Home Improvement Articles

Hiding your money and other valuables under your pillow or mattress will not protect them from a thief. There are options besides a bank’s safety deposit box, which by the way, may not be as safe as you think. You can either hide your loot in secret places within your home OR you can hide your stuff in diversion safes. There are ten main areas that can double as hiding spots for your valuables.
 
BEAMS
 
Remove an unnecessary “support” beam and hollow an opening at the top or backside. Before beginning this project, confirm that the beam is not a true support beam or you could wreak havoc!
 
WALLS
 
Hollow walls provide tons of hidden storage in every room. Choose spots that are not exposed, such as walls behind your headboard, large pieces of furniture, etc. Use your imagination when camouflaging the area; for double security, hang artwork or a heavy mirror, or create an architectural niche in the area. If you have paneling or wooden walls, don’t use this hiding place for heavy items that are not secured because they could break through or cause a slump in the paneling.
 
STAIRWAY
 
You can renovate an existing stairway to make a very small room underneath it. This could also be used to hide yourself if your home is invaded.
 
BASEBOARDS
 
Remove a small section of baseboard; hollow the area needed to store your valuables and replace the baseboard.
 
INTERIOR DOORS
 
You can make a large hiding place in the hollow of an interior door; camouflage it with fancy molding or simply mount a mirror covering the compartment.
 
FURNITURE
 
Build secret drawers. Remove molding and create a hollow. Remove stationary drawer fronts in cabinetry and attach secret containers to the backsides of the drawer fronts.
 
BOOKCASES
 
Beneath the lowest shelf in most bookcases, you have a few inches of dead space that is protected by molding. Remove that shelf and use the large space to store items; you may wish to attach the valuables to the underside of the shelf by nailing a box or by using magnets and an attached magnetic strip.
 
LIGHT SWITCH
 
Remove an electric outlet plate or light switch (after turning off the electricity). Store small valuables within the box or create a box nearby that you can access from behind the plate.
 
HOUSEPLANTS
 
If you already have many indoor plants, create a hiding spot in the base of a plant container. Place the money or other valuables in a sealed plastic bag to protect from water damage.
 
BACKYARD
 
Bury your valuables underground. Make a map of the exact location of your buried treasure and keep it with your important papers in a safe or other locked place that a thief can’t access.
 
For guaranteed security, when hiding your valuables in your home, strive for excellence in the camouflaging of your secret places and never tell anyone where the hiding places are located! If you don’t want to go through the extra effort and time to create these hiding places, then a diversion safe might be the perfect hiding place for your valuables.

Rosalie S. Bujtor is a personal safety expert, advising families how to plan ahead and be prepared. To find out how you and your family can have peace of mind with the latest in personal defense, visit http://www.SafetySelfProtection.com/diversionsafes.htm