For those rare occasions when you find yourself accidentally locked out of your home, a spare key can be a lifesaver. Having this standby hidden on your property allows you to let yourself in without calling a locksmith or waiting for a family member to return home.

Unfortunately, many traditional hiding places for spare keys are so obvious that they can compromise the security of your home. A burglar can gain entry to your home in no time if you keep a key under the doormat, beneath a flowerpot near the front door, or in an unconvincing fake rock.

There are several ways you can keep an extra key handy without making it easy for unwanted visitors to enter your home. Some options involve clever hiding spaces, while others require you to ditch the keyed entry altogether.

Having a trusted friend or neighbor keep a spare key is one of the best backup options for accessing your home. Ackerman Security Systems, a company in Norcross, Ga., says this option provides a more secure location than an outdoor hiding spot. Even if a burglar breaks into the neighbor's home, they won't know that the key accesses your home unless it is clearly identified.

The downside to keeping a spare key with a neighbor is that it might be less accessible than other hideaway options. If you find yourself locked out and your neighbor is off running an errand, you're out of luck.

Keeping a key in your vehicle can often be a good backup. Adriana Velez, writing for the National Association of Realtors, says it is easy to keep a key in your glove box or under a floor mat. You can also keep the key in a magnetized lockbox, which can be stored underneath the vehicle or behind a wheel well.

Using your vehicle to store a spare key can also offer more convenience and security than storing the key on your property. Ackerman Security Systems says most burglaries occur during the daytime, when the owner is away from their home. Since you'll likely have your vehicle during this time, burglars won't have access to your spare key.

If you choose to hide a key outside your home, keep it away from any obvious places like the front door or mailbox. The Kris Jensen Team, a real estate brokerage in Woodbury, Minn., says you should keep the key at least 20 feet away from the entrance to your home.

The hidden key should also have sufficient protection from the elements. If it is left in a more exposed location, it can freeze or rust. With either condition, the key may no longer work properly in the lock.

Each home will have its own unique possibilities for hiding places. For example, the clutter in an attached garage may offer countless niches to keep a key. Before choosing one, assess whether a burglar might consider it a likely hiding place.

Burying the key can keep it very well-hidden. If you choose this option, you should be sure to keep it in a secure container such as a pill bottle. This hiding place will also be more difficult to access during the winter, when the ground will be frozen and potentially covered with snow.

Your home's siding can offer a ready-made hiding place. Velez says you can tie a piece of fishing line or other string to the key and push it behind the siding. Leave a small piece of string protruding from the seam, and you'll be able to pull the key out when needed.

Fake rocks are generally not an advisable hiding place, since they will look out of place unless there are other rocks nearby. However, some styles will blend well with natural rocks on your property, especially if you dirty them up to match the appearance of rocks around them.

Several yard and garden features that incorporate hiding places are also available. These range from fake sprinkler heads to small sculptures which can add an interesting feature to your garden.

Lockboxes are an obvious hiding place for a key, but they are also very secure. Real estate agents often use them to keep keys accessible for homes that are listed for sale. You'll simply have to memorize a combination to open it.

Some homeowners may want to rely on an attached garage to provide an alternate point of entry. If you leave an interior door unlocked, you can get inside by activating a garage door opener in your vehicle or on an exterior keypad.

Many homes have started to eschew door locks altogether, replacing them with keyless entry options such as combination pads. Some smart lock options will even allow you to remotely unlock your home using a smartphone, laptop, or other connected device. Updating your locks can take away the worry of hiding a spare key; you'll just need to remember a combination or keep your phone handy.