Use A Dollar Tree Hack To Make Plastic Bins Look Like Decorative Baskets

Plastic bins are practical, no one can say otherwise. In fact, plastic bins are somewhat of a gold standard for storage. Unfortunately, they're not exactly pretty on the eye. If they're made of clear plastic, they let the mess show through the sides. If they're made of white plastic, they look cheap, and if they're black, they belong in a garage. But you shouldn't have to choose between convenience and style. Instead, why not upgrade these basic dollar store bins with some affordable contact paper to make them look like decorative baskets?

The idea for this hack, which comes from TikTok creator @drozeknows, is to cover plastic bins with contact paper to make them look like baskets. Once covered in contact paper, they placed the bins on a white shelf, which turns a cheap plastic Dollar Tree baskets into an aesthetic storage solution. Because of their shelf setup, the original creator only needed to cover the front section of each bin with contact paper. However, you can use a similar approach to cover the sides too, especially if you're placing the bins on an open floating shelf or leaving them out on a counter, where they're more visible. 

This is a brilliant hack because it's so affordable yet endlessly customizable. You can find contact paper at your local Dollar Tree for just a few dollars, and choose a color and pattern that really matches your interior design style. If you can't find the right one, look online for contact papers like this Livelynine rattan wallpaper peel and stick, or cre8tive brown rattan woven brown contact paper. To get this done, all you need is a pair of scissors to cut the contact paper, and a flat tool to remove air bubbles, like a scraper or credit card.

If you'd like to decorate and store your storage bins like in the original video, you'll need a handful of small bins that can fit onto a shelving unit. For example, this works well with Dollar Tree plastic locker bins or clear plastic storage boxes, both of which are 7 inches and 5 inches tall, respectively. You can use the same method with larger bins, like the ones you'd fill with shoes or toys, which can go under a bed, coffee table, or bench.

@drozeknows

Dollar Store Hack! 😂 got lazy and only covered hafl my boxes. #dollartree #dollarstore #hack #dollarstorediy #dollartreehacks #astetic #diy #storage #storagehacks #bins #viral #viraltiktok #tiktok #trending #noonewillknow #sneaky #funny #livingroom #homedecor #home #smart #easy #project #mom #momlife #boymom #famous #familia #familylifestyle

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If only the front of each bin is visible once it's stored onto a shelf or under a bench, cut a piece of contact paper that just 10 inches wider than the front of the bin and matches its height (the extra paper will fold onto the sides for a bit of extra coverage). Then, clean the plastic bin using some all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth, removing any debris that would prevent the paper from adhering to the surface. When it's dry, apply the piece of contact paper to the bin, pushing air bubbles out towards the sides with your scraping tool. This DIY works best with plastic bins that don't have curves and ridges into the sides, though expert (and patient) DIYers can probably make those work too. For handles, cut a slit into the contact paper and fold it inwards to reveal the hole.

Once done, place the plastic bin onto the shelf or wherever it's stored. With just the decorated section visible, the bin will look like a pretty basket, not an ugly plastic bin. And because you can never have too many wicker baskets (real or fake), you can repeat this DIY with other storage bins as you get them.