Hide The Eyesore Of Outdoor Trash Cans By Turning It Into An Artsy Yard Feature

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Keeping your trash bins in your garage hides them and keeps them safe from critters, but they take up a lot of room and leave an unpleasant smell behind. Storing them on the side of your house eliminates these issues, but can draw ire from your neighbors. Not to mention, you run the risk of stray dogs getting into your trash cans and making a mess. Luckily, there's a solution that hides unsightly trash cans, makes it harder for animals to get to them, and adds an artsy feature to the yard to boost curb appeal — adding a privacy screen. Just note: while this clever DIY solution is simple and easy, it's not particularly cheap. 

If you can't find a premade screen that works as-is, a raw steel privacy screen can be used to place around your trash cans. To give it an aged look, spray it with a rusting solution or an outdoor metal paint of your choice. Once the paint is dry, place the screen around the trash cans, leaving one side accessible to move them in and out. Finally, you can add plants, such as a climbing rose bush, to the screen for an even more impressive display, as adding plants makes hiding outdoor trash cans easier. 

One screen you can try out for your project is the Veradek Star-Patterned Steel Privacy Screen – though feel free to use any screen you like. The set comes with three panels and a stand, and currently sells for $299 on Amazon. When it arrives, it will be steel-colored, and you'll have to put it together. You may want to order more than one if you have two trash cans to hide or you want screens on multiple sides. 

Setting the privacy screen up is a fairly simple process. The set comes with the hardware to fasten the stand to the bottom of the screen. If you're setting it up on grass, the stand will hold it up as long as the ground is fairly level. Otherwise, it does have the screws and holes to drill into the feet of the stand and fasten it to a patio or solid surface. 

If you want to age the screen instead of painting it, you can do so by mixing up a solution of hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar, and salt. Mix it all together in a spray bottle and spray the screen until saturated. You can repeat the process for more intense results, and then protect it with a clear coat finish. Looking to save cost? Instead of buying a screen, you can repurpose items you already own for a stylish privacy screen to place around your cans.