'Gun concealment furniture' sales, once the province of solitary craftsmen making custom goods have gone mainstream, allowing firearms owners to maintain easy in-home access to hidden handguns and rifles.

"There are a lot of people who don't want a big iron safe," said Dan Ingram, owner of NJ Concealment Furniture, based in Hampton, N.J. "There are a lot of people who don't even have room for one, but they still need someplace to safely store their guns."

Ingram, a longtime cabinet maker, started building the special furniture four years ago after getting inspiration from the online gun community.

"At the time, I was on a lot of online gun forums and there was a constant complaint," he said. "People wanted something with quick access when they needed their weapons to keep their homes safe which is why they bought the guns in the first place.

Furniture maker Dan Ingram says more people are looking for alternatives for storing firearms in the home. (NJconceal.com)

Ingram's first design was a simple nightstand with a side compartment to hold a pistol.