Ditch Under-The-Sink Trash Bag Storage: This Solution Is Worth The Upgrade

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Anyone who defaults to keeping their trash bags under the sink (a club I'm also a member of) knows the setup is actually less than ideal. You have to bend over awkwardly, rummage around for a while, and that's before you even try to pull the roll out from behind bottles of dish soap and cleaning supplies. Well, there's a growing kitchen design trend that offers a simple but game-changing solution. What looks like a standard pull-out trash bin actually has an added layer. Built directly above the bins is a shallow storage drawer sized specifically for trash bags, so that when you open the trash cabinet, the drawer slides forward with the bin liners in reach. 

It's the same mechanism that people use elsewhere in the kitchen — think of sliding kitchen drawers that move easily and use up otherwise empty space. And because the trash bag drawer is so shallow, it doesn't interfere with the bin below and remains tucked away until needed, making it a much more ergonomic system.

So now you're sold on this fantastic kitchen feature, and you're wondering how much it costs to install. The price will obviously vary depending on your current kitchen bin setup, as there's a difference between modifying an existing unit and installing a whole new one. If you already have a trash can sitting behind a cabinet door in your kitchen, then all you need is a basic drawer slides or glides installed directly above the trash area. Material costs on this could be on the lower end if you opt to do it yourself, many hardware stores sell track systems that are designed to be inserted into narrow cabinet space. If you're less comfortable with tools, then you'll need to get a professional installation, which could up the price a bit. Luckily, it's not a massive job to install a sliding drawer and could only set you back around $100, depending on who you hire. And there are brands such as Ninka that offer these drawer and bin combinations to purchase together.

If you are renting or are unable to modify your setup, there is another way to get clever about how you store your bin liners for daily use. You could add a wire adhesive-mounted basket shelf (like this one from Zushallmy) above your bin to store trash bag rolls. This won't be quite as impressive or as seamless as a drawer, but it will keep the bin liners close to where you actually use them, instead of having to track across the kitchen every time they need to be changed.