13 Clever Thrift Store Finds That Will Hide Your Ugly Trash Can In Style

As odd as it may seem, being asked by your guests, "Where is your trash can?" is actually a compliment. Though practical and often necessary, trash bins can become an eyesore in your home design scheme, and a smelly one at that! Modern stainless steel or plastic cans often look unappealing in many homes. And depending on the style of your trash can, the little edges of the trash bag poking out of the sides can clash with your interior decor. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to hide your bin from view, keeping smells partially under control and keeping the massive eyesore out of your design. From expensive fixes to stinky stashing solutions, hiding the trash can effectively often involves using clever tricks. However, building custom cabinetry for the can or hiding it in the pantry are not always the most ideal options. The good news? You can find the perfect saving grace for your trash can dilemma at the thrift store. 

While you could banish kitchen trash can eyesores with a simple and stylish IKEA hack or build a custom storage solution, more unique and vintage items might be better suited for your space or design scheme. Thrift stores have a plethora of odds and ends that can be used in a multitude of ways. After all, one man's trash is another man's trash can. Jokes aside, you can thrift the perfect bin holder for your garbage that doesn't look as tacky and out of place as a plastic can.

No matter which room needs a trash can, a wicker basket can be a fantastic option. You can find small to medium wicker baskets at many thrift stores and use them as a trash can swap. In bedrooms and offices, just add a trash bag to the basket. In bathrooms or kitchens, purchase a plastic plant pot to use as a liner and then add your trash bag to protect the wicker from moisture. Or, find a basket that's large enough to hide your current bin, and slip it inside the wicker container.

Small wicker baskets may not be large enough to accommodate the trash you accumulate, especially in busy kitchens. If you need a larger bin, consider using a laundry hamper. Laundry hampers are a trendy trash can go-to for vintage-styled homes. They look stylish and comforting, like just another gorgeous storage solution. Simply put a slightly smaller plastic bin inside the wicker hamper. The great thing about a hamper over a traditional basket is that hampers often have lids to keep trash concealed. However, it's possible that over time, hampers could fray or collect odd smells.

If you've ever wandered through the winding maze of aisles in an antique store, you've likely spotted some tall wooden bins. While some of these boxes are made to be trash cans, but those that aren't can still be used as such. If you score a tall wooden bin, clean it and add a trash bag to transform it into a charming garbage can. These pieces are slim and can fit in many places in your home. Additionally, they're more quaint than modern bins if you're going for a vintage design.

If you're willing to go on a more extensive search, look for a vintage commercial trash bin from online thrift sites, like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. You might look for a rounded brass trash can with a built-in ashtray that could have come from an old casino, for example. While it still looks like a garbage bin, it's more aesthetic than some modern iterations, and it becomes a conversation starter with guests. Additionally, after deep cleaning and refinishing the piece, the top could become a planter or a small shelf for decor.

An age-old solution to hiding the trash can is stashing it under the sink. But what if you're going for the perfect cottagecore kitchen vibe? Instead of hiding it behind cabinet doors, source some vintage fabric at the thrift store and sew it into the perfect sink skirt. Or, repurpose a pair of thrifted curtain panels for the sink. Not only will the trash can be easy to access behind the sink skirt, but it will also be out of sight. And for vintage enthusiasts, the sink skirt can greatly enhance your kitchen aesthetic.

Sink skirts aren't the only way to hide your trash cans with fabric. For larger bins, you might consider installing a curtain rail to a side table and stash your trash cans beneath it. Install small hooks on a cluttered side table and slot a curtain rod onto them to hang the curtains. The fabric neatly hides the bins underneath the table while the surface remains clear for added storage. This idea could be translated to a kitchen cart or cabinetry as well.

Similar to the vintage tall wooden bins you can use as trash cans, other wooden antique furniture can also be repurposed into a garbage bin. Old side tables, cupboards, sewing supply cabinets, or other obscure wood furniture with a hinged lid could hold a trash can inside. A plastic trash can inside acts as a liner to make cleaning up easier and less messy. Make sure you can easily put the can inside the cabinet, especially if the lid or opening is small.

There are a few things to consider when picking out a trash can for your bathroom or home office, and one is that size matters. Smaller bins tend to be more practical, and for some, a countertop bin is ideal. Rather than choosing a cliche plastic container, consider using vintage canisters, often meant for food storage, as mini trash cans instead. You could add a few for a layered look and additional trash storage. Also, these canisters could work in the kitchen, holding food scraps or recyclables.

Experimenting with repurposed items can be a great way to add visual intrigue to your space. One way to do so is swapping out the mini bathroom trash can for a ceramic plant pot. A ceramic pot looks much more appealing than a modern trash bin. You might also be able to use larger stoneware or pottery as an office or bedroom bin that looks much more luxurious than contemporary variants. If you really want to conceal your litter, some stoneware pots could come with lids to hide your garbage.

Those seeking budget-friendly ways to hide outdoor garbage bins to make them less of an eyesore might find themselves knee-deep in a DIY project. But if you crave a simpler solution, you could always use a faux planter as a trash can. Start by thrifting a tall faux planter. You'll also need plywood and Dollar Tree faux plants to create the plant top lid. Place a trash can inside, and put the lid on top, concealing trash from view.

Another clever solution to hide your trash can, particularly in the home office, bathroom, or bedroom, is to utilize decorative vases. Vases look classy and can help shelves appear put together or intentionally curated. And while you could purchase a kitschy plastic desk trash bin, why not go with a gorgeous vase instead? They may not hold as much trash, and you might want to avoid putting sticky or smelly objects in them, but they can be a great alternative to other miniature trash cans often used in these spaces.

One thrift store find that could get overlooked is a large vintage wine barrel. These barrels can be quite the statement piece, although they may be a bit bulky in your home. However, turning one into a large indoor trash can could be the perfect rustic touch your design needs. Smaller barrels can also be sourced, with some boasting beautiful decals on the sides. Depending on the scale of the piece, you can use these antique barrels as trash bins in many rooms.

Another clever way to hide the can is to use a vintage room divider. If your home has a small alcove or niche, this can be a great place for the trash or recycle bins. Using a foldable room divider makes it easy to move it out of the way and reach the bins. This can add some incredible vintage or midcentury flair to your space as well, depending on the style of the privacy screen.