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Welcome!

 ...and thanks for stopping by. I'm Claire Douglas,  DIY and home interiors writer specialising in money-saving and creative home interior projects. I've spent years developing my 'bespoke on a budget' approach to DIY and home interiors and I love sharing all my tips and tricks in tutorials and posts here on my blog, in articles I write for some of the leading titles, in the press, on Instagram, Tiktok and my online course

4 reasons why a DIY bin store is a great idea!

Updated: Feb 21


DIY bin store built from timber and planted up with herbs by Claire Douglas

Not sure whether you need a DIY bin store for your wheelie bins? Read this before you decide...


How to build a DIY bin store

If you are looking for a detailed step-by-step tutorial for this DIY bin store, pop over to my 'how to' post here... If you still need a bit of persuading then here are the four reasons I love the DIY bin shed that gave our bin area a makeover.


1. Fresh and fragranced

herbs and fragrant plants growing in a DIY bin store built by Claire Douglas

Planting up herbs in the top of a DIY bin store can help combat unpleasant smells emanating from your bins. I opted for a mixture of small plants including some mint plants as I knew they were fairly resilient and I was so impressed at how well they have weathered the extreme weather conditions we've had recently. The hottest heatwave in history, torrential rains and then storms to boot!


2. A place for everything and everything in its place


timber DIY bin store built by Claire Douglas filled with wheelie bins

Assigning specific bins and recycling boxes to compartments in a DIY bin store helps keep things organised and can prevent bin-a-geddon on bin day!

In our house, we are definitely guilty of making things worse once an area starts to go a bit downhill. For example, if a spot in the house or garden starts to look a bit cluttered or messy then before long it is a total dumping area - eek! So having systems and processes helps keep things ordered and the clutter/rubbish at bay. That said, aside from the cupboard under the sink that I revamped, the inside of our house is definitely lacking the tidy organisation of the bin area!


3. Increased Kerb appeal with a DIY bin store


DIY bin store for wheelie bins with plants on the top by Claire Douglas

Spending a bit of time and effort on tasks like building a DIY bin store can transform a previously unloved space and elevate the appearance of the outside of a property. This is useful if you are selling or prepping a property for sale, but also for a harmonious relationship with your neighbours. I've got a page dedicated to all things home maintenance if you're interested (you know, the jobs you tend to put off but that are actually really important!)


4. Injection of colour

painting a DIY bin store

Building a DIY bin store allows you to paint it in any shade that takes your fancy. You can blend it into its surroundings or make it a stand-out feature. If you like regularly changing up your decor then you could change the colour in line with the seasons (if seasonal styling is your thing, I have a whole page dedicated to that too!)






Where next?


Here are some other garden-related posts...









I hope you've found some of these ideas inspiring and useful, let me know in the comments if you try any of them. Be sure to scroll to the very bottom of the page & hit the subscribe button to receive my monthly newsletter which is packed full of tutorials, updates and offers.


Thanks so much for reading. I'd love to keep you up to date with future DIY, decorating, interior styling, and upcycling projects, if you would like to receive my (not more than weekly & no spamming I promise) emails then please subscribe (scroll down to the box at the bottom of the page).






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