According to the Lost & Found survey by Pixie, nearly one in four Americans misplace their house or car keys twice a week. Having a spare key is quite handy if you find yourself locked out of your apartment.
Where do you hide a spare key when you live in an apartment?
Hiding a spare key in your car or at a house is typically pretty easy, but knowing where to hide a spare key for an apartment is trickier. After all, there aren’t as many nooks and crannies where a spare key can go. Plus, you want to make it easy to find but not obvious to anyone who might be looking for it. However, with a little creativity, there are some great spots where you can hide a spare key for your apartment.
1. Tuck it in your décor
If you routinely decorate your apartment entrance, this could provide an ideal hiding place for your spare key. For instance, you could tape it inside your door knocker or attach it to your wind chimes. If you change out your décor to reflect the season or holidays and tucked your spare key in a wreath or other item, don’t forget to move it from the old décor and place it in the new.
2. Put it in a fake rock along the walkway
Fake rocks are a great option for hiding a spare key for your apartment. However, you shouldn’t place those fake rocks just anywhere — you don’t want to set one near your doorway because it will look out of place, immediately grabbing the attention of would-be thieves. A better location is the landscaping along the walkway to your building or alongside the building. Placing it on the ground among other rocks or under shrubs will camouflage your container. The goal is to make sure it looks natural wherever you place it.
3. Slip it in a magnetic key box under a staircase
Many people often slip a spare car key into a magnetic key box and hide that box somewhere in their car. You can use this same technique by putting your spare apartment key in a magnetic box and hiding it under a metal staircase. Or, you could attach it to the back of a light along the lighted corridor. Another good spot is on the rear of a metal gutter. Essentially, any magnetic surface will work, but make sure it’s not a spot that others may access often. For instance, don’t put it near electrical boxes that may require routine maintenance.
4. Hide it among your outdoor furniture
If you have a patio that’s easily accessible from the exterior of your apartment, you could hide a spare key on the furniture. Tape it under a chair or under your storage box for cushions. Another option is taping it to the underside of your barbecue grill. If you do, check the adhesive on the tape periodically to make sure it’s still securely taped to the grill. A birdhouse is another good hiding spot. Slip your key in there for when you need it, but make sure it’s easy to get out. Just skip the obvious places like under a potted plant or doormat.
5. Stash it under a balcony or deck
For apartment buildings with balconies or decks, you can stash a key in the nooks and crannies underneath the structures. When placing a spare key, check to make sure it won’t fall out easily or get washed away when it rains. Depending on the structure, you might be able to drive a nail into one of the wood posts and hang the key on it.
6. Leave a spare key with your neighbor
If you have a neighbor you know and trust, ask them to keep a spare key to your apartment. Not only will this be handy if you actually lock yourself out of your apartment, but they can help you out if you need someone to put a delivery in your apartment or check on your pets while you’re gone.
Where not to put a spare key for your apartment
When hiding a spare key for your apartment, skip the obvious spots that a would-be burglar may check. These include under the doormat, in or under a potted plant near the door or along the door jam. Although your apartment key would be out of sight, it likely wouldn’t be out of mind for someone trying to gain access to your apartment.
Also, while a fake wall socket or fake clock with a safe can provide a great hiding place, you need to install them in the wall, meaning you’ll need to cut a hole in the wall to place it. If you want to try this option, make sure you talk to your landlord before you make permanent cuts.
The right spot for the spare key for your apartment
Figuring out where to hide a spare key to your apartment might seem difficult at first, but it might be easier than you think. Take a look around your apartment and building and see what good hiding spots you can find. From a metal staircase to a flowerbed to the lights in your hallway, you’ll be surprised at how many places you can find to hide a spare apartment key.
Source: rent.com