I have a really fun DIY for you! If you ever need a new garbage can- why don’t you try thrifting it?! I bought one for $2 because our playroom could really use a trash can. It was plain stainless steel with a plastic lid- boring and basic. Then I made it over with tigers and a gingham pattern and suddenly it’s the cutest trash I’ve ever seen! Let me show you exactly what I did!

Here’s a before of the $2 thrifted garbage can. Keep reading to see how this DIY gingham garbage can is an easy thrift flip that turns a boring trash can into cottagecore decor.

diy gingham garbage can

Why you’ll love this DIY-

Budget-friendly (under $5!)
Beginner-friendly painting project
Customizable for any room/theme
Perfect for playrooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, or offices

SUPPLIES

Small Garbage Can (I thrifted mine and linked a similar one)
White Spray Paint and Primer (satin finish)
Paint- Frosted Sage (the lightest color), Flagstaff Green (medium), and Forest Path (dark) by Behr (get the sample pots of paint in a satin finish)
Delicate Painter’s Tape– 1″
Knob
Artist’s Paint Brush
Printer
Tiger Clip Art
Peony Clip Art
Mod Podge (satin finish)

time estimate for the diy gingham garbage can-

Active time: 2–3 hours
Dry time: 24 hours

step 1- prep

To begin, start by taking it to the sink and giving it a good wash. If you bought a new trash can, you can skip this step. But if you thrifted one or are redoing one from your home- hose that thing off and give it a good scrubbing!

Once it’s dry, take it outside and spray paint it. I’m using a 2-in-1 spray paint and primer. This will bond to the metal and give the garbage can the base color of white. If you’re doing a gingham look too, that’s an important part.

step 2- knob for the lid

Next, I thought it’d be cute for the lid to have a knob. This makes a more whimsical shape.

To start, mark the center of the lid. Use a ruler so it’s precise.

Then, use a drill to create a hole on that center mark. This is easy on a plastic lid!

Then, finally, use a screw to attach the knob to the top of the garbage can lid.

step 3- paint

At this point, I began adding in the mint color with some paint. I start on the lid and the bottom ring of plastic/ the foot pedal. For that, I painted it Frosted Sage by Behr.

And now, stripes! For this, I used a laser level to apply the first piece of tape straight onto the can.

Speaking of tape, I only had thick Delicate Painter’s tape on hand. I needed the delicate version since I spray painted the garbage can that day. And I wanted a skinny stripe to work with the scale of the can. So I put the tape on my cutting mat and cut it down to 1″ pieces of tape with my rotary knife. But that was a lot of work and annoying, so I’d suggest just buying 1″ delicate painter’s tape.

Continue to add the tape stripes around the garbage can. Between each stripe, add small 1″ spacers of the tape so the tape has one inch gaps.

And then paint the white space between the tape! For this, I again used the color Frosted Sage by Behr. What can I say? It’s my favorite soft minty green color.

Once all the stripes are painted, pull the tape off the garbage can. Try to do this while the paint is still wet for the best results.

paint tips

Note, I wish I’d spray painted the can and then waited 24 hours for it to dry. When removing the tape, some of the spray paint came off with it and then I had to patch and paint and it just didn’t look as good. So I suggest to give it more dry time if possible.

Tip- if you need to touch up any of the spray painted areas, simply take a disposable plate and spray paint onto the plate. Then use an artist’s paint brush to apply the spray paint. Do it quickly before it dries on the plate! I use mineral spirits to clean my paint brush. Or you can use an old paint brush and throw it away.

step 4- more paint

Next, while the paint on the stripes dried, I thought it’d be cute to paint a bow on the top of the trash can. I sketched it out with a pencil so I could make sure I liked it first.

Then, I used an artist’s paint brush to apply paint in the color Forest Path to create the bow.

Honestly, I thought just a striped garbage can with the bow lid would be very cute. I was tempted to leave it as is at this step!

Let’s continue making the garbage can gingham! Apply more 1″ painter’s tape horizontally across the garbage can. Again use small 1″ pieces to create spacers.

And then, paint in the blank spots between the tape in the medium color-Flagstaff Green. Yes, this will mean that you paint over some of the last vertical stripes- this is how you get the gingham look!

Once all the stripes are painted, pull the tape off the garbage can. Try to do this while the paint is still wet for the best results.

The result? A VERY cute gingham garbage can! If needed, touch up any spots where the paint bled under the tape.

step 5- Decopage

And now, let’s add some cute figures! Yes, you could absolutely leave the trash can gingham. But since it’s going in a tiger themed room, surely it needs to match! First I used my at home printer to print two tigers on white card stock.

Then, cut them out around the edges with scissors. Figure out where on the garbage can you’d like them by holding them up.

Apply Mod Podge to the back of the cut out tigers.

Then put the tiger where you’d like it. Press it flat against the can. Use more Mod Podge on top of the tigers to secure them in place.

I had a few spots where the paint was blotchy, so I printed some Peonies and then I cut them out.

Finally, I used Mod Podge to adhere them onto the garbage can as I’d previously done with the tigers. I decoupaged a total of 3 peonies onto the garbage can.

after

Ta da! Here is the finished DIY gingham garbage can! It has everything- a bow top with a little handle. Decoupaged tigers and peonies. A mint gingham body.

I’m so happy with how it turned out! It’s very cute- definitely the cutest little garbage can I’ve ever seen.

It has so much personality and it fits perfectly in the room! I really love it!

The bow on top is so cute with the gingham- those two elements are very Cottagecore. Plus, you can personalize this however you’d like with different paint colors, figures (like a dog instead of tigers), and switching up the knob.

price breakdown

Whenever I do my projects, I like to add up the costs associated with it. Hopefully this is helpful for you. Here’s what I spent on this DIY gingham garbage can-

Items I already had on hand-

White Spray Paint and Primer
Paint- Frosted Sage (the lightest color), Flagstaff Green (medium), and Forest Path (dark) by Behr (get the sample pots of paint!)
Delicate Painter’s Tape– 1″
Artist’s Paint Brush
Printer
Mod Podge

And the grand total?! This project cost me a whopping $4. Not too shabby!!!

In conclusion, this DIY gingham garbage can is proof that even the most ordinary items can become something really special with a little creativity. I love how the bow, gingham, and decoupaged tigers give it so much personality- and it only cost a few dollars to make! If you try your own version, don’t forget to have fun with it and make it completely your own.

If you try this DIY gingham garbage can, I’d love to see it! Tag me or save this for later on Pinterest!

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