home organization tips

Concealed Spaces: Creative Ideas with Murphy Beds & Hideaway Doors

There’s something undeniably captivating about hidden doors seamlessly integrated within cabinetry. Whether it’s a custom-built bookshelf that swings open to reveal storage or a sleek panel that blends into the surrounding design, these concealed doors add intrigue, functionality, and a touch of mystery to any home. At Behind Closed Doors Custom Closets & Cabinetry, we love finding innovative ways to incorporate these discreet features into our clients’ spaces. Let’s explore how hidden doors within cabinetry can transform your space with both style and function.

Cabinetry That Doubles as an Entryway

Hidden doors built into cabinetry provide a seamless and sophisticated way to conceal rooms, storage spaces, or even secret nooks. Whether it’s a custom bookshelf that acts as a doorway or a paneled cabinet that blends perfectly into the wall, these features create a sleek, uninterrupted look while maintaining full functionality.

The Hidden Bar: A Speakeasy Disguised as Cabinetry

Imagine entertaining guests with a hidden bar seamlessly concealed behind custom cabinetry. At first glance, it looks like a beautiful built-in, but with a subtle push or pull, the door reveals a fully stocked speakeasy. This trend has been growing in popularity—just like the bar hidden behind a bar featured in HGTV’s Inside Jasmine Roth’s Beachy & Casual California Home. It’s a stunning example of how cabinetry can double as a stylish entryway into a secret entertainment space.

Custom Cabinetry with Hidden Passages

Hidden doors within built-ins aren’t just for entertainment spaces. We’ve seen cabinetry used to conceal pantries, offices, and even private reading nooks. Homeowners love incorporating hidden entries that seamlessly blend into kitchen or hallway cabinetry, making them functional yet completely discreet. The concept of hidden doors has even made its way into pop culture, like in Peacock’s The Traitors, where a concealed door creates intrigue and mystery.

Powder Rooms Disguised Behind Pantry Shelving

A growing trend in modern home design is the hidden powder room concealed behind cabinetry. This works particularly well in kitchens, where a seamless panel or shelving unit serves as a discreet entry to a nearby restroom. This design allows for a streamlined, uncluttered aesthetic while keeping practical spaces easily accessible.

Closets & Storage Disguised as Built-Ins

For those who love a clean, minimalist look, hidden storage solutions are the ultimate game-changer. Built-in cabinets that double as concealed closets allow homeowners to keep essentials organized while maintaining a sleek design. These can be perfect for seasonal storage, linens, or even a walk-in closet hidden within a bedroom wall.

Why Hidden Doors Work So Well

Hidden doors aren’t just about aesthetics—they provide practical benefits as well:

Seamless Design: Maintain a clean, modern aesthetic without visible doors interrupting the flow of the room.
Space Optimization: Utilize every inch of your cabinetry for both storage and access to hidden areas.
Enhanced Privacy: Conceal spaces like home offices, bars, or storage without drawing attention.
Increased Property Value: Unique and customized features like hidden doors add an exclusive touch to any home.

Let’s Create Your Seamless Hidden Door

Whether you’re dreaming of a built-in bar with a concealed entry, a hidden powder room behind custom shelving, or a storage space seamlessly disguised within cabinetry, Behind Closed Doors Custom Closets & Cabinetry can bring your vision to life. Our expert designers specialize in creating hidden doors that blend perfectly with your custom cabinetry, providing both style and function.

Schedule a 15-minute virtual consultation to explore how hidden doors can elevate your space. Let’s make your cabinetry work smarter, not harder!

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Step-by-Step Tips for an Organized Home in 2023

New year, new you! January is almost here and there’s no better way to start the new year than with an organized home. But figuring where to begin can be overwhelming—especially when you have a whole new round of holiday clutter. Fortunately for you, we’re here to help! Here are our step-by-step tips for a clutter-free home in 2023.

Start with the area that is driving you most insane. Whether that be the closet, entryway, kitchen, laundry room, master bathroom. Think about the space that irritates you the most with its clutter or disorganization and start there. Once you’ve identified where to start, you’ll want to declutter first, going through all of the items in that space and deciding what you’re going to keep and what you’re going to donate.

