Secret Rooms and Hidden Spaces People Unexpectedly Found

Shannon Quinn - March 22, 2021
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Secret Rooms and Hidden Spaces People Unexpectedly Found
A tiny attic room served as a hiding place for Jewish refugees. Credit: Reddit

15. A Homeowner in Norway Found a WWII Era Jewish Hiding Spot in the Attic

Many of you are familiar with the story of the Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, where a Jewish family hid in the attic during the Holocaust in order to avoid capture for as long as they possibly could. Obviously, they were not the only family to do so. There have been countless stories about people who had to hide from their captors, like the story of Elsa Koditschek.

This sign warns people that if they have a weak stomach, they shouldn’t enter the room. Credit: Reddit

In the Netherlands, someone purchased a house, and discovered this secret room in a wing of the attic that had been left untouched for decades. The sign roughly translates to, “If you have a bad stomach, you don’t have access.” There was also a light alarm that was triggered every time someone entered the attic. Since this was posted on Reddit, there aren’t any more details for us to go on. However, it’s likely that there are many hidden spaces like this left in Europe that are still undiscovered.

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A group of college students found a hidden door in their basement covered with plywood. Credit: YouTube

14. Squatter Used a Secret Room to Live in the Basement

This next story is incredibly creepy, and shows the downside to having a cool secret room or doorway in your house. According to a YouTuber called Mr. Nightmare, he found a story shared on Reddit. A group of college kids were living together in a rental house, when they started to hear noises in the middle of the night. They were all living on their own for the first time, and didn’t know what it could possibly be. So they assumed that maybe there were old pipes in the house, and ignored it. What was harder to ignore was that they would find the cabinet and pantry doors left open in the morning, even though they knew they closed them at night. At first, they debated if the house was haunted.

A squatter was staying in a house for free in a secret room. Credit: YouTube

It wasn’t until the students went into their basement before they realized what was going on. They found a false wall in their basement that revealed a secret room. A squatter was living there rent-free, and was even stealing their food at night! They managed to get this man to leave the house without calling the police. Then, they posted photos on Reddit. Obviously, you can never be sure if these stories are true or not. But there have been plenty of true stories of people living in an attic for years without getting caught. So this isn’t as crazy as you might think.

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This custom circular door is inspired by The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Credit: Christie’s Auction

13. Hobbit Door to the Office

Anyone who is a fan of The Lord of the Rings already knows about the iconic circular Hobbit doors. One homeowner in Hidden Meadow, Pennsylvania decided to build a custom Hobbit door onto their home office. While this wasn’t exactly a secret room, you would be forgiven if you thought that a door like this was decorative, rather than functional. The house sold quickly for $5.8 million, most likely to another Tolkein fan.

This secret door leads to a hidden office. Credit: Christie’s Auction

Normally, we would suggest that over-customizing is something that would actually devalue your home. However, in this case, this circular door was cool, even if you have never seen Lord of the Rings. Clearly, the buyer thought that this added to the charm of the home, and it worked out very well.

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This hidden spiral staircase holds the home owner’s wine collection. Credit: Love Incorporated

12. Concealed Wine Cellar

This next secret room idea is not in one location, but rather a concept that a lot of people have used in their houses. Some of you might have seen new houses built in California where they have a gorgeous wine cellar underneath the staircase. However, not everyone wants their wine to be shown out in the open. This is especially true if you have an expensive collection that you want to keep safe. Traditionally, in Europe, wine collections were kept in the cellar. So it only makes sense that some people out there prefer to keep their wine in a secret room.

This person’s garage hides their wine cellar underground. Credit: Love Incorporated

These two pictures are not in the same house, obviously. But it’s a trend I have seen again and again in hidden rooms and spaces. Clearly, people like this idea of having an underground spiral staircase leading to their wine cellar. In theory, this should also keep your wine cool.

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This little guy has found the secret room in the Harry Potter themed AirBnB.Credit: VRBO

11. Harry Potter Kids Secret Room Has a Hidden Door Behind a Bookshelf

Cape Cod is a popular tourist destination for anyone who is looking to spend time on the beach. At $695 per night, this rental is no joke. Most of the time, families will get together and split the cost of a large house like this, bringing cousins together for a great vacation. This is why the kid’s bedroom comes with three bunk beds, as well as two against the ceiling awnings, making a total of 8 beds. What makes it even better is that it’s a Harry Potter themed room. Hogwarts banners are flying across the ceiling, so kids can pretend that they’re living in the dorm of their favorite house.

