10 Things You Didn't Expect to Find Behind These Doors
From hidden kitchens to pull-down beds, these ingenious designs are not entirely what they seem…
Susannah Hutchison
2 February 2018
Houzz Contributor
What’s behind the mysterious closed door, you may ask yourself when entering a house you don’t know. Well, in most cases, it’s just what you’d expect – nothing out of the ordinary, just another room. But here, hidden panels, false walls – and even a trapdoor – open up to reveal some surprising secrets. Let these examples give you ideas about the things you could hide behind a door in your own home.
Don a disguise
A picture disguising a door disguising a bookcase… Sherlock Holmes would no doubt approve of this clever three-in-one design that opens up to reveal a secret stash of books on shelves built into the chimney breast. This stops the walls looking cluttered with books, but means they’re still easy to access. Practical, stylish and witty, too? It’s elementary…
A picture disguising a door disguising a bookcase… Sherlock Holmes would no doubt approve of this clever three-in-one design that opens up to reveal a secret stash of books on shelves built into the chimney breast. This stops the walls looking cluttered with books, but means they’re still easy to access. Practical, stylish and witty, too? It’s elementary…
Be open to ideas
Too many clothes and not enough space to store them? Rather than trying to cram another wardrobe into the bedroom, think creatively about where in your home some extra storage could be created. In this Victorian terrace, a slice of the living room has been converted into a walk-in cupboard, concealed behind a false wall with a wallpapered ‘invisible’ door.
See more inspiring ideas for Victorian homes
Too many clothes and not enough space to store them? Rather than trying to cram another wardrobe into the bedroom, think creatively about where in your home some extra storage could be created. In this Victorian terrace, a slice of the living room has been converted into a walk-in cupboard, concealed behind a false wall with a wallpapered ‘invisible’ door.
See more inspiring ideas for Victorian homes
Lay a trap
How about accessing any cellar space beneath your home via a trap door? This one leads to an all-singing, all-dancing wine cellar, but steps down to a laundry room, bike storage or even a games room could all work. Matching the door to the floor gives a seamless finish, keeping the secret of what lies beneath.
How about accessing any cellar space beneath your home via a trap door? This one leads to an all-singing, all-dancing wine cellar, but steps down to a laundry room, bike storage or even a games room could all work. Matching the door to the floor gives a seamless finish, keeping the secret of what lies beneath.
Conceal and reveal
This is the modern equivalent of a Scooby-Doo-style trick bookcase: a restful bedroom is concealed behind a wall of books, with a hinged section opening up to reveal what’s behind. A design like this provides valuable extra shelf space that would otherwise be lost to a door, and would also work well as a way of creating separate zones in a broken-plan space.
This is the modern equivalent of a Scooby-Doo-style trick bookcase: a restful bedroom is concealed behind a wall of books, with a hinged section opening up to reveal what’s behind. A design like this provides valuable extra shelf space that would otherwise be lost to a door, and would also work well as a way of creating separate zones in a broken-plan space.
Sort and store
The doors are an integral part of the design of this neat under-stairs storage, as they form the wall in the now-clutter-free hallway. There are lots of specialist companies that offer under-stair solutions to (hopefully) make haphazardly stacked cupboards, where you slam the door shut and hope for the best, a thing of the past…
The doors are an integral part of the design of this neat under-stairs storage, as they form the wall in the now-clutter-free hallway. There are lots of specialist companies that offer under-stair solutions to (hopefully) make haphazardly stacked cupboards, where you slam the door shut and hope for the best, a thing of the past…
Blend it in
For maximum impact in a boldly decorated room, be inspired by this en suite bathroom and conceal the doors by covering them all with the same pattern. This means the flow of the design is not interrupted by plain doors, frames or even skirting board.
For maximum impact in a boldly decorated room, be inspired by this en suite bathroom and conceal the doors by covering them all with the same pattern. This means the flow of the design is not interrupted by plain doors, frames or even skirting board.
Wash and go
Washing machines and tumble dryers are essentials in most kitchens, but they don’t exactly get the heart racing on the looks front. Stacking and tucking them away behind a matching kitchen cupboard door keeps them out of sight – especially useful in an open-plan cookspace where you want to create more of a living room feel.
Washing machines and tumble dryers are essentials in most kitchens, but they don’t exactly get the heart racing on the looks front. Stacking and tucking them away behind a matching kitchen cupboard door keeps them out of sight – especially useful in an open-plan cookspace where you want to create more of a living room feel.
Work smart
Not many of us have the luxury of a home office, but with more and more people working from home, it makes sense to have a designated work area.
If you’re fed up of laptop, chargers, papers and printer all vying for space with the plates on the kitchen table, how about trying to incorporate something like this office-in-a-cupboard? It can be tucked behind the door at the end of the working day so it looks neat and tidy. Plus, the hideaway design means work isn’t (literally) staring you in the face each time you try to switch off.
Not many of us have the luxury of a home office, but with more and more people working from home, it makes sense to have a designated work area.
If you’re fed up of laptop, chargers, papers and printer all vying for space with the plates on the kitchen table, how about trying to incorporate something like this office-in-a-cupboard? It can be tucked behind the door at the end of the working day so it looks neat and tidy. Plus, the hideaway design means work isn’t (literally) staring you in the face each time you try to switch off.
Chop and change
A house with no kitchen is probably a step too far, even for the most cooking-phobic homeowners, but how about a kitchen that can be hidden away instead? Here, as in the previous home office image, doors open and slot right back into side pockets to reveal a sunshine yellow mini kitchen (there’s an oven further along).
A design like this would work brilliantly in a small, multi-functional living space, allowing the look of the room to be quickly altered depending on how it’s being used.
Great ideas for small-space flats
A house with no kitchen is probably a step too far, even for the most cooking-phobic homeowners, but how about a kitchen that can be hidden away instead? Here, as in the previous home office image, doors open and slot right back into side pockets to reveal a sunshine yellow mini kitchen (there’s an oven further along).
A design like this would work brilliantly in a small, multi-functional living space, allowing the look of the room to be quickly altered depending on how it’s being used.
Great ideas for small-space flats
Pull (down) an all-nighter
Got some unexpected guests who need to stay the night? Ta-dah! This fold-down bed can be pushed up into the alcove and hidden away behind the large door. Of course, if you’re not in the mood for offering hospitality, there’s no need to open the door and reveal what’s behind it, is there?
Do you have any unusual doors in your home – and which of these ideas would you consider adding? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Got some unexpected guests who need to stay the night? Ta-dah! This fold-down bed can be pushed up into the alcove and hidden away behind the large door. Of course, if you’re not in the mood for offering hospitality, there’s no need to open the door and reveal what’s behind it, is there?
Do you have any unusual doors in your home – and which of these ideas would you consider adding? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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My thoughts on "Conceal and Reveal" - just hope the occupant of the bedroom never slams the door!!
Love it...it's like grown up hide & seek!