Ever since the invention of municipal garbage pickup in 1875 (when the filth in London’s streets got to be too much for Parliament to stomach), there have been trash bins. Or “moveable receptacles,” as the English put it in those days.
Whether you call yours garbage cans, dust boxes, or wheelie bins, chances are that your moveable receptacles are not adding to the curb appeal of your home. The solution? Conceal the cans.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite ideas to discreetly disguise the trash cans, including tiny storage sheds, roof garden camouflage, sidewalk boxes, and woven willow panels. Here are 10 ways to hide the garbage:
Garbage Houses

Roof Garden Camouflage

Willow 3-Panel Screens

DIY Willow Screens

False Fence

Make your own fence extension with a Horizontal Slatwall Panel ($59.95 for a 4-by-8-foot panel at Store Supply Warehouse). Paint or stain it to match the color of your existing fence.
Dustbinbox

Tamper-proof (take means you, raccoons) and weather-resistant, a metal storage container is a good choice for an exposed spot on the side of the house.
CitiBins

Designed to fit in a small city front yard, multiple CitiBin kits can be connected to create storage for a multi-unit apartment building.
Reclaimed Pallet Bins

City Sidewalk Boxes

Weather-resistant and sized to sit against the side of a townhouse stoop, a MetroBox has both lids and doors for easy access.
Mini Garden Sheds

Ventilated Lean-tos

N.B.: See more utility storage:
- Storage Solution: A Customizable Storage Shed from Germany.
- 10 Easy Pieces: Garage Storage Units.
- The Organized Life: Garden Shed Storage System from Pottery Barn.
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