This main bedroom has bunk beds for kids to stay in. Credit: VRBO

If you didn’t think a Harry Potter room was already cool as it is, there is an added bonus to this room. Hiding behind the bookshelf is a secret room! Since this bedroom appears to be in the attic, it makes sense that there was an extra hidden storage space. The only trouble is that it looks so small, only the youngest kids could fit inside. It’s still something magical that your kids would remember for the rest of their lives, if you and your family could afford this Cape Code vacation rental.

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This Tardis is the secret entry to the home theater. Credit: Gramophone Home Theater

10. There is a Secret Cinema Hiding Behind This Tardis 

Anyone who has seen the TV series Doctor Who is already familiar with The Tardis. Just in case you aren’t, this is a blue police box commonly seen in the UK, but it’s actually a gigantic time travel machine once you get inside. A company called Gramophone Home Theater is behind this creation. On the outside, it just looks like a life-sized Tardis owned by a Dr. Who fan. But once you open the door, you realize it’s a doorway to a secret cinema room.

With Dr. Who playing on the screen and Star Trek images on the walls, this is a sci fi lover’s dream come true. Credit: Gramophone Home Theater

Similar to the secret Batcave cinema mentioned earlier, this is a really fun way to reveal to your guests that you have an entire movie theater hiding somewhere in your house! And if you were feeling paranoid about burglars stealing your expensive equipment, this might also be a clever way to ramp up your home security system.

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A wealthy computer programmer uses this bookshelf as a secret door to his office. Credit: Love Incorporated

9. This “Hacker Hideout” is Like Something Out of a Movie

Whenever you see computer programmers or hackers in movies or TV shows like Mr. Robot, they always have the coolest hideouts. In reality, most developers work from home, and they have normal home offices just like anyone else. However, a highly successful programmer named Ed Skoudis decided to make his own Steampunk inspired office in his home. 

The office is a steam punk inspired work space for several people. Credit: Love Incorporated

The office door is hidden behind a bookcase with a suit of armor. There is a secret hole that unlocks a bolt and lets you inside. Because of that bolt, this also doubles as a panic room. But once you’re inside, there is plenty of space for Ed and his team to work.

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At first glance, this living room seems totally normal. Credit: Love Incorporated

8. This Person’s Hidden Wine Room is Behind the Bookcase

This home in Tacoma, Washington just seems like your average 4-bedroom American house. That is, until you realize that there is an entire hidden wine room behind the living room bookshelf! Earlier on this list, we mentioned how wine cellars are traditionally in the basement. However, a lot of people are getting creative when it comes to hiding their stash.

Behind the bookshelf, you will find the family wine closet. Credit: Love Incorporated

Obviously, a project like this wouldn’t be worth it unless you had an incredibly expensive wine collection. However, this could also serve as a panic room, if you were afraid of burglars coming in your house. Something like this is likely to be completely missed if you don’t know what you’re looking for.

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At first glance, this looks like a luxurious library without secrets. Credit: Peter Pennoyer Architects

7. This Secret Room is a Toilet in the Library

If you’re a book lover, you have probably dreamed of having your own library your entire life. (Myself included.) This particular property that was designed by Peter Pennoyer Architects shows an amazingly unique teal colored library. If that wasn’t cool enough on its own, this library has a secret room.

Behind one of the bookshelves of the library, there is a hidden bathroom. Credit: Peter Pennoyer Architects

Hidden behind one of the many bookshelves is a bathroom. So if you’re busy reading books all day, at least you have somewhere to relieve yourself without taking away from the aesthetic of the room! Personally, I love this. It makes the library feel even more magical than it already did before.

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This kitchen looks like the diner on the set of Saved by the Bell. Credit: AirBnB

6. This 90’s Style AirBnB Has a Secret Room for Guests

They say that you should give your guests more than what they expect. A secret room you’ll have to see for yourself. On AirBnB, there is a house that is totally made over to pay homage to the 90’s. The kitchen is modeled after Saved by the Bell, and you also see nods to The Simpsons, Rugrats, The Power Rangers, and more.

This furniture is very reminiscent of Nickelodeon cartoons from the 1990’s. Credit: AirBnB

Guests who have stayed at this AirBnB have reported that there is a secret room that isn’t featured in the listing photos. You just have to find it once you arrive! Not only is the theme really fun on its own, but if you have kids, finding a hidden room makes this experience even more special.

