How to Turn Your Boring Garbage Can Into a Whimsical Piece of Dopamine Decor
We cover our walls in art, our floors with cute carpets and our bookshelves with meaningful decor - but what about our kitchen garbage cans? Are we really just going to leave those totally plain?
If you think about it, there's no reason why your garbage can can't be as pretty as the rest of your home, and DIYers on social media are proving that. Various creators have been posting videos where they paint their trash cans with fun colors and patterns, essentially turning their plain rubbish bins into pieces of dopamine decor.
Curious how you can upgrade your garbage can? Keep reading to see a few examples, and to learn what painting methods work best.
People Are Painting Their Garbage Cans With Colorful Designs
"Today I'm painting the most boring thing in my home: my trash can," maximalist home decor creator Chelsea Zeferina (@chelseazeferina) said in a TikTok video. "Just because something is functional does not mean that it needs to be plain and white and boring. And recently, it came to my attention that you can paint your trash can."
Zeferina took inspiration from the Dusen Dusen Striped Canisters in her kitchen, and painted her trash can with fun and colorful stripes. "I could not be happier with how it turned out, and it looks so fab in my kitchen," Zeferina declared after the transformation was complete.
@chelseazeferina i don't think u understand im obsessed @Samantha Klein's gingham trash can inspired me!! #colorfulhome#diy#dopaminedecor#happyhome#maximalism
original sound - CHELSEA
"Painting my ugly trash can because the internet girls told me to," Emily Welch (@emilywelchstyle) wrote on a recent TikTok. Welch decided to transform her steel kitchen garbage can into a striped butter yellow masterpiece.
@emilywelchstyle I also identify as an internet girl How to: Clean trash can then spray with a primer (doesn't need to be a thick cover). Paint your base coat and let dry at least 24 hrs. Apply your painters tape stripes. Paint one coat in the same color as your base over the painters tape and let dry (gives a crisp line). Paint your second color over everything. Remove your tape while paint is still tacky. Spray with a gloss top coat. #diy#easydiy#diydecor#craft
Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé
TikTok creator @athomewithashley painted her silver trash can with light pink and white stripes - but the white lid was looking a little too plain. So, she used pink paint to write "RUBBISH" on the lid. "It's funny, a little ridiculous, but also makes me smile every time I walk by," she captioned her video.
@athomewithashley Okay yes, I painted my garbage can lid… and no, I don't regret it! I thought leaving it plain would just highlight every smudge, so instead I went bold and painted "RUBBISH" right across the top. It's funny, a little ridiculous, but also makes me smile every time I walk by. Sometimes design is about taking unserious side quests that bring joy-would you paint your trash can too?
What Floor? - idokay
As you can see from the above, stripes are a popular choice for garbage can makeovers, but they aren't the only option. For instance, creator Tina Le Mac (@tinalemac) upgraded her plain silver SNÖRPA trash can from IKEA to be light blue with burgundy accents and a bird decal.
"If trash cans are going to be sitting out in our homes all the time, they can at least look good! Couldn't find one that I absolutely loved, so naturally I had to DIY it ," she captioned her TikTok.
@tinalemac If trash cans are going to be sitting out in our homes all the time, they can at least look good! Couldn't find one that I absolutely loved, so naturally I had to DIY it DIY TRASH CAN Step lid trash can - this is the SNÖRPA from IKEA Primer spray paint Two coats of colored spray paint Art print - I got a download off Etsy X-ACTO knife Glue - I used a matte Mod Podge Acrylic paint Wood round Superglue Clear spray paint #diyideas#ikeatok#ikeahack#diyhomedecor#diydecor
Journey of Life - James Quinn
How to Paint Your Garbage Can
In the caption of her video, Le Mac shared all the products she used when upgrading her steel trash can: She started with a spray paint primer followed by two coats of blue spray paint, and then applied a bird art print she downloaded from Etsy using Mod Podge and an X-Acto knife. Then, she got a wood round, painted it with burgundy acrylic paint and attached it to the top with super glue. Finally, she used clear spray paint to lock everything in.
Meanwhile, Zeferina started her process by cleaning and sanding down her trash can. She decided to "throw caution to the wind" and skip primer, instead going straight to applying regular wall paint to jazz up her trash can. She used painter's tape to create perfect stripes, and once everything dried, she sealed it all with a water-based polycrylic top coat.
Related: Furniture Flipper Turns a Basic Dresser From IKEA Into a Vintage-Inspired Custom Piece
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:37 AM.