Turn old timber into a stylish DIY bin store

Transform spare timber and pallets into a practical, low-cost garden bin store project

Paul McCaig

September 29, 2021

Inspired by Valpak’s Environmental Champion and SPEAR teams, I recently started looking for more ways to introduce sustainability into everyday life at home. After spending several weekends gardening, one thing became increasingly obvious, my wheelie bins were not the most attractive feature in the garden.

Instead of buying new materials, I decided to reuse old pallets, leftover decking boards and spare timber to build a DIY bin store. Materials that would normally have ended up at the Household Waste Recycling Centre were transformed into something practical and visually appealing.

If you’re looking for a simple weekend DIY project, this is a great way to reuse unwanted materials, improve your outdoor space and give old wood a new purpose.

Why upcycling materials matters

Reusing old timber, pallets and leftover decking is a simple way to reduce waste while creating something useful for your home or garden.

Many households already have spare wood, paint or hardware tucked away in sheds or garages. Projects like this help extend the life of those materials instead of sending them to recycling centres or landfill.

Upcycled Bin Store

What you’ll need

Materials

  • Spare pallets, decking boards or old timber
  • Wood screws
  • Metal brackets and handles
  • Shed or fence paint/varnish

Tools

  • Saw
  • Hammer
  • Sandpaper
  • Drill with screwdriver attachment

Safety Equipment

  • Protective gloves
  • Protective eyewear

Planning your DIY bin store

Before starting, measure the area where your bin store will sit and calculate how much wood you’ll need.

When dismantling pallets, try to use as much of the timber as possible. Smaller sections can often be reused for doors, supports or framing pieces.

Don’t worry if the wood varies in colour or condition, a coat of paint or varnish can help create a neat, finished appearance.

Helpful hints and tips

  • Check pallets carefully for old nails or screws before dismantling
  • Sand rough edges to improve safety and appearance
  • Local DIY stores are ideal for brackets, hinges and handles
  • Mixing different wood stains or paint colours can add character to the finished design
  • Excess decking boards work particularly well for durable outdoor projects

Useful DIY guides and inspiration

If you’d like additional guidance before getting started, there are plenty of online tutorials and ideas available, including:

  • Garden Geek
  • How to Build a Bin Store
  • Addis

 

You can also browse Pinterest for creative wheelie bin storage inspiration and alternative designs.

Final thoughts…

Upcycling projects like this prove that unwanted materials can still have plenty of life left in them.

Building a DIY bin store from reclaimed wood is an affordable, practical and sustainable way to improve your garden while reducing waste. Plus, it’s a satisfying weekend project that turns leftover materials into something genuinely useful.

 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author, Paul McCaig, and do not necessarily reflect the views of recycle-more, Valpak Limited, or any other organisation.