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From a distance, you would be forgiven for believing that this building is real. Credit: The Tim Traveller

5. Like Secret Rooms? In Paris, There Are Entire Fake Buildings 

Here on this list, we’ve talked a lot about secret rooms. But what about secret buildings? In Paris, there are entire buildings that are actually fake. For the most part, they are hiding ventilation shafts for the subway, which helps to make the city look just as beautiful and historic as it once did before the modern Metro was built. If you’re familiar with New York City, you already know that they don’t bother to hide the industrial aspects of how the city runs.  But in Paris, they’re always trying to make things look pretty.

Up close, it’s clear that the windows have all been painted on. Credit: The Tim Traveller

On a YouTube channel called The Tim Traveller, he shows several facades, or fake buildings in Paris. Some of them blend in very well, while others are rather obvious that they’re fake. One of my personal favorites is 29 rue Quincampoix, which has painted windows, rather than real ones. From a distance, this house might look real. But once you get up close, you’ll realize that it’s very obviously fake. This opitcal illusion is great, and proves how things can be hidden in plain sight.

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At first glance, this beautiful living room space looks like it is technology free. Credit: Deforest Architects

4. These Homeowners Went Above and Beyond to Hide Their Media Room

In Feng Shui, they advise against having a TV in a lot of spaces. And many of you might know at least one person who wants a formal living room where they don’t have a TV at all. So, how do you enjoy movies and video games? One home owner decided that the solution to the problem was to create a secret media room. At first glance, this home designed by DeForest Architects looks like something out of a magazine.

The family keeps their TV and games in a hidden media room. Credit: DeForest Architects

Most people would already love to live in this house. But behind the bookshelf, there is a door that swings into the secret room. Beyond is a media room where the kids are free to keep their video games, DVD’s TV, and more. To me, this like like a dream come true. You get the best of both worlds when it comes to keeping your living room perfectly clean, while still giving your kids a fun place to let loose.

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At first glance, all you focus on is the gorgeous entryway. Credit: Von Fitz Design

3. This Luxurious Staircase is Hiding a Fun Playroom

When you first walk into this house by Von Fitz Design, you would be forgiven if you totally miss the small door under the stairs. With the sweeping staircase, light fixtures, and industrial farmhouse charm, there is so much to visually take in. Clearly, these people took put a lot of time and money into creating their dream house. But they haven’t forgotten about making it fun for their kids, too.

Under the stairs, they are hiding an adorable play room for the kids. Credit: Von Fitz Design

When you go underneath the stairs, you’ll see a hidden playroom with toy blocks, a rug, pillows, and a piece of art that says “Every brother is a superhero”. This is a great way to keep a lot of toys hidden from the main entryway, which helps to keep the home looking like something out of a magazine. And when the child grows up and can start having friends over, it’s going to be the perfect place for them to play hide-and-go-seek.

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At first glance, this looks like a luxurious wooden fireplace in an east coast mansion. Credit: Creative Home Engineering

2. This Massive Bookshelf is Hiding a Gun Safe

If you have guns at home, it’s always important to keep them in a safe, so that your kids don’t get ahold of them. For this home owner, they went above and beyond by keeping their guns in a hidden room behind their massive bookshelf.  Two bookshelves swing open to reveal a heavy bank vault door. You need to know how to open the door in order to gain access.

The secret is that there is a gun vault hiding behind the book shelves. Credit: Creative Home Engineering

This is like having double security. Most likely, this homeowner also keeps other valuables in this safe beyond just their guns. This home was custom designed by an architectural firm called Creative Home Engineering. The company specializes in building hidden rooms in your home. So if you have the budget to build something like this, be sure to check them out.

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Most homes have floor-length mirrors, but not all of them are doors to secret rooms. Credit: Creative Home Engineering

1. These Mirrors Are Actually Secret Doors

If you want a secret room in your house to keep your valuables safe, this next idea is pure genius. A design firm called Creative Home Engineering specializes in hidden walls and rooms that can be constructed in your house. They sell several different versions of floor-length mirrors that are actually doorways. This is a brilliant idea, because most people would never think twice about seeing a large mirror in someone’s living room, bathroom, or bedroom. But in reality, it’s a portal to a hidden space.

This luxurious looking mirror is actually the door to the closet. Credit: Creative Home Engineering

In the photo above, you can see this luxurious mirror is actually a door into the master closet. If you have a lot of valuable clothing and purses that you want to protect, this could be a great way to hide them from potential burglars. It’s also more aesthetically pleasing and utilitarian to see a beautiful mirror where you can get ready in the morning, instead of a door that isn’t really serving a purpose. A mirror door like this cold also serve as a perfect hiding spot, in case you ever needed to conceal yourself during a break-in.

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