Wall Safes
In addition to protecting your valuables, wall safes are cool. Perhaps it’s the air of mystery that goes with hiding your safe behind an old painting, or perhaps our culture has been inundated with too many James Bond movies. Who knows? Whatever it is, a cleverly hidden safe is simply an extra precaution to ward off any would-be thieves, and that’s exactly what wall safes are designed for, to be hidden from normal view.
If you are thinking that installing a wall safe is impractical, or you’re not sure where you’d put it, you might be surprised. They are usually designed with your standard everyday wall in mind, often no wider than the spacing between studs, and no deeper than the depth of your wall. Think about the size of your medicine cabinet, give or take. The practicality also comes by way of being able to cover it with some sort of hanging décor. You could also install it inside your closet or in some other hidden wall space, but the lock and the handle are usually inset or flush with the safe door, thus giving you the option to cover your wall safe with whatever you so choose.
A wall safe should comfortably fit between two studs, and is still tall enough to fit all of your items. And of course the built in shelving will help you maximize the space that you do have.
One thing to look out for with wall safes is that it is less common to find ones that are as highly secure as normal closet safes, usually by way of fire protection. But even when you do come across fireproof wall safes they are still not excessively priced.
The biggest drawback to a wall safe would have to be the installation process. Although they are not extremely difficult to install, it is still somewhat of a chore to find the right location, measure and cut out the hole, and mount it to the wall. But once it's done, the fact that it's mounted to one location means a thief can't just pick it up and take it like they would a free standing safe.
Whether it’s for the novelty, the functionality, or both, purchasing a wall safe is a fun investment. Just try not to forget where you installed it!
If you like the idea of a wall safe but feel like it just wouldn’t provide enough storage space for your particular needs, which is the biggest complaint people have with wall safes, you can always consider a floor safe instead. Installing a safe in your floor gives you a little more room to work with.