I’ve been working on making over my laundry room, and it’s turning out so cute! There’s just one thing that’s been bugging me: my stainless steel garbage can. It’s in great shape for being 10-plus years old, so I didn’t want to throw it away, but it was definitely sticking out like a sore thumb in my new space. So, I decided to try a trash can makeover with spray paint!

The plan? Give it a soft beige base and add fun peach stripes to match the walls. Now it will look custom and cute instead of something I want to hide in a corner. If you’ve got an old garbage can that’s functional but doesn’t fit your style, painting it is a quick, affordable way to give it new life.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to paint your garbage can so the paint actually sticks, along with some tips to get crisp, clean stripes that look professional.

how to Give Your Garbage Can a Makeover with StripeS

SUPPLIES

Old Garbage Can – Any plastic or metal trash can in good condition
Warm, Soapy Water & Scrubber – For cleaning the surface thoroughly
Rubbing Alcohol or Degreaser – To remove any oils or residue
Fine-Grit Sandpaper (220 grit) – To lightly scuff the surface for better paint adhesion
Primer for Your Surface
Spray Paint- Base Color: Heirloom white spray paint
Painter’s Tape – For marking off clean, crisp stripes
Stripe Color: Behr Everblooming paint (or any color of your choice)
Clear Protective Topcoat (Optional) – For extra durability and a wipeable finish
Drop Cloth or Old Sheet – To protect the floor while painting

Step 1: Start with a Clean Surface

This step might not be the most exciting, but it’s the key to making your paint last. Dirt, grease, or even invisible fingerprints can prevent paint from sticking properly.

Wash the garbage can thoroughly with warm, soapy water. I put mine in the sink and used a scrubber and dish soap to get it clean.
Rinse and let it dry completely.
For extra cleaning power, wipe it down with rubbing alcohol or a degreaser to remove any remaining residue.

Think of this as giving your garbage can a fresh canvas before the painting begins. Mine was nasty, so this was both satisfying and a disgusting step.

Step 2: Lightly Sand the Surface

Most garbage cans—especially stainless steel or plastic ones—have very smooth surfaces, and paint doesn’t adhere well to slick finishes. To fix that, grab some fine-grit sandpaper (around 220 grit) and give the entire can a light sanding.

You’re not trying to scratch it up; you just want to create a slightly rougher texture so the primer and paint can grip better. After sanding, use a damp cloth to wipe off the dust.

Step 3: Use the Right Primer

Here’s where things start to get fun because primer sets the stage for your color to look its best.

If your garbage can is plastic, use a primer labeled specifically “for plastic,” such as Rust-Oleum Specialty Plastic Primer or Krylon Fusion.
If it’s metal, go with a rust-preventive metal primer.

Hold the spray can about 10–12 inches away and apply a light, even coat. Don’t try to cover everything in one pass—several light layers will prevent drips and give a smoother finish. Let it dry for at least 30 minutes.

Step 4: Apply the Base Color

Now for the part you’ve been waiting for—painting! For my trash can makeover, I used beige spray paint for the base layer because it ties in with the warm tones of my laundry room walls.

Here are some tips for success:

Use a spray paint that bonds to your surface (plastic or metal). Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover or Krylon Fusion are great options.
Keep the spray can moving in steady, side-to-side motions to avoid heavy spots.
Apply multiple thin coats instead of one heavy one. This helps prevent drips and gives a smoother finish.
If needed, sand between coats. I did this because the spray paint didn’t go on super evenly and this helps a lot!

Let the base coat dry completely before moving on to stripes. I recommend at least 1 hour so the tape doesn’t peel the paint off.

Step 5: Add Stripes for a Custom Look

This is the part where your garbage can really starts to look high-end. I chose peach stripes (in the color Everblooming by Behr) because they echo the stripes I painted on my laundry room walls, and I love a coordinated space.

To get crisp, clean stripes:

Use delicate painter’s tape and a level to mark off where you want your stripes to go.
Press down the tape edges firmly so paint doesn’t seep underneath.
Apply your stripe color in light, even layers, just like you did with the base coat. I’m using latex paint for this step so I’m using a roller to apply it.
Remove the tape while the paint is still slightly tacky rather than waiting until it’s fully dry—this prevents peeling.

Step 6: scallops

I thought it still needed one last detail, so I took a funnel that’s the same width as the stripes and traced semi-circles above the stripes.

Then I used an artist’s paint brush and painted over the pencil marks. This creates a scallop effect!

It takes some time to trace over them, but I think the whimsical detail adds a lot!

step 7: touchups

When I pulled the tape, it did remove a tiny bit of paint on the plastic parts of the trash can. So I used my favorite hack! I took a paper plate and sprayed some of the beige spray paint on it. Then I used a tiny paint brush dipped in the spray paint and touch up any issues.

It’s a great way to touch-up small issues when you’re spray painting. Usually having spray paint on a paint brush will ruin it. But I’ve been oil painting and have a jar full of cleaning solution (Gamsol) for oil paint that cleaned the paint brush with spray paint on it right off.

Step 8: Let It Cure Before Using

Even though your paint might be dry to the touch in just a few hours, it’s best to let it cure for a few days before heavy use. This allows the paint to fully harden and helps prevent scratches or chips.

after

I am so excited to show you the reveal of the trash can makeover! It’s so cute and fits right in with my kitchen!

As I was finishing it, I kept thinking that it looks a bit like a Disneyland garbage can- lol!

Now my once-boring garbage can looks like it was designed to be there all along! It’s so fun and way less boring now!

Why I Love This Trash Can Makeover

This project turned an eyesore into a stylish feature in my laundry room. Now my garbage can doesn’t just blend in—it looks like it belongs there!

The best part? This trash can makeover cost less than buying a brand-new can, and I got to customize the colors to perfectly match my space. It’s a small detail, but those little things really add personality to a room.

If you’ve got an old trash can that needs a fresh look, I can’t recommend this DIY enough. Whether you go bold with bright stripes or subtle with soft tones, it’s such a fun, affordable way to upgrade your space.

price breakdown

For this project, I used two cans of spray paint so the whole project cost $15! My garbage can is over 10 years so giving it a glow up with only spending a little money feels great! Plus it looks SO cute in my kitchen!

update

I ended up being bored with the lid. Plus with it being plain beige, it was showing lots of dirt. So I decided to paint it as well! The stripes would’ve looked weird wrapped over the top. So I wrote the word “rubbish” on the top. I think it’s literal and funny! So I filled the space with the word in pencil.

Then I used the same peach color as the stripes to paint inside the words. I used a small artist’s brush to paint on the words.

Last, I used a darker peach color to outline the letters. I wanted them to pop a bit.

It’s a little silly, but I love it! It’s not obvious what it says until you’re up close. And we laugh whenever we throw out the trash so it’s a win win!

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