How to Make a Hidden Storage Area in a Plaster Wall

Examine the wall closely from inside of the room and the basement below, if applicable. Look for evidence of plumbing and ductwork entering the room or electrical lines inside of the walls. Choose a section of the wall free from these obstacles or work around them in the wall.

Locate the wall studs in the area you want your hidden storage area. Use either a stud finder or thump on the wall to determine where it sounds hollow and where it sounds solid, indicating a stud. Mark the studs with light pencil marks. Wall studs are 16 inches apart, on center, in newer construction, but older homes may vary.

Measure the desired height of the compartment between the two studs you marked. Align a straightedge with the marks to outline the secret storage space. The height is limited by the wall height. However, the width must be the same width as the stud space unless you it is a nonweight-bearing wall. In this case, the stud in the middle of the compartment space must be cut out as well.

Close the door in the room and cover every surface with sheets or plastic. Cutting into walls -- especially plaster walls -- creates a lot of dust, which quickly spreads throughout the home.

Fit a reciprocating saw with a carbide-coated, plaster-cutting blade for use on traditional plaster walls, which feature wooden slats covered with plaster. Use a drywall blade for newer plaster walls, which may consist of plaster over plasterboard -- a drywall-like material -- or similar veneer plaster systems. Regular drywall, often mistakenly referred to as plasterboard, cuts easily with a utility knife.

Cut the wall, beginning in the middle of the opening on a top or bottom edge. Slice through a stud only if you choose to have a storage space wider than the distance between studs and it is not a load-bearing wall. Continue cutting along the opening outline to remove the wall covering; avoid cutting into the studs lining the hole.

Create the top and bottom frame for the hidden storage area with 2-by-4-inch boards, cut to the width of the opening. Cut additional boards for shelves inside the secret storage, if desired. For example, a secret compartment 3 feet tall and 16 inches wide requires a 16-inch-long board at the top and another at the bottom but may benefit from an additional board in the middle.

Wedge the boards in place, starting with the bottom board that forms the floor of your compartment. Drive nails through the board, into the stud side, at an angle -- a process called toenailing. Continue by installing the top board, followed by middle shelves if they are included in the design.

Replace the section of wall that was cut out, setting it in place in the opening. If the wall piece was damaged, cut a board or similar wall material to cover the opening.

Finish by hanging a mirror, painting, photo or even a blanket over the hidden storage area to further camouflage the opening. A tight-fitting covering may even be masked with a plant, furniture or most any concealing and distracting item.