Designing the interior of a home is a big decision and currently one in three are looking to change their décor, but just 2% have considered how to include a safe into their plans.

To encourage homeowners to incorporate home security into interior design, security retailer Safe.co.uk has created a guide on which types of safe suit different rooms and houses, without having to sacrifice any decorating plans.

A new survey by Safe revealed that although one in 10 Brits have a safe in their home, one in five have them positioned in the wrong place, two-thirds (67%) complain that it looks ugly and a huge 71% claim they seek expertise when buying the safe and picked at random.

With a burglary reported once every 106 seconds in the past year, it’s essential that homeowners have confidence in any security products and that they are positioned correctly, blending in with the colour scheme or layout of a room. Safe.co.uk has listed how to introduce the right safes, and which fit different types of homes without sacrificing on interior décor below:

Home safe:

Safes don’t have to look dull, in fact, there are a wide variety of colours and designs available when it comes to home safes, fitting both a subtle and luxurious aesthetic. It is a good idea to position one where it won’t stand out, such as on a shelf or in the corner of the room. When following popular living room designs including Scandinavian and contemporary, monochrome colours like grey and black will fit in with the style. Place this next to books, ornaments and photo frames of neutral colours. For a home that is inviting and full of colour, choose a soft blue, mint green or rich red safe as this will add to the warmth of a room.

Wall safe:

To utilise multiple pictures or mirrors, a wall safe is the right choice to give option on are used throughout a room. This fits within an interior by having the feature in front of the safe attached to a wall on one side and when access is needed it can open like a door to a cupboard, making an entry look easy and stylish. Another way that a wall safe can be styled is within a wooden bookcase or cabinet. This can be done by creating a hole in the backboard of the wood to allow entry without looking obviously like a safe. For protection, books or ornaments can be placed in front if needed. For a house with lots of technology, it is best to have a digital safe as this will enhance the aesthetic of the room and won’t rely on being concealed within the design.

Floor safe:

Only the door is visible on floor safes, giving two options when linking it into interior décor – cover it or leave it showing. If making it visible, darker colours work great as it fits into a design easily and subtly. If hiding it, the easiest way to conceal an underfloor safe is by placing an attractive rug on top of it, but this may not fit within everyone’s style.

To provide no inclination that there is a safe, a floorboard safe is a good idea as these are easily fixed between floor joists. For added security, place a sofa or cabinet on top of the area where it is as this will keep it well hidden. Placing it in the corner of a room will also disguise it better, or to maximise space and if the interior design allows, underneath the staircase.

Anthony Neary, managing director for Safe.co.uk, commented: “More people are becoming aware of security within their home and purchasing items to safeguard sentimental and expensive items, so it is important to consider how to fit this into the design of an interior. We hope we have provided some simple yet effective ways for different types of safes to be styled that look good within your chosen decor whilst also providing protection for valuables to give you peace of mind.”