Having an unattractive trash can sitting outside your home can really detract from your home’s curb appeal. While trash cans are a necessary evil, there are ways to make them less of an eyesore. Here are some tips on how to hide or disguise your outdoor garbage and recycling bins.
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Why Hide Your Trash Can?
There are a few good reasons to keep your outdoor trash and recycling bins out of sight:
- It looks more attractive. Trash cans are simply not very pretty. Hiding them keeps your home exterior looking nicer.
- It’s more sanitary. Keeping trash cans out of sight keeps them away from animals that might tear open bags or spread litter. It also keeps the cans themselves cleaner.
- It deters theft. For some people, an exposed trash can is an invitation for others to pilfer your personal garbage or steal the can itself.
- HOA rules or local ordinances may require it. Some homeowner associations or local laws prohibit leaving trash cans visible from the street except on collection day.
While curbside garbage pickup necessitates putting bins out on the street temporarily, you can easily conceal your cans the rest of the time.
Ways to Hide Trash and Recycling Bins
Here are some effective options for concealing outdoor trash and recycling containers:
Use Screens or Enclosures
- Trash can screens surround a can with four panels and a roof to obscure it from view. The lightweight screens are easy to move when you need to put cans out for pickup.
- Lattice panels offer an attractive, inexpensive screening option. You can buy lattice panels or use lattice backing to build simple wood screens around your cans.
- Fencing is another practical enclosure option. Use wood, bamboo or vinyl fencing to build a three-sided box around the cans.
- Sheds and bins give you a place to stash cans completely out of sight. Store them in a garden shed, tool room, or a covered bin or cabinet by your house.
Use Strategic Landscaping
- Position cans behind bushes, trees, or shrubs to naturally conceal them from view.
- Build a screen of plants by planting tall grasses, bamboo, or flowering vines on a trellis wall in front of the cans.
- Place cans in an out-of-the-way corner of your yard behind larger plants and away from lines of sight from the street.
Blend with Your Home Design
- Buy cans that match your home colors so they blend better with siding or fencing.
- Consider decorative covers that disguise cans as other items like benches, flower pots, or planters.
- Keep cans near the house foundation and backed up against walls to make them less visible.
Hide Them in Plain Sight
- Stash trash bins inside decorative baskets, boxes, or bins on your porch or patio.
- Place cans behind outdoor furniture like seating groups, hammocks, or grills.
- Set cans behind an outdoor bar or kitchen area if you entertain outdoors.
Choosing the Best Trash Can Concealment
Consider the following factors when deciding how to best hide your garbage and recycling cans:
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Choose an inconspicuous spot near your garage or back door that’s easy to access. |
| Size & Shape | Make sure the enclosure or screen is sized to fit your bins and shaped to best conceal them. |
| Material | Pick durable, weather-resistant materials that complement your home’s existing design. |
| Access | The solution should make cans easy to move in and out for collection days. |
| Cost | Opt for DIY options like landscaping or simple screens to save money over buying products. |
Think about how much you want to spend, your home’s design, yard layout, and needs for access when deciding the best trash can concealment. Place your enclosure in an inconspicuous area near where cans are stored.
Creative Ways to Hide Trash Cans
Beyond basic screens and enclosures, there are lots of creative ways to disguise garbage and recycling bins in plain sight:
- Disguise as planters, benches or yard art using decorative covers
- Stash inside outdoor kitchen cabinets or islands
- Hide behind climbing vines, espalier trees, or living garden walls
- Use oversized pots, urns or buckets to hold cans
- Conceal within a garden shed, storage closet or storm shelter
- Bury underground with a hatch lid for access
- Set into a hill or berm covered with plants
- Place under lifted decks or porches
- Hide within a firewood pile or stack of raised garden beds
With a little creativity, you can come up with unique ways to obscure unsightly cans from view that blend seamlessly into your home and yard.
DIY Trash Can Concealment Projects
You don’t have to spend a lot of money buying screens or enclosures for your garbage cans. There are many simple DIY solutions you can make for little cost.
Painted Wood Screen
Use plywood or lattice boards to build a three-sided box around your cans and paint it the same color as your home for camouflage. Add hinges to the front panel for easy access.
Landscaping With Plants
Strategically place shrubs, bushes, bamboo or tall grasses around the cans to block views without enclosing them fully. This is cheap and natural looking.
Pallet Wood Screen
Pallets make the perfect material for rustic looking screens. Just nail pallet boards together at the corners to make panels, leaving one side open to move cans in and out.
Fabric Curtain
Hang a canvas tarp or piece of fabric over the opening of a fence, shelf or railing to quickly shroud cans from view. Use hooks and rods or cute fabric for easy access.
Cane Fencing
Interwoven bamboo, rattan or reed fencing panels create breezy, natural enclosures that still allow airflow around trash cans to control odors.
Conclusion
Keeping your outdoor trash and recycling bins hidden not only improves your home’s curb appeal but also has practical benefits related to cleanliness, odor, and safety. With some simple, affordable solutions like screens, strategic landscaping, or clever disguises, you can keep unsightly cans out of sight and mind without much effort or cost. Using creative concealment strategies can help maintain your home’s beauty while still allowing convenient access for waste disposal and collection.