The Simple Trash Can Tip That Helps Keep Clutter Out Of Your Home

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According to the KonMari method of cleaning, you shouldn't keep items that don't spark joy in you or that you no longer find useful. Few would argue the role that junk mail plays in your life, and few have a problem tossing it since it usually doesn't spark joy (it's called "junk mail" for a reason). However, there's an even better way to ensure that all those offers from MasterCard and coffee-of-the-month clubs don't clutter your home: Just put a trash can right outside the front door, and toss the junk mail into the bin before it even enters the house. 

Reserve this external trash bin for paper trash only. Avoid putting your old McDonald's wrappers and Starbucks to-go cups in it because, while such an act may keep your car clear of accumulated debris, it will inevitably attract neighborhood dogs and trash pandas to your porch. Still, just to be sure that no curious animal sticks its nose in your pile of paper-confetti-in-the-making, consider getting something like the MOPALL Dog Proof Trash Can. The lid won't open unless you push a button on the top of the can. And while it may be tempting to spray the can with puppy pepper spray, it's probably better to avoid it.

The bin you select should be big enough to hold a week's worth of junk mail. It, and the plastic liner you put in it, goes out to your bigger trash bins on trash day, or into the recycling bin, if your city offers those. If you opt for the latter, be sure to empty the can directly into the recycling bin, minus the liner, to keep your recycling paper-only. 

While the trash can beside the front door may keep mail and newspaper clutter out of your home, it could also potentially affect the curb appeal of your house. A clean porch that's well cared for boosts your home's value. As such, you may want to hide your garbage bin in plain sight, with a few fool-the-eye tricks.

Swap out a regular trash can for something that looks more like furniture, like the WanWanKa Nordic Modern Waste Basket. It's shaped like a planter and stands on three wooden legs, like a stool. One of the easiest ways to hide it is to make it part of a larger potted plant display on the front porch. To create this, you'll purchase two potted plants: one that's tall and fluffy and a second that sits lower than the fancy trash bin does. Cluster the three containers together by height. You can set a lightweight artificial plant in a pot on top of the trash can to make it look like part of the display. And of course you're not obligated to use that particular can; it's just an example.

Putting the containers in a cluster of three, or even five, brings unity to the look because it follows the Rule of Three in interior design. Subconsciously, humans like things in odd-numbered groupings. And arranging the bin among the plants gives off the impression that you planned your front porch display, instead of just haphazardly placing a can outside the door. Use the technique to create curb appeal for your home instead of an eyesore.