Hide those ugly wheelie bins once and for all by using one of the methods here. Whatever your space and budget allows, there’s an option that will work brilliantly for you…
If I look outside my bedroom window right now, I can see 3 bulky and unsightly wheelie bins in my front garden.
One black one for general rubbish, a green one for garden waste (and some food), and a grey recycling bin for all the items that can be recycled.
They don’t even match with each other (it’s important!)
So I’ve turned my attention recently to the real issue of trying to hide them in the best way possible. What’s that saying – hide them in plain sight?
After all – they need to be pretty easy to access at all times, as we need to be able to add to them over the week(s), and wheel them out to the roadside on their respective collection days.
So – easy access, but hidden away – AND looking as nice as possible (i.e. as little like a set of large bins as humanly possible).
And you’re here, no doubt, because you’ve got that very same issue. So let’s tackle it right now and find some great ways to hide wheelie bins together….
What’s the issue with Wheelie Bins, Really?
We have to be grateful that our unwanted stuff gets taken away regularly, I know that. But they’re just a big reminder of the fact that, until they’re emptied – there’s a load of literal rubbish sitting at the front of the house.
I want to forget about that fact if at all possible…
So – the main issues with wheelie bins are as follows:
- Unsightly – Ugly
- Large – Bulky
- They HAVE to be out in the open – and are one of the first things that people see when looking at or passing the house.
What needs to be thought about when storing wheelie bins So they’re hidden?
There are a few things that are important – some more important than others – but still, they all need to be considered before you start to think about doing/buying anything.
- Is their current home the best space for them to be from now on, or is there a better place for them to be a little more hidden without too much extra storage or work needed?
- What are you hiding them from? This sounds obvious, but there are lots of different angles that you can see the bins from, and different people to see them – so you need to know what your end goal is. Are you hiding them from you have to see them when in the house, are you hiding them from passers by, or are you wanting to do both – for example…
- Are they easy to access when you have rubbish to add to the bins, and to wheel out on bin collection day?
- Is there room around the wheelie bins for adding storage? Most wheelie bin storage ideas add some width and/or height to the space around the bin(s).
- Who’ll be using the bins, and do they have any needs that should be considered? (For example, if you have trouble lifting heavy items, you won’t want to get storage with a lid as this will become really cumbersome for you over time)
Is Adding Stickers To Wheelie bins An Option?
The first of the ways to hide wheelie bins that I’ve found is to hide them using a sort of camouflage.
You can buy large stickers to wrap around the whole bin – in lots of different patterns and colours.
At first I thought this would be a great idea, but then I realised that there are a few things that make this a non starter for a lot of people (including me).
Firstly – it doesn’t completely hide the bin. The colour of the bin and the top of the bin can still easily be seen – so it won’t completely hide them at all.
Secondly – and this is a big one – it’s only a viable option if your local council will allow this because they own the bin(s). So, if you’re thinking of going down this route, then check with them first.
I discounted this for my own bins as it wasn’t looked on favourably, and I tend to be a rule follower….
What about wheelie bin labels?
That being said, most councils DO allow you to label your bin(s) with your house number – and this is something I’d suggest doing before looking at any ways of hiding them (especially if you get labels that can easily peel off as and when needed).
Bin labelling makes sense for a few reasons:
- If the bin men/women tend to mix up the bins from your road and place them together in the street after emptying – it’s good to know which is yours. Especially if you keep yours clean and others don’t so much…
- You know when you have to replace a bin due to damage. We had to get a replacement once as the machine snapped the lid when it was being emptied. Not an issue – but I wouldn’t want a neighbour to get stuck with replacing our bin, or vice versa.
It’s just easier to know which are yours, right?!
TIP – Label at least the top and one side – as you want it to be as easy to spot yours as possible
TIP – Use your Cricut to make some yourself – that way you can make to your liking!
Note – Clicking on any item below will take you to the store so you can see details and purchase – for your convenience. The links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission for any purchase you make – at absolutely no cost to you, of course.
Best Wheelie Bin Storage Ideas
So – we’re labelled up.
We’ve decided to go down the storage route for the bins rather than the sticker wrap as the best of the ways to hide wheelie bins. Now it’s time to look at what options there are (bin cover ideas), and what would work best for your space and budget…
There are two main categories that crop up when looking for ways to hide wheelie bins with storage solutions – and those are using a screen of some sort, or a purpose built structure.
