How to Make Hidden Spaces in Your Home

Use furniture items such as beds, tables and chairs as hidden spaces in your home. Drape long tablecloths over tables, look for chairs with long fabric pieces that hide the chair legs, and place either dust ruffles or long comforters over beds to make hidden areas. Use these spaces, such as underneath your bed, for storing clothing, Christmas and other holiday decorations, old toys and whatever else you'd like to store. Place extra cookbooks and boxes of silverware under kitchen and dining room tables, and use the space under chairs for board games, pet toys and supplies or extra books.

Hang curtains in various sizes around areas of your home to create hidden spaces. For example, use a curtain to hide spaces under staircases, including main house and basement staircases. Use curtains to section off small alcoves as either a private room or for storage, or try hanging curtains under large desks to disguise boxes you've stored underneath. The space between your highest kitchen cabinets and the ceiling is another option for which you can use a curtain; try using the space to store extra pots and pans. Remember to cut and sew the curtains as needed to fit specific spaces.

Take advantage of hidden spaces within your walls. While piping, sheet metal duct work and wiring are behind your drywall and paneling, there are also plenty of empty spaces between the wall's 2-by-4 studs. They're generally easy to spot when building a home or renovating. Have a professional help you locate these spaces if needed to prevent damage to wiring and piping, then rework the areas to create cupboards, shelving or cabinets within the space. You might require a professional to help you construct a hidden door within the wall that conceals the space.

Determine if crawl or attic space in your home can be used for storage, if applicable. Some crawl and attic spaces don't contain insulation, such as spaces above garages. However, most spaces do contain a fair amount of insulation. Consider the space's temperature extremes to avoid storing items that will suffer from hot or cold temperatures. If your crawl/attic space doesn't contain a hatch with a pull-down ladder, or a hatch only, consider having a ladder professionally installed.