While it’s possible to meticulously plan every aspect of your home’s landscape, there are certain elements that may be unavoidable. Utility boxes and garbage bins are two common examples that can’t simply be erased from the scene. Fortunately, the art of disguising utility boxes is gaining popularity, with many people experimenting with innovative landscaping ideas to conceal these unsightly features.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most effective methods for hiding utility boxes and other backyard clutter.
Repurpose a Cabinet
Transforming outdated wardrobes or kitchen cabinets into functional pieces is a great way to breathe new life into old items. One creative approach involves cutting the cabinet in half lengthwise, removing any unnecessary shelves, and elevating it using pavers and bricks. This DIY project requires some planning, but the end result can be a one-of-a-kind decorative element that adds character to a room.
To accommodate any wires or cords, the top of the cabinet has been cleverly cut out, creating a unique design feature.
Boxed In
While there may not be strict guidelines for concealing HVAC machines, it’s still essential to ensure proper airflow around the equipment. This is similar to when designing covers for transformer boxes. To achieve this, you can use a simple box-style enclosure made from rough lumber, incorporating slats reminiscent of old-fashioned market fruit crates.
Flower Box Surprise
Create a unique planter by taking the fundamental principles of planter construction and modifying them to include a closed bottom and a hingeless door that drops downwards for easy access. This innovative design eliminates any potential issues with hinges, ensuring a seamless user experience.
Hiding a Transformer?
A whimsical utility box camouflages itself behind a lush floral arrangement and verdant foliage. The hydrangeas create a picturesque scene on one side, while a shrub and tree duo adorn the others. To complete the aesthetic, a miniature privacy fence has been installed, replete with house number and lamp posts. While this design effort might blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, it’s crucial to consider the intended purpose of the box.
If, as suspected, it houses a transformer or cable infrastructure, all these added embellishments will be stripped away when utility workers require access. The irony lies in the fact that this beautifully designed enclosure was created to harmonize with the owner’s landscape vision, only to risk being undone by its very purpose.
Lattice Screens
Lattice screens can be used in a similar manner to privacy or decorative fences. When hiding a trash can, you only need a lattice barrier on two adjacent sides, leaving one side open for easy removal of the container. This versatile functionality makes lattice screens an ideal solution for concealing unsightly waste management units.
Easy Meter Reading with Vintage Look
Imagine a vintage-style cabinet with a cleverly designed hole for the meter, perfectly suited to adorn the exterior of an old house. This unique utility box cover is not only visually appealing but also functional, as it allows easy access for utility workers. With reclaimed lumber, you can create something similar that will not only blend in with its surroundings but also show appreciation for the professionals who need to read the meter or access the electrical box.
Garden Gate
To take their garden gate design to the next level, the owners incorporated a clever feature: potted plants situated along the side. This thoughtful addition allows for effortless plant rotations, eliminating the need for constant replanting or dealing with excessive soil weight.
Angled Lattice Screen
The three-sided lattice screen, a versatile option for creating a barrier, offers effortless setup and customization options. Depending on your needs, it can be converted into a single structure or modified to include a hinged gate that provides easy access. When designing your lattice screen, consider opting for a model with an accessible opening, allowing you to effortlessly retrieve items like the garden hose or trash cans without disrupting the overall aesthetic.
Picket Fence Idea
When incorporating a new element into your outdoor space, a picket fence can be an attractive choice, especially if you already have similar features in place. The addition of charming lanterns further enhances the visual appeal, while a coconut grass hanging planter provides a lighter and more airy alternative to traditional window boxes.
Think Inside the Box
The innovative design of this product features effortless accessibility from both the front and top panels, ensuring a seamless experience. Its clever construction allows for quick and easy bag insertion during the week, eliminating the need to fully remove the container from its housing – making it a practical solution for busy lives.
Not a Dog House
With a well water system in your backyard, you have the opportunity to think outside the box when it comes to accessibility and aesthetics. One creative solution is to disguise the PVC plumbing and spigots by incorporating them into a structure that resembles a dog house or treasure chest. Not only does this unique approach provide a functional way to access the well’s components on a regular basis, but it also adds a touch of whimsy to your outdoor space.
