perfect place to unwind after a long day.
The only reason we can think of to keep a glamorous sauna like this a secret is if you have a bunch of rowdy friends who would try and crash it all the time. Otherwise, we think an amenity like this should be shared!
Stylish Hidden Entryway To A Bathroom
Even if it didn't house an incredible secret, we'd be big fans of this teal room with the detailed built-in shelving and paneled walls. It's so chic and stylish, and the bright color gives it a cool edge.
Even better that the shelf opens to reveal a posh hidden bathroom. It's great for those times you don't want to make a trip all the way through your mansion to relieve yourself.
The Perfect Reading Nook
How clever is this idea! A bookshelf opens to reveal the perfect secret: a cozy, comfy nook for curling up with a good read. We love that there are two different seating options, meaning that the book-lover who lives here can invite a friend to join them in their secret space.
What's really super is that this room really doesn't take up much more space than the shelf on its own would. Perfect!
Hide And Seek!
The child, or children, who live here have it made! This looks like one of the most fun playrooms ever. And although their "secret" room isn't completely hidden, it can only be accessed through that small crawl-through door near the bottom.
There are plenty of spots to pop your head out and say hello (or try and surprise people)! What an inviting and creative space for a kid to grow up in.
One Times Square In New York
One Times Square is one of those iconic buildings that we all know to see but never really think about, apart from it being that building in Times Square that has all the advertisements on it (like that narrows it down). But behind those screens and posters, there is actually...nothing.
Inside One Times Square is a bunch of abandoned offices and a drug store on the ground floor. The company that owned the building went bankrupt in 1992 and sold the space to an advertising firm that never had intentions of using the insides.
The Tunnels Beneath The Las Vegas Strip
When you think of the Las Vegas strip, what do you think of? You probably think of bright lights, money, casinos, and lots of fun and drinking. But there is a darker side to Las Vegas...the underside, actually.
Directly beneath the strip is a series of tunnels that have become the homes of many of the homeless in the area. There is no light other than that of flashlights, and anyone brave enough to go down and explore will see little homes with furniture set up throughout the tunnel.
The Bathroom Of Cardinal Bibbiena, Vatican
Hidden in the papal apartments is a tiny bathroom that is not often seen or used. It was painted by the artist Raphael. While he is famous for some of the most inspiring and beautiful religious depictions ever seen in art, there is something a little naughtier about this bathroom.
The murals in the bathroom are full of mythical creatures and some playful, potentially sexy scenes that many after the Renaissance find to be in poor taste. The bathroom still exists but has been left largely in disrepair.
Cave Of The Evil Spirit, Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is one of the natural wonders of the world, and millions of people flock to see it every year. It's beautiful no matter what time of year it is and offers views like no other. But, close by, hidden from the eyes of the world, is a cave that's much more than haunted.
The Cave of the Evil Spirit is an off-limits hole in the rock facade that is said to hold the tormented soul of a spirit that got caught in there long, long ago.
Flinders Street Station's Ballroom, Melbourne
Flinders Street Station is the busiest train station in all of Australia, but that isn't the only thing that makes it so unique. Hidden on the top floor, closed off to the public, is what used to be a grand ballroom.
It opened in 1910 and was originally used as a lecture hall that offered night courses, a lending library, a gym, tennis tables, and more. It was the 1950s and 60s when the ballroom at its brightest, holding large galas that would end just in time for you to catch the last train home.
The Waldorf Astoria Train Station New York
Beneath the beautiful and historic Waldorf Astoria is a less than glamorous train station. It currently serves as a storage yard and was built during the construction of Grand Central Station in the 1910s to serve as the power station and heating plant.
The yard was demolished in the 1930s to make room for the hotel. It was then used as a private station to shuttle the world's elite to the hotel in secret. Now, it sits barely used holding rusting trains.
The Tennis Courts At Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Station is already one of the most iconic and recognizable places in the world, but like any great historical landmark, it has some hidden secrets. On the fourth floor of Grand Central Station are two full-sized tennis courts that have been there since the 1960s.
They are open to the public and don't require a membership, but court time starts about $200. The courts are open 6 a.m.–2 a.m.
The Apartments In The New York Public Libraries
The New York City Library is an incredible place to see. But one little-known slice of history is the apartments tucked away on the top floors of the building. When the libraries were originally built, they were heated with coal, so someone had to live in the libraries to make sure the furnace didn't go out. The apartments were built for the library custodians.
When coal heating was phased out, the majority of the apartments were absorbed back into the library, but some still sit alone today as storage or just empty, probably haunted homes.
The 'Lucky 7 Lounge' at Pixar Studios
The Lucky 7 Lounge is something of an urban legend that is a mystery even to some of those who work at Pixar Studios. It's a tiny nook that was created by the shape of the building where the air conditioners were located. It was discovered when Andrew Gordon decided to explore a human-sized hatch in his new office.
He decided to turn the space into a speakeasy, which became a favorite hangout spot, including for celebs like Steve Jobs. It has a sliding bookshelf as an entrance and everything.
The Crypt Of St. Mark's Basilica
While it would make sense that a church like St. Mark's Basilica would have a crypt, it's not a space that's often open for the public to visit and is only available for tours a few times a year.
One of the reasons it's not often open is because the crypt can sometimes have a blanket of water across the floor, as the area is prone to flooding. As you can imagine, that's dangerous and makes the area more vulnerable to damage.
