Trash That’s Not Trashy

After rearranging my room at my parent’s house, I got to thinking about garbage.  Not because I had piles of trash everywhere, which you would never know if I did or not because I would have shoved it out of the way for the pictures.  Trust me, I’m not that messy.  But anyway, I got to thinking about garbage because I have three trash cans in my bedroom/bathroom.  One big one for things that I would need to throw away here and there that I don’t want to walk all the way to the kitchen to throw away.  One small one under my vanity for things like q-tips and kleenex.  Then there is one small one in my bathroom which used to sit next to the toilet but now is discreetly hidden in the sink cabinet.

I don’t know about all of you, but I like to have a waste basket close at hand so that I don’t have to trek far to throw something away.  I know it is customary to have them in bathrooms and kitchens, but I’m wondering if anyone of you have them in other rooms in the house such as in the living room, bedrooms, kid’s playrooms, offices, or even your closets – which leads me to my next question.

How do you store your trash?  I have been scouring the web for design solutions for storing trash and recycling.  In my bedroom I hide my large trash bin behind the large chair or under the table.

I don’t have any pretty way of containing it, otherwise I probably would set it out in the open.

Here are some different ways of storing trash without looking trashy.  One route to go when hiding your trash is to store it in your furniture, behind closed doors.

  This Pottery Barn recycling console table is super discreet way of storing trash while promoting recycling and adding beauty to your home.  Who would’ve thought that people’s trash could look this good?

Similar to the Pottery Barn piece, this much cheaper Target "rubbish concealer" adds a drawer so it could match your cabinetry or look more like a night stand or hamper than a place to store your waste.

These pine beadboard trash bins could definitely fit right in in a home that is more rustic or country-inspired but lifting the handle might be more of a hassle that good looks can not even remedy.

This wicker drawer sideboard could fit in many places – kitchen, dining room, living room, bedroom – and nobody would ever guess that you stored trash behind the closed doors.  This would make an excellent choice for disguising your trash bins.

You could even go as far as hiding your trash in a drum table in the living room.  It provides easy access and is the perfect size for a small waste bin.

If there is little cabinet space in the kitchen to house your trash storage under the sink or in a lower cabinet, purchasing a small moveable kitchen island is a smart solution.  You could hide trash while also having more storage for other kitchen items and extra workspace.

But if trash-disguising furniture is not your thing, there are many ways to store garbage in different styles of bins and baskets.

Of course a very practical solution would be a mesh waste basket which adds texture but also lets all of your throw-aways become a display.

This faux leather waste bin looks sleek and even has handles for easily carrying it to your main trash area.  This would look great in many rooms, but it is open on the top which makes it slightly less disguised as some of the other options.

A modern colored container would look great almost anywhere and could easily blend in or stand out as much as you want it to.

For eager sports fans, you could even represent your favorite team on your trash bin.  I can see times when this would not be a horrible thing, such as in a kid’s room or in a family room where sports are watched.  By the way, I am not a huge sports fan, so this basket in no way represents a team I cheer for.

A  light blue waste basket like this one is very pleasing to the eye and could make a statement while also holding unwanted items.

Many people opt for a more sleek solution like this automatic stainless steel trash bin which is striking on its own and stays clean by never having to touch it.  Of course, if bright, sleek metals do not fit your design aesthetic, these would be more of an eyesore than a way to have your trash solution blend in.

This stainless steal trash can with lid mixes masculinity with femininity by combining tough metal with lots of curves.  It is quaint but also very unique.

If the look of metal is not your thing, you could go with one of these colorful mini metal cans that could match your color scheme and even be personalized to help you think twice before throwing something away.

Even a small basket next to a vanity is a smart and design-friendly way to house waste nearby.

The possibilities seem endless when looking at these different ways of disguising trash.  I’m sure there are many more options and clever ways that I have not mentioned.  I’m so curious now to find out where and how you store your trash!  Please spill!  Your answer of course, not your trash.