Let’s look at these in more detail – then you can see what would work best for you:
Ways to hide Wheelie Bins – Screens
PROS Of Wheelie Bin Screens:
- Easy way to disguise ugly bins
- Often cheaper than specific storage furniture that’s made for the job
CONS of Wheelie Bin Screens:
- Can be hard to secure – so could fall over in wind, and cause damage etc… They are usually better for areas of grass or soil where holes can be dug and the feet can be secured
- Can be hard to move when access is needed (usually this means you will have to have it open on one side for access to the bins, which you may not want as they will be seen more easily)
Wheelie Bin screen IDEAs:
#1 – PLANTS
Using a hedge that’s already there, and growing it around the bins with space, is a great option – so too is adding potted plants around them.
Anything that detracts from the bins, adds some greenery / flowers, and possible a nicer smell than the rubbish – has got to be a winner!
If you’re looking at this option, then you will want to think about the following:
- Is there a flower bed or established hedge area that you can place the bins around, or will the planting need to be in pots?
- What height will the planting reach? Is it easy to keep under control as you don’t want it to get in the way of using the bin(s)
- Are the plants OK to be near? The last thing you’ll want is any thorns, spikes etc…
#2 – TRELLIS PANELS
A great option for a wheelie bin screen as they can add some nice detailing to the storage – and extra design touches. You can get panels made from rattan, wicker, and even metal that you fill with stones to weigh down (great for windy spaces!).
#3 – FENCING
I like this option as you can paint wood fencing panels easily to either stand out as a feature, or blend in with the background (and hide the bins even more!)
Note – Clicking on any item below will take you to the store so you can see details and purchase – for your convenience. The links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission for any purchase you make – at absolutely no cost to you, of course.
Purpose Built Wheelie Bin Storage
PROS Of Wheelie Bin Garden Storage Furniture:
- Can get in lots of different materials and styles – to suit your specific taste and your home.
- You can get them to fit your specific bin needs i.e. you can get them for 1, 2, 3+ bins, and have a mix of different size bins as well (for example, some also have spaces for other types of bins including recycling boxes etc…)
- Great for adding a structure to a paved/tarmac drive – as they are heavy enough usually to not need securing in place.
CONS of Wheelie Bin Storage Furniture:
- Can be expensive
- Can be hard to find exactly right size (width, height, depth etc…) for your specific wheelie bins. Think about space needed to easily get the bins out, and if you have storage with a lid for access, then how easy will it be to open that lid AND the bin lid every time you want to add something inside?
- Think about how easy they would be to clean. Because they are more solid structures, there’s more chance they can collect rubbish that’s missed the bin, for example.
types of Wheelie Bin storage Furniture:
#1 – WOODEN
Wooden is one of the most popular wheelie bin store ideas because it’s easy to paint or stain if you wanted to match the storage to your homes style or your tastes.
You can get slatted designs that are a little more see through (great for ventilation), or more solid structures as well.
#2 – PLASTIC
A plastic wheelie bin store can be a lot easier to clean as they can be washed down quickly with a hose – which makes them a good choice due to the fact they are close to rubbish all the time and may well need a clean often.
You can get more solid plastic, or a rattan style that’s commonly used for garden furniture as well (so would be a fantastic choice if the bins are kept close to where your furniture is…)
#3 – METAL
Similar to plastic – metal can be a good choice as it’s pretty easy to clean. One thing I would say about metal options is that this would be very cold to the touch which may not be great when you need to hold them open to add rubbish to.
Note – Clicking on any item below will take you to the store so you can see details and purchase – for your convenience. The links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission for any purchase you make – at absolutely no cost to you, of course.
So – there you have it – loads of ideas for how to hide wheelie bins for you to pick from!
I hope that your wheelie bin storage needs have been answered by at least one of these ideas, and that the eyesore(s) will be a thing of the past before long.
Let me know what you’re going to pick in the comments below – I can’t wait to hear!
Just remember to label your bins with your house number (or name), and make sure you use the right solution for the space & budget you’ve got available.
Plus, consider ALL viewing angles, along with making sure it’s easy to use every day.
Only then will looking at those ugly wheelie bins will be a thing of the past…
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