DIY Trash Can Cabinet

How to Build a Cabinet to Hide Your Trash Can

OK, so you don’t have enough cabinet space in your kitchen to conveniently hide your trash can. But that doesn’t mean you have to see your trash can all the time, if you don’t want to. For about $40, you can easily build a small cabinet to house and conceal your trash can. And it tilts out, too, to give you easy access!

Materials

Let’s start this how-to off with the tools and materials you’ll need to gather and pick up from the store.

• trash can*(look for it at your local Walmart!)
• tape measure
• 4’x4’x1/2″ sanded plywood
• (3) 1″x4″x8′
• (1) 1″x2″x8′
• miter saw
• wood glue*
• nail gun/1-1/4″ nails
• wood putty* (It’s cheaper in stores, but sharing link so you know what I used.)
• 2″ hinges
• drill
• sander/220-grit sandpaper
• paint (Benjamin Moore’s Old Navy)
• sprayer* or paint brush
• 2 small wood screws
• chain
• cabinet knob

The basic plans for this trash can cabinet are modified from the laundry sorter I built a few years ago. If you’ve never seen it, click here to check it out. It’s a thing of beauty!

Cut List

Plywood-

Rip plywood with the grain at 16 inches wide:

• (1) at 24.5 inches (tilt-out door)
• (2) at 12.75 inches (tilt-out bottom and cabinet bottom)

Rip plywood again at 13.5 inches wide:

• (2) at 28.5 inches tall (cabinet sides)
• (1) at 17 inches (countertop)

1x4s-

• (1) 17 inches (front baseboard)
• (2) 16 inches (back baseboard and top support)
• (2) 14.5 inches at longest point with 45 degree miters (tilt-out braces)

You’ll cut more from the 1x4s for the ‘picture frame’ on each side once the cabinet is assembled.

Cabinet Assembly

As always, watch the video above for a good visual of how everything gets assembled together. For those of you, like me, who like words and video, here’s a quick description.

Lay the two cabinet side pieces (28.5 inch plywood) on a long edge. Then set the front baseboard (17″x1x4) flush with the bottom where it covers part of the end-grain of the plywood. Use glue and a nail gun to secure it in place.

Flip it over and attach the (2) 16″x1x4s between the plywood sides, one flush at the top and one flush at the bottom. Glue and nail from the outside of the plywood to secure them in place. Nail holes will be covered by the trim later.?

Take one of the 12.75 inch plywood pieces, slide it between the sides and baseboards at the bottom and attach from the outside. This adds stability to the cabinet and gives the tilt-out a stopping point.

Now you can attach the countertop piece on the top, nailing down through the top into the edge of the plywood.

Tilt-Out Assembly

After setting the cabinet aside, take the tilt-out bottom (remaining 12.75″ plywood piece), and attach it flush with the bottom of the tilt-out door.

Then attach the angled 14.5″ 1x4s in the corner where the tilt-out bottom meets the door. On the bottom of the whole tilt-out assembly, attach the small hinges.

(Again, don’t forget to watch the video above for a good visual of all the steps involved!)

Finishing Touches

After attaching the tilt-out to the cabinet itself with the hinges, sand the heck out of everything! Then measure and cut 1x4s and 1x2s to size to create the picture frame trim. I used the 1x2s on the front and the 1x4s for the sides.

Once you putty the nail holes from attaching everything, you can quickly sand again before painting!

Add a small chain inside if you have little ones who might let the trash can fall open! And a knob to match the rest of your kitchen will tie it all together!

Let me know if you use these plans to build a trash can cabinet for yourself!

Thanks for Checking In! ~Chelsea
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