Creative Ways to Disguise Your Rubbish and Recycling Bins
Stow away your wheelie bins and hide your recycling boxes with these clever ideas for stylish waste disposal
Jo Simmons
25 August 2014
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Wheelie bins and recycling boxes are hefty items that take up lots of space. So if you don’t have a great big garage to store them away in, what do you do with these ugly but essential plastic waste containers? After all, nobody wants to stare at a mountain of old bean cans or a bin full of black bags while they are relaxing in their garden or strolling up to the front door.
Read on for some inspiring ideas from Houzzers around the globe that are anything but rubbish… Then get set to hide, screen and squirrel away your waste.
Read on for some inspiring ideas from Houzzers around the globe that are anything but rubbish… Then get set to hide, screen and squirrel away your waste.
Buy ready-made storage
DIY stores sell plastic storage sheds, designed for use outdoors, that will hold household waste. They might not be as stylish as a bespoke design in wood, but they are a good deal less expensive and look better than the bins.
Discover more ways to turn your garden into an outdoor room
DIY stores sell plastic storage sheds, designed for use outdoors, that will hold household waste. They might not be as stylish as a bespoke design in wood, but they are a good deal less expensive and look better than the bins.
Discover more ways to turn your garden into an outdoor room
Box it in
This custom-made storage box holds mechanical equipment for a koi carp pond in the garden, but its simple design, with a hatch lid, could easily be used for recycling boxes. Adding a planter in the same wood gives a nicely designed feel to this whole area and draws attention away from the practical storage.
This custom-made storage box holds mechanical equipment for a koi carp pond in the garden, but its simple design, with a hatch lid, could easily be used for recycling boxes. Adding a planter in the same wood gives a nicely designed feel to this whole area and draws attention away from the practical storage.
Construct a small screen
A small screen has been built out from the black fence in this front garden, using the same materials, to separate the place for waste from the beautifully planted beds. The household waste is not completely hidden, so it’s easy to access, but has a clearly designated space, so it won’t stray into the garden or look untidy.
A small screen has been built out from the black fence in this front garden, using the same materials, to separate the place for waste from the beautifully planted beds. The household waste is not completely hidden, so it’s easy to access, but has a clearly designated space, so it won’t stray into the garden or look untidy.
Add some colour
Make a feature of wooden rubbish storage by painting it in a cheerful shade. This porch is host to two separate pieces of large-scale storage, but the sea green panels and white borders keeps the look attractive – more like a kitchen cupboard than a store for household waste.
Check out more ways to pep up your garden with paint
Make a feature of wooden rubbish storage by painting it in a cheerful shade. This porch is host to two separate pieces of large-scale storage, but the sea green panels and white borders keeps the look attractive – more like a kitchen cupboard than a store for household waste.
Check out more ways to pep up your garden with paint
Make it metal
A simple bin store made from corrugated metal sits at the front of this home. Inexpensive to construct, this kind of storage looks no-nonsense and practical, thanks to its metallic gleam and industrial feel.
A simple bin store made from corrugated metal sits at the front of this home. Inexpensive to construct, this kind of storage looks no-nonsense and practical, thanks to its metallic gleam and industrial feel.
Tie to the house
This beautiful beach house has balconies and a terrace all enclosed with slatted-timber screens. Alongside is a store that holds everything from gardening tools and beach toys to rubbish bins. It’s built from the same materials as the house and linked to it by the timber screen for a cohesive effect.
This beautiful beach house has balconies and a terrace all enclosed with slatted-timber screens. Alongside is a store that holds everything from gardening tools and beach toys to rubbish bins. It’s built from the same materials as the house and linked to it by the timber screen for a cohesive effect.
Use a single material
Build a store for your bins and boxes in the same wood as your terrace to help it blend in and seem unobtrusive. Here, ipe hardwood has been used to construct the deck, bin store, gate and meter cupboards.
Build a store for your bins and boxes in the same wood as your terrace to help it blend in and seem unobtrusive. Here, ipe hardwood has been used to construct the deck, bin store, gate and meter cupboards.
Use bold, dark wood
This post war ranch house has a renovated facade that now includes a decorative rubbish enclosure in alternating dark wood slats. One section opens up to allow bins to be wheeled out with ease.
Tell us more about how your store bins and recycling boxes out of sight in the Comments section below.
This post war ranch house has a renovated facade that now includes a decorative rubbish enclosure in alternating dark wood slats. One section opens up to allow bins to be wheeled out with ease.
Tell us more about how your store bins and recycling boxes out of sight in the Comments section below.
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I would love to see your photos when it's done :)
Thank you so much for including one of our projects in your article. We are honored! And thanks for the additional ideas for future projects.