I am so excited to share another project with you from the kitchen renovation today. Yes, it’s another job crossed off the list, but it’s one of the things that was on the top of my must have list from the very beginning of the kitchen reno and it’s a great solution for some of the kitchen storage issues we face…a DIY trash drawer.
Right now we have a stainless steel garbage can and a very ugly plastic recycle bin sitting out in the kitchen. They are always in the way and I hate looking at them, so I really wanted to be able to hide them away. I have always had my garbage cans out in the open, and it’s never been a problem, but with space at a premium, we didn’t have a good place to put 2 bins.
Kitchen storage has been a huge problem in this small space since the day we moved in, so the only way to move the bins from out in the open to hidden away would be to construct a custom cabinet on the empty window wall.
Once the cabinet was constructed and installed, we built a wooden box to house the garbage and recycle bins and attached a soft close drawer slide on either side. There’s even some space in the box to store garbage bags and recycled plastic bags.
The door for this cabinet was a lucky find on our very first trip to a local ReStore, at a whopping $2. Not only was was the door the exact size we needed, but it was made of solid wood and it was a pretty close match to our existing cabinets. On top of that we found a second door that we were able to use on the cabinet next to this one (also for $2).
All I had to do was putty and sand the knots, then they were ready for primer and paint.
To attach the door to the drawer, we just screwed it on from the inside of the drawer.
Instant garbage/recycle drawer…well…not exactly instant but it’s done pretty close!
Now I don’t have to look at my trash and recyclables every time I go in the kitchen. Plus it opens up the space where the cans were and keeps the dog from getting in the trash. I love how it turned out!
What is your opinion on garbage/recycle bins? Are you ok with them out in the open or do you need them hidden away?
You can see how the whole kitchen remodel turned out, here, and check out a recap of projects and sources, here.
Kitchen Remodel Projects and Sources
Phyllis cooke
I absolutely love it. So need this myself and we will have it when we reno our kitchen. A beautiful job.
Kristi
Thanks so much Phyllis. I was always nervous about having an enclosed garbage can but I just don’t have the floor space for one anymore. I love it and I wonder why we didn’t do it sooner. 😉
Kim
Our garbage is hidden away. We didn’t have room for the official trash cabinet, so we just have a pail on a rolling track under the sink…out of sight! Glad you were able to cross another to-do off your list!
Kristi
It’s always good to cross something off the list, big or small. I’ve never had my garbage hidden away but now I’m wondering why we didn’t do it sooner.
Nancy
I like my trash and recycle bins hidden away. Right now I’m working on what to do with our trash can. In the utility closet? Under the kitchen sink? Hmmm. I’d like to have it completely out of the house. Well, that’s not practical, is it? Your solution is wonderful. I don’t have the space for that, though.
Kristi
We have a small kitchen too Nancy and I was really hesitant about using that precious space for garbage cans, but there was no other place to put them. It’s all good though. I’m sure you’ll find the perfect spot for yours in your beautiful new kitchen. 🙂
Havok
I have ALWAYS wanted this kind of thing! Trash cans are not attractive. Growing up, my mom always had the garbage under the kitchen sink (she still does, actually), but it doesn’t allow for the normal 13 gallon size. Now, in my own apartment, we just have it off the side of the counter (with the flip-y kind of lid, so it’s not having garbage entirely out in the open at least).
Amazing that you were able to find the perfect cabinet doors for so cheap! 😀
Kristi
I agree about having a can under a sink…they fill up so fast because they are small, plus we needed room for two because we recycle more than we throw away. I wanted a lone dedicated space where 2 full size cans would fit so that’s what we created. 😉 I can’t believe we found those doors either, and on our very first trip. I know it’s unusual because we have been looking all over for 5 months for 3 other doors and can’t find anything. Beginner’s luck I guess. 😉
Shirlee
We have always had our garbage can under the sink as I don’t like having them out in full view. It has a lid and looks like a small version of an outdoor trashcan. I really like your trash/recycling area. I struggle with the recycling and need to figure out a better system. Right now I have boxes in the furnace room downstairs that I try and organize by type of recycling. But the soda cans/bottles need help. The hubs wants the carton left out so cans can be easily put back in when empty but that box out on the counter drives me crazy. lol
Kristi
We’ve struggled with recycling too Shirlee. We probably recycle twice as much as we throw away but the things that you usually recycle are big and oddly shaped so they take up a lot of room. I think I empty our can every other day, as opposed to once a week for trash. My husband would leave cans and bottles on the counter all week long if I didn’t tell him to get rid of them. What is it about men and empty cans? LOL
dkhalcomb2
I hate seeing the garbage can in the kitchen but most places I lived there was no spot for it out of sight. I have had a galley kitchen like yours before but we had a utility room at the end. I would keep the trash and recycle cans in there but bring the trash can into the kitchen when cooking. As you said, then it is in the way. I have always carried the recycle to the outside bin. Always thought an inside bin would be nice though, especially on rollers. Your kitchen is not only going to be beautiful, but efficient too. Debbie
Kristi
Awww, thanks so much Debbie. I would have liked a small closet/pantry to put my bins in but I don’t even have that. I’m hoping that this works and that I didn’t take up space that could have been used for something else. I guess I’ll know soon when we load everything back in. 😉
MaryJean
My mom always had her garbage container under the sink, but us with 2 growing boys we had a lot of garbage and needed a larger bin. We always had a plastic bin that I hated. We have a good location for it, but I didn’t like looking at it. Now that the boys are gone . . . yeah,right . . . we have a stainless steel rectangular bin that I love! We still have a great deal of garbage and I don’t understand why. It could be because my son and family are always at our house. I’m not complaining, I love having them over. It is such a joy to have two little ones running around and getting into everything. Like they say, “If I knew having grandkids would be this much fun, I would have had them first!”
Your kitchen is looking great and I love the bin storage!
Kristi
Thanks MJ!
I always needed a big container too. I never quite understood who would be able to use those small ones under a sink. 😉
Hope you are doing well my friend!
[email protected]
Hidden trash and recycle bins are the best!….What did we ever do without them..Loving the progress of the kitchen….Have a great day Kristi…
Kristi
I don’t know Shirley! I just wish I had done it sooner. 😉 Thanks for taking a peak at our progress. Happy Thursday to you!
Vel
I wish I had the cabinet space for it, my recycling bins are currently in the laundry room. Love your DIY version!
Kristi
Thanks Vel. I probably would have put them in a pantry, I would like to put my food in a pantry ;), but we have no extra room for one.
housefulofhandmade
Looks so good. I definitely want hidden trash and recycle in my new kitchen… but first I have to have the money to redo it 😉
Kristi
Thanks. I totally understand. It’s taken us two years to be able to do this and we are doing everything ourselves to save money. Hard work, but worth it. I hope you are able to get a new kitchen one day too. 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping in.
Pam
Did you build the cabinet bases from scratch or recycle from the restore as well? How many square feet of granite did you have and how much did it cost?
Kristi
Hi Pam. We used the cabinets from that were in the kitchen and we built a set of them on the wall that had none. We bought 2, 12 foot slabs of granite and paid about $800 for both.