How to Add Secret Compartments to a Desk

Measure the size of the opening where the secret compartment will go, such as the back panel of a drawer or divided compartment. Cut one piece of stock wood to this size to be your front. Subtract 2 inches from the width and cut a second stock piece to this size to be the back.

Lay the two pieces on a flat surface. Sand the two length edges which face up to round the corners as much as possible. The faces of these boards with the rounded edges will face toward the back of the drawer.

Cut two pieces of stock to the height of the drawer by the width desired for the compartment, such as 1-inch thick for the compartment sides.

Lay the back piece of the compartment on a flat surface with the rounded edges facing down. Place the side pieces onto the back piece and align the side edges so the side pieces rest on its 3/8-inch thickness at the left and right sides of the back. Apply wood glue to these pieces and allow to dry for one hour.

Cut a piece of plywood to the same width as the side pieces and cut the length equal to the back piece’s length minus ¾-inch to make the compartment floor. Slip the floor piece between the side pieces and against the back a ¼-inch up from the bottom. Apply glue to the floor piece around all three pieces it touches. Allow the glue to dry.

Lay the front piece on a flat surface with the rounded edges facing up. Lift the back unit and set it over the front piece. Align the bottom and top edges of the side pieces to the front piece with each side piece positioned 1 inch in from the sides of the front. Apply glue at each point where the front piece touches the side and bottom pieces. Allow to dry for four to six hours.

Stain, seal or paint the compartment as needed to match the color and tone of the inside of the desk as closely as possible. Allow the material to dry for 24 hours.

Place the compartment into the drawer or space with the back piece going in first and the open top facing up. Push the compartment all the way to the back until it touches. To retrieve the compartment, press toward the back on the left or right side of the front panel. The rounded corners will act as a hinge and pop the opposite corner out so you can pull the compartment out.