Wheelie bins can be an eyesore

Wheelie bin store by @littleterracedhouse bin shed DIY

(Image credit: @littleterracedhouse)

last updated 7 October 2020

It's #NationalDIYWeek and we're celebrating by sharing our favourite Instagrammer DIYs this week. Yesterday, it was a five-day bedroom makeover for under £500, and today it's a wheelie bin store from Instagrammer @littleterracedhouse (opens in new tab) – because let's face it, bins are ugly and plants are pretty. And what better way to spend a Saturday than making this easy project?

All that's required is some timber, a few tools you're bound to have already, some compost and plants. Want to know she recreated the look? Keep scrolling...

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Morning! #binshed update! It’s totally filled out now 😍 I have lost a sempervivum in all this rain we have had lately but just the one. Everything else is growing so well - isn’t it mad how the right hand side is so much fuller from just a couple of hours extra sun a day? So the bin shed brings me on to a tentative link for @mygardenthismonth theme today of tools! I don’t have many tools at all. I don’t need many in my little garden. Just a spade and a trowel and a fork. I also have a sieve thing for stones. Oh and my bare hands for digging and planting and ripping up AstroTurf! But my best on hand garden tools are the family who always rally around to help with projects - better than any fancy bit of kit! And all the bin shed credit goes to my step dad @adeballard who actually built it. He has a whole shed of tools that I wouldn’t have a clue how to use! I just made it look pretty. I’m going to paint it I think. Maybe a very dark brown (not black). Or possible a pale grey since the house is grey? Or green?! Not sure. What do you think? . . . #mygardenthismonth - day 14 - tools . . . . . #patiogarden #greenroof #gardengoals #gardenlife #patio #gardensofinstagram #patiodecor #gardenlover #gardeninspo #containergardening #gardenideas #gardendecor #roofgarden #greenroofs #backyardgarden #greenthumb #urbangarden #livingroof #patiolife #patiostyle #patiogardening #urbangardening #binstore #binstorage #wheeliebinstore #frontgarden #wheeliebin #binenclosure Mel and Oli (And Pheebs 🐱) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by @littleterracedhouse on May 14, 2019 at 12:36am PDT

How to make a wheelie bin store

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1. The first step of making your very own bin shed is all the measuring. You need to allow enough room for your specific size bins and for each one's lid to open, too. For full cutting steps and specific sizes, visit Mel's blog (opens in new tab).

2. After collecting all your materials, you'll need to treat every piece of wood in order for it to withstand the weather. Once the wood is dry, you can start to assemble the framework. Use wood glue and screws to assemble the frame, then add the metal bars (these will secure the planters in place).

3. Using the same method of gluing and then screwing, now comes the job of making the planter boxes, being sure to leave a gap down one side for drainage; these will need a bottom as well as sides.

4. Next, pop the plant boxes on the bin shed where you'd like them to sit and measure where you need to secure them in place from underneath. Using wood glue and screws again, attach small wooden blocks beneath each box so that when they're placed on top, they're secure.

5. Before planting, you'll need to line the box with heavy duty bin liners. Then comes the soil, and then simply pop in the plants and succulents you like.

Want more? Watch the full process on her Instagram stories (opens in new tab). Check out the process over at her blog – LittleTerracedHouse (opens in new tab).

The front garden is positively blooming! You can’t even see the different pots anymore 😍 soon though they will be ready for a bit of rejuvenating. I love this time of year for gardening - it’s like the new year in the garden world as it’s when summer starts to die back and you get everything ready for spring. I bought over 200 bulbs today 🙈 and there will be more to come in fact. I’m going to do a series of blogs on spring planting as I get the garden bulb ready if anyone fancies planting along with me 😘 . . . . . . . #frontgarden #yarden #tinygarden #potplantgarden #containergardening #binshed #binstorage #livingroof #smallspaces #bigideassmallspaces #lavender #windowboxes #alltheflowers #gardening #mygarden #gardengreatorsmall #mygardenthismonth #frontgardenmakeover #gardenmakeover #terracottapots Mel and Oli (And Pheebs 🐱) (opens in new tab)
A photo posted by @littleterracedhouse on Sep 8, 2019 at 7:59am PDT

WANT TO COPY THIS DIY? HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED

For the base of the structure, Mel used Wickes' Treated Sawn Timber (opens in new tab) and for the planters, she used different sized Treated Sawn Timber (opens in new tab). As for everything else...