DIY Network

Hidden In-Floor Storage Build secret compartments to store valuables. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-307

Stash treasures in a custom hideaway.

Great storage keeps everything easy for you to find – but not necessarily easy for other people to find. With no real organization in Mark and Molly's dressing room/closet, valuables like jewelry were scattered in plain sight because they didn't have proper storage.

Host Karl Champley creates the perfect hidey holes for jewelry and other valuables by tapping into some rarely used space between the floor joists. Also in this episode, he shows the couple how to level the floor, remove an awkward wall and build a custom laundry sorter to keep their space tidy. Commercial storage unit kits and easy-install window privacy film and carpet tile complete the new space.

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Hidden In-Floor Storage

Tools: safety glasses circular saw jigsaw 16-gauge finish nailer compressor screw gun orbital sander measuring tape 4-foot level gloves paint rollers, brushes, and tray Forstner bit framing square

Materials: 3/4" birch plywood carpenter’s glue screws nails paint

Note: The combination dressing room/closet in this project sported a slanting floor. Karl had to level the floor as part of the in-floor storage construction.

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

• Make test cuts. Determine the location for the in-floor storage cubbies. Use a circular saw with the blade set at 3/4" (a standard subfloor thickness) to cut a hole in the floor to see what's below (figure A). Be careful not to cut into the floor joists. In this project, Karl found a second layer of flooring material, widely spaced floor joists and old insulation between the joists. Insulation can be removed or pushed aside to accommodate the storage cubby; steer clear of any electrical lines.

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when working with a circular saw, power nailer or any other power tool. Wear a dust mask if working with insulation or if using materials that generate a significant amount of dust.

• Cut the cubbyhole. Having a small hole in the floor makes it easy to determine the location of the floor joists and any wiring or other utility lines that may be in the floor. Cut a hole in the floor between the joists the desired size for the storage compartment, being careful not to cut through the ceiling below (figure B).

• Build the box. Make sure the hole in the floor is squared off, then measure it to get the dimensions for the storage box. Cut 1/2" birch plywood to the desired dimensions and assemble the box with wood glue and nails.

  Tip: Build the box slightly smaller than the opening in the floor. This will give some extra "wiggle room" for shimming the box into position. Paint the inside of the box for a more finished look.

• Check the fit. Slip the box into the hole. Check the fit and determine if shims will be needed (figure C).

• Install the box. Add wood shims and spacers to the hole so the storage box will be level and lined up with the hole. Position the box so that the top of the lid will be level with the top of the subfloor. Use long screws to secure the spacers, shims and box (figure D).

• Place the lid. Use a drill with a Forstner bit to make a hole in the lid large enough for a finger. Slip the lid onto the box.

• Cover the floor. With the boxes complete, the floor is ready to cover as desired. Karl used carpet tiles to give the floor a soft, welcoming feel –without blocking access to the hidden storage.