Many homeowners find that they have no good place to put their outdoor garbage cans. Sitting along the side of the house or next to the garage makes them visible and kind of an eyesore. It doesn’t help that most outdoor trash cans are bright primary colors like blue or green. Putting them inside the garage is always an option, but many people don’t have the space for that. Plus, garbage cans in the garage tend to stink the place up, and no one wants that. Luckily, I’ve gathered a few easy and clever ways that will show you how to hide your outdoor garbage cans.
1. Build a Basic Shed
For those of you who are good with their hands, you can build a shed to store your garbage cans with a trip to the hardware store. Depending on how creative and functional you want to get, this could be a weekend project or something even longer. It really comes down to what you want to do. There are plenty of tutorials and videos on how to do this kind of thing, like this one.
2. Buy a Garbage Can Cover
If you don’t have the time or the inclination to build your own garbage can shed or enclosure, you can purchase one online. There are all different styles available so you can find one that matches your house. This is also a great way to keep unwanted critters out of your trash. Below are some of the items available for purchase online.
- Suncast Horizontal Outdoor Storage Shed – Suncast makes all kinds of good stuff like this shed, which is made out of durable resin so it will last long. It’s also lockable and has 34 cubic feet of storage space, so you can use it for more than just a garbage can.
- Bosmere Outdoor Storage Unit – This little storage shed is made out of wood, for those that want a more natural and rustic look. It’s 5.4-feet high and 2.8-feet deep, making it ideal for multiple bins. Plus, it has a 10-year rot-free guarantee.
3. Plant Some Shrubs
Another great way to cover those unsightly outdoor garbage cans is to plant some shrubs or bushes in a strategically-chosen spot. This works best at the side of a home that already has some greenery around. From the street, it simply looks like a couple of bushes or shrubs. But behind them sit your trash cans!
Some ideal types of plants for this include:
- English laurel
- Black Poplar
- Irish yew
- Holly olive
- Fern Podocarpus
4. Use a Partition or Privacy Screen
Another option available to you for a quick and easy solution is the use of a privacy screen or other type of partition. You can go about this one of two ways: you can purchase one or build one.
Build a Privacy Screen
If you’re going to build one, you’ll essentially just be building a small fence wherever you want to store your garbage cans. This is especially easy to do if you have some wood leftover from repairing or building a fence around your yard. For some people, a simple partition about three or four feet wide is fine for their purposes.
Others, however, like to build a little alcove for their garbage cans by constructing an L-shaped fence out from the side of the house or an existing fence. Either way, it’s pretty easy to do.
Buy a Privacy Screen
Once again, there are a ton of options on the market for materials, style, and height. Most of them are standalone, with stakes that go into the ground. However, if you live in a particularly windy area, it’s probably best to build a privacy screen so it won’t blow over in the wind.
- Suncast Freestanding Enclosure (White) – Suncast offers two different kinds of privacy enclosures like this. The latticework top of this type is see-through, so it may not be ideal if you want to fully obscure the trash bins. It’s made out of steel resin and comes with 4 panels to a pack.
- Suncast Freestanding Enclosure (Dark) – This style features a resin wicker that’s not see-through like the other model. It’s a black/brown color for those darker homes or fences. This set also comes in 4 panels to a pack.
5. Use a Planter Box
Another clever way to hide your garbage cans from sight is to use a planter box. This is kind of a “best of both worlds” situation in that you can use a nice wooden structure and greenery to make sure your yard looks good and your garbage bins are hidden. You just need to make sure the height of the planter box is enough to hide the tops of the bins because you may not have plants growing inside of it all year long.
You may have a hard time finding a large enough planter box available for purchase, but you can always buy several or build one large one yourself.
6. Use A Lattice and Climbing Plants
For those who don’t mind waiting a little while, setting up a lattice and planting some climbing plants can be a fun and green way to hide your outdoor garbage cans. There are several evergreen climbing species that can give your cans cover all year long. Many of them are also very resilient, so you don’t have to worry about missing a watering or two. A couple of evergreen climbers include:
- Ivy
- Passionflower
- Clematis armandii
7. Use Decorated Pallets
If you happen to have a few wooden pallets lying around, you can put them to use with a little bit of creativity. They aren’t much to look at themselves, but you can use a little bit of paint and a little bit of stain and you’ve got yourself a halfway decent partition to hide your garbage bins behind.
The Best Place to Hide and Keep Garbage Cans
The best place to keep your outdoor garbage cans depends on the structure of your home and how much room you have to work with. Many people place theirs in the back yard by a side gate so it’s a straight shot to the curb on trash day. Others don’t have that option, and so opt for the front yard or next to the garage.
No matter which way you go, there are plenty of options for keeping your unsightly bins out of sight. You can use plants, miniature sheds, fencing, or partitions to keep them hidden from sight. Just a little bit of creative thinking goes a long way!