7 Genius Ways to Hide Trash Cans in Your Kitchen, According to Designers

Use a Pull-Out Cabinet

The obvious way to hide a trash can is to put it in a pull-out cabinet. You can even fit two bins in the same cabinet—one for trash, and one for recycling.

However, these trash cans can still get messy. "Make sure to add a stainless-steel or brass drip guard on the top of the cabinet rim," says Judi Cooper, principal interior designer at Kitchens Inside Out. "This will help you to avoid the gumminess that can come from trash juice dripping over time."

Use the Under-Sink Drawer

Putting the trash under the kitchen sink is a standard way to hide it, but you can elevate this look even more. "A fun and ingenious way to use this space is to add a trash can by building a tilt-out trash drawer," says Anna Tatsioni, lead designer and architect at Decorilla.

Use an Attractive Basket

In small kitchens, there may not be a good spot to hide your trash can. If that's the case, then make the most of the situation and hide it in plain sight.

Megan Mays, designer and founder of Ravenhouse Design, suggests using a receptacle that doesn't necessarily look like a trash can, and that adds a dose of style to the room.

"An oversized basket with a lid can be a great solution," she says. "Think: Woven materials, or soft, organic textures that add warmth and visual interest."

Tuck the Trash Can in a Pantry

If you have a pantry, then you can close the door on trash and tuck it away completely. "[This] eliminates visual clutter in the kitchen, especially if you’re tight on space," says Meg DeLong, co-owner at The Tidy Home Nashville.

However, this only works if you have a pantry that's big enough, and that's in the right place. "Your pantry has to be close enough to your food prep area so it’s not a hike each time you want to throw something away!" she says.

Create a Piece of Furniture

"Building a covering for your trash can that resembles a piece of furniture works with the space you already have," says DeLong. Disguising the trash can rather than hiding it away also keeps it closer to prep areas without making it look unsightly.

Hide It With a Curtain

Underneath your counter is a prime spot to hide a trash can.

You can even add a cute curtain to disguise it—but make sure that the fabric is both washable and waterproof. This will ensure that it can stand up to the mess of daily trash—and you can throw it into the washing machine on a regular basis.

Tuck It Away

If all else fails, you can always simply hide the trash can behind something else or nestle it in an unobtrusive place. That's the simple way to reduce visual clutter without remodeling cabinets or splurging on custom solutions.

"Sometimes concealment is about placement, not covering," says Mays. "Nestling a trash can behind a door or under a counter overhang keeps it accessible, but visually quiet."