How To Turn Your Old Wire Trash Bin Into A Stylish Side Table

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Side tables are one of those functional items that make a big difference in a room, improving the comfort of the seating nearby and creating storage, organization, and decorative opportunities to enhance the room. When you think about them this way, suddenly the prospect of selecting the perfect piece carries so much more pressure. How do you find something that speaks to your sense of style, matches the aesthetic of the room, and doesn't cost a fortune? The answer can almost always be found within a DIY project. In this case, it's upcycling a unique wire garbage bin into a niche artistic piece of furniture. You can repurpose old trash cans in a variety of ways to use in and outside of your home, but this one takes very little time and money to pull off and results in a gorgeous side table. 

Materials for this project aren't hard to come by. The wire waste basket is the most important element. If you don't have one kicking around, pick one up. Look for bins with unique designs, like Walmart's metal mesh round garbage can, or the circular light threaded trash can from Hi.FANCY. If none of the bins you find work, you can always DIY a stylish side table using Dollar Tree laundry baskets instead. Any wired vessel with the same structure and a fun pattern will work! Measure the rim and purchase a wooden circle, serving tray, or charger that fits. You should also invest in some 'u' brackets, like Hpmjz pipe straps. Now, you're ready to craft.

To start this project, flip the wooden circle or platter over and rest the mouth of the bin on top. Use the pipe straps to connect the two together with screws, and you've got yourself a trendy-looking table. If you choose a thinner wood charger over a solid disc of lumber, you'll need to get creative attaching the wire bin. Screws could go right through to the other side, so that's something to avoid. As an alternative, Velcro brand adhesive fasteners are a good option. Just stick them on the back of the plate and loop the other half over the wire to hold it in place. This would work really well if you want to have the top as removable and use the basket as storage for your winter blankets or extra cushions. Now, you just need some tips to decorate your side table and elevate your living room aesthetic.

Customize your modern new side table with spray paint, or wrap it in jute for a rustic nautical look. Hang gems between the shapes in the rungs, or attach caster wheels to the bottom for easy relocation around the room. Style it by adding a vase with flowers that accent the room or a framed photo for a personal touch. This is such a simple project with so many ways to elevate the look to match your style standards, and none of them will cost you those designer prices.