Bins That Win: Nine Clever Ways to Hide Your Trash Can
When it comes to furnishing our homes, we all want different things. From fish in your washing machine to mixing cocktails in your closet, each of us has our own idea of what makes a house a home. But there’s one accessory no household can do without: the humble trash can.
From the kitchen to the bathroom, and from the backyard to the bedroom, there’s no getting around this requisite receptacle. But if we must live with them, do they have to be such an eyesore? These nine projects show the answer is an emphatic “No!”
(image via Makely)
The Pull Out
If you have the cabinet space, this is an excellent way to keep your trash out of sight. It does require using a jigsaw, but don’t let that deter you, this project can be completed in one day by a crafty novice. It looks great and frees up that extra square foot of floor space that your trash can had been rudely occupying. And if you’re just not up for a bit of sawdust, there are many solid prefab options out there, as well.
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(image via Etsy)
The Tutu
If you’re not able to stash your trash out of view, here’s a cute and funny way to hide your trash can in plain sight. This option won’t require much more than a hot glue gun and a roll of tulle, and a stroll through the fabric store would reveal loads of variations on this theme.
(image via Jeremyriad)
The Lego Stacker
This is a great option to make your trash can both visually appealing and to save space. The color coordination is great for sorting and the drop-front doors make them super easy to both fill up and empty. And you could even wall mount these to bring them up to a more convenient height, as well as allowing for additional storage underneath. And if Legos aren’t quite the aesthetic you’re looking for, there are other options that may be just right for your home.
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(image via A&B)
The Birdhouse
Here’s another hidden-in-plain-sight option that’s both great looking and wonderfully functional. If this sort of option is right for you, there’s a bunch of variations out there to choose from. But we especially like the cut of this one's jib, as the design is simple, handsome, homey and convenient all at the same.
(image via Ikea Hackers)
The Under-The-Sink
This is a simple classic. In it’s most basic form, all it takes is a bracket and two screws and you’re in business. But here’s one with a nifty twist: an auto-open feature. Just mount a slightly-slack cable from the top of your trash can to the underside of your countertop and voila: Not only is your trash now hidden and covered, but your hands never have to touch the trash can lid while you’re cooking or cleaning. Genius! Well, maybe not genius, but it’s clever and very DIY-able, which is close enough.
( image via Dawn Nicole)
The Tilt Out
This one does require an intermediate understanding of woodworking, but if you or someone you know has these skills, this project is well worth your time. Not only will this do the job of hiding your unsightly trash bin, it’s actually going to improve the look of your kitchen. And if you want to to take it a step further, the top can even double as a super-handy butcher-block.
( image via Pinterest)
The Sliding Cutting Board
Here’s a countertop modification that’ll not only fix your trash problem, it’ll also speed up your cooking. If you’ve had enough of scooping up garlic skins and carrot peels, then rushing to the trash can before it all falls to the floor, this is the fix for you. Imagine getting food waste from your cutting board to the trash can with a flick of the knife, now that’s presto!
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( image via ACME DIY)
The Chute
If your kitchen shares a wall with your garage, you really should consider this option. The cuts and mounting required for these chutes aren’t complicated, however before you start cutting a hole in your wall, it’s of course mandatory that you have a professional make sure you’re not going to cut through wiring or piping in the process. But as long that’s not a problem, this is a handsome and savvy way to toss out your trash. This setup doesn’t just hide your trash can, it basically takes it out for you, too.
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The Outdoor Planter
Let’s take a walk outside for our last shining example. Options abound here , but we’re particularly fond of this one. This isn’t just a way to hide your garbage can, it’s also an adorable little garden! And really, not much can beat that. With this option available, you might have a hard time settling for just hiding your trash can when you know it could be an awesome decorative planter, too.
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