Most of us are intrigued and excited by the prospect of finding a secret door. It’s the thought of where it leads to and what it is hiding that is very much part of that fascination.
Having a secret door installed in your home would be an amazing talking point and something you are unlikely to ever get tired of. Entering a room via your secret door bookcase is virtually guaranteed to bring a smile to your face every time.
Who wouldn’t want to have that in their home? If you like the idea of having a secret door, even if it doesn’t actually lead to anything more mysterious than a room in your house, here’s what you need to know.
Although, remember, it could also be used as a gateway to something exciting, like a man cave, games room, or secret bar.
The possibilities are almost endless. If you’re ready to learn more, read on.
Know Your Options
A good starting point would be to say that you can get a really good readymade solution in the shape of a Murphy Door bookcase. The company has captured the design and intention of this door perfectly.
You get a door that looks exactly like a bookshelf and doesn’t give any hint that it is actually a working door that can be used in all sorts of locations.
It is something that provides a practical purpose in several ways. You get some storage options as well as a form of access to a space that is quirky and fun.
Buying a Murphy Door Bookcase to replace your existing door is a bit of a no-brainer, as you know you are getting something that has been designed and built for the job.
That means they have done all the hard work for you and you know it is going to work perfectly when it’s fitted.
However, if you are a competent DIY enthusiast and want to create a secret door that costs less than the finished article, here’s some pointers on what you need to do.
It shouldn’t be stressed enough that building a secret door is not a project to take on yourself lightly. It’s going to challenge your carpentry and DIY skills, for sure. But let’s run through the key steps so that you know what’s involved.
What Sort of Tools Will You Need?
If you think that a few basic DIY essentials will see you through, look away now. The sort of equipment you will need to build your own secret door includes a miter and table saw.
You will also need things like a nail gun, a set of chisels, and an orbital sander.
Some of the other equipment needed should already be in your DIY toolkit. Things like a tape measure, a speed square, and some levels, plus a hacksaw, are probably to hand anyway, but they will be needed for this job.
The Materials List is Extensive
You might think that wood is mostly what you need when building a secret door bookcase. It is the main material required, obviously, but specialist hidden door hinges and fake books to fill your shelves will need to be sourced.
You should find everything you need online or at your local hardware store.
Once you have all of the materials you need, it’s time to get to work.
Start by Removing the Old Door
An obvious place to start would be by carefully removing the existing door and hardware.
Once the opening has been created and the old door with all of its fittings has been removed, you can start sizing up the measurements for your new secret door.
Bear in mind that every single detail and aspect of this project needs to be 100% accurate for everything to work properly. Take your time to plan the work and check your measurements for accuracy before you start any cutting.
Your main priority is to ensure that you case, plumb, and square the door with total accuracy. The bottom line is that if your casing is not level, you are facing the very real possibility that your secret door will not open or close properly.
If that happens, it takes away all of the intrigue and interest attached to the idea. To get it right, one of the most important points to remember is that your hidden door bookcase is going to be deeper than a standard door.
That’s why your casing has to be wider than the standard opening that you currently have after removing the old door.
Also, keep in mind that the whole point about a secret door is that it is not supposed to be obvious what it is.
That’s why you won’t be using a casing that has the usual carve outs for standard latches and hinges. Instead, you will be using a secret hinge that is positioned at the top and bottom of the door, rather than the side.
Key Points to Remember
You will be able to find some useful DIY tutorials to guide you if there are aspects of the installation that you are unsure about, or just want help with.
It is possible that you might have to cut the casing to ensure it fits your doorframe. It needs to be a really snug fit so that it looks convincing as a bookcase and it’s not obvious it’s a door.
Take your time to make sure that the frame is plumb and square, as this is a critical element of the job.
Finally, it is vital that you ensure that the depth of the hidden bookcase door is no more than 8” maximum. This imposed limit will eliminate the prospect of the case hitting the doorway when it is being opened or closed.
There are more steps involved before your work is done, but you will have done all the vital groundwork if you have reached this point in the project.
Alternatively, you might decide that your dream of having a secret door in your home is easier to achieve if you take the much easier option of buying a Murphy Secret Door Bookcase, where all the hard work and calculations have been done for you.