After you’ve decluttered, the next step is to determine if you think you can organize this area with the current layout and storage capabilities or if you need to enhance it. For example, if you’re tackling your closet first, ask yourself: Is there a place for everything? Do I have enough shelving and drawers or is it mainly hanger storage? Is it easy to reach the things I need (or do you have to stack clothes in deep piles to make everything fit)?

If you decide you do have adequate storage, then you can move on to organizing your items in a way that makes the most sense. If you’re organizing the closet first, make sure the items you use most regularly are the easiest to reach. Try not to stack sweaters, jeans or other items more than 3 or 4 deep to avoid the hassle of reaching the items all the way at the bottom. And find shoe storage that can accommodate all of your shoes.

If you decide you don’t have adequate storage, then the next step is to contact our expert team to help find storage solutions that work for you! At Behind Closed Doors, we design, manufacture and install custom closets, cabinetry and storage solutions for all your home and business needs. From the initial in-home design consultation through fabrication and install, our team of experienced and passionate professionals will guide you every step of the way. We offer an industry leading array of material options and accessories—from the latest in LED lighting to security options, decorative hardware, sliding doors, shelving and drawers! No matter how big or small your space is, we’ll make sure everything has its place.

How to Organize Post-Install

Spring is for cleaning—and organizing! One of the biggest requests we receive from clients post-installation is tips on organizing their new closet, cabinets or storage solutions. Fortunately, we’ve worked through a lot of these kinks during the design phase, customizing hooks, drawers, shelves, and cabinets to fit each client’s individual needs.

But our expertise doesn’t end once we install a project! Our team of experienced professionals is here to help guide you all the way to the end. So here are five tips for organizing your new space, whether it’s a closet, pantry, mudroom, laundry room, garage or office!

Declutter

Before you start putting your belongings into your custom closet, cabinets, or storage area, we recommend siphoning through everything to decide what you absolutely want to keep and what you may no longer need. Whether you employ the Marie Kondo “does it spark joy” method or simply ask yourself whether you’ve used that particular item in the past year, reducing the number of items that go into a storage area always helps improve function.

Place Everything

A place for everything, and everything in its place. Now that you’ve pared down your items, we recommend placing everything before buying any additional accessories like bins and baskets that haven’t already been pre-determined. In a mudroom, for example, you may decide you want a bin with a sloped front to go at the top of your cubby after seeing what items need to be stored there. Things that are used everyday—like dog leashes and hats—need to be easily accessible. You don’t want to be constantly pulling down a basket to get out the contents if you could just reach up into the bin instead.

Add in Decorative Storage

Now that everything is placed, it’s time to add in any decorative storage that you need in the form of bins, baskets, or organizers. For pantries, we recommend clear storage containers so that everything remains in view and is easy to grab. For closets, we suggest velvet hangers, as they’re equally functional (clothes actually stay on the hangars!) and attractive. For other areas, keep in mind how often you need to access something to determine the type of bin or basket that may work best. And of course, we always recommend choosing something attractive!

Don’t Get Lazy

Kudos for prioritizing storage solutions in your home! But your job isn’t done. Make sure you find a place for every new item you bring into the house and avoid catchall areas where items can clutter up. For example, we don’t recommend placing empty baskets in a corner of your new kitchen for keys and other pocket items as they end up turning into a clutter trap. It’s better to put items back where they belong as they come into the house. We know, easier said than done. But we believe in you!

Keep Going

Now that you’ve solved a storage problem for one area of your house, it’s time to keep going! Think about how much better your life functions and how much of a weight has been lifted since you prioritized organization in your home. Hold onto that feeling, tackling one area at a time. One of the biggest storage trends we’re loving right now is Murphy beds. They’re the perfect solution for maximizing an extra room—be it home office or play room—providing a bed for out-of-town guests that can be conveniently tucked away when not in use. What’s next on your storage solution list?

Join Our Team

Get Started