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It started with a Slack chat among Domino editors about trash cans, of all things. One of us had a raccoon so persistent it outsmarted a bungee cord holding the lid down. (It was me.) Another resorted to placing a giant rock on top of her bin every time she closed it. There were even jokes about throwing scraps into the yard “as a distraction.” As they say, desperate times.
But buried under all the trash talk was a universal truth: no one knows what to do with their garbage bins. They’re usually out in the open, potentially dragging down your curb appeal or serving as an all-you-can-eat buffet for local wildlife. So, we went on a hunt for better ideas and found some that are not only good looking, but also seemingly raccoon-proof.
First up? A DIY we’ve been low-key obsessed with for years.
A Living Roof for Your Garbage? Yes, Really.
We’ve had this project from Melissa Ritchie at Little Terraced House bookmarked since 2020, and for good reason. Her solution to the age-old eyesore? A made-to-measure wooden shelter with a full-on living roof. It hides your garbage and grows plants at the same time. It’s basically a cottagecore miracle.
Here’s how it works: Ritchie built a simple timber frame—connected by flat steel strips, which the bins can be wheeled over easily—with three openings. The closed sides are covered by boards with small gaps between them for ventilation. (This helps keep any lingering smells from getting trapped.)
On top, she filled custom planter boxes with a root barrier (a.k.a. a pond liner or heavy duty trash bag), soil, and hardy sedum cuttings. The plants sit on a gravel base to help with drainage. The end result? A trash enclosure that looks more like a custom garden feature than a garbage zone.
Don’t Want to DIY? Shop These Bin Hiders Instead
If you’re more team “add to cart” than “get out the table saw,” we’ve got you covered. These options will hide your bins—and look good doing it.