Repurposed Planter
Giving an old large planter new purpose by repurposing it as a container for a garden hose is a brilliant way to breathe life into a forgotten piece of furniture. Alternatively, you can take a new or plastic planter and transform it with a coat of paint that complements your patio’s decor. When it comes to creating a storage solution for your outdoor space, this idea is particularly useful.
By drilling out the hole at the bottom of the planter, you’ll be able to store anything from gardening tools to pool toys in a clever and convenient way. This DIY project can be adapted to suit any yard or patio, making it an excellent addition to our list of budget-friendly outdoor hiding ideas.
Wood Slats and Strips
The clever design of the slats allows for effortless accessibility to the cables, requiring no additional effort beyond sliding them out to reveal the HVAC compartment. This thoughtful feature enables uncomplicated maintenance and cleaning of the fans, eliminating the need for cumbersome doors or hardware.
Sophisticated Cedar Fence
To cleverly address an otherwise awkward corner, cedar was employed to construct a thoughtful barrier that seamlessly integrates with the surrounding fencing. The result is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, allowing even bicycles to find a discreet hiding spot behind it.
Full Topside Garden
To expand on the previous design, a larger version of the planter can be built to accommodate a garden hose. This iteration requires a slightly different approach, as the top section needs to be reinforced to prevent collapse. The lower fencing portion remains relatively straightforward, while the upper section demands more structural support to maintain its shape and stability.
Garden Hose Storage Idea
The custom-built garden box offers seamless integration with the outdoor spigot, allowing for permanent connection via hose. Its unique design features a spindle-based mechanism that enables effortless retraction and re-extension of the box. To facilitate this process, the handle has been cleverly attached to the exterior of the box, providing a simple and intuitive solution for winding it back up.
Grass and Ivy Coverup
To create a functional yet aesthetically pleasing area, the existing tile pavers were removed and replaced with a wooden lining. Five wooden strips were embedded into the ground to provide a sturdy base. The space was then ideal for planting vertical greenery such as trailing ivy or tall ornamental grasses, which would eventually grow to cover up to the trash cans and garden tools.
This solution is particularly effective when dealing with uneven ground, as seen in this case where the original tiles were slanted away from the home’s foundation. This design not only addresses the issue of keeping water away from the foundation but also adds a natural touch to the area.
Herringbone Privacy Fence
Beyond its primary function of concealing utility equipment, this herringbone-style privacy fence also cleverly masks unsightly features like neighboring trash cans situated behind a chain-link fence, as illustrated by DIY enthusiasts at DIY Passion.
The Old “Hide it Under a Rock” Trick
While traditional methods of concealing spare keys under garden rocks remain popular, innovative landscape designs have given rise to the demand for realistic fake boulders and large artificial rocks. This evolution has led to the creation of specialized faux rock products designed specifically for hiding valuables like backflow enclosures, now seamlessly blending into your mulch bed.
Slatted Wood Screen
When faced with an abundance of utility boxes, finding an effective way to conceal them can be a challenge. In this particular instance, the solution was to construct a fence and secure it using cleats. This design allows the cover to easily slide away when access is needed, such as when accessing the stairs. The inspiration for this project comes from Remodelaholic.
Paint Your Cover to Match Your House
One approach to seamlessly integrating a utility box cover with your home’s aesthetic is to match its color to that of your surrounding decor. This can be as simple as painting the box the same hue as your exterior walls or shutters. By doing so, you’ll create a cohesive look that draws the eye away from the otherwise utilitarian structure. For instance, if you have a brown stone veneer on your home, consider painting the utility box to match this earthy tone.
Not only will this help the box blend in, but it will also add a touch of continuity to your overall exterior design. Just be sure to keep in mind any specific requirements or restrictions imposed by your local homeowners association or building codes when making any exterior changes.
Just One Fence Section
For a straightforward approach to concealing a solitary trash bin, consider installing a sliding fence section. This design will require anchoring to the ground or house to prevent collapse, yet its woven appearance adds an aesthetic touch while keeping things effortless.
Portable Partition
Initially, the thought of relocating the trash can may seem daunting, with no obvious solution in sight. However, upon closer inspection, a hidden opportunity reveals itself. The planter partition that separates the patio space from the rest of the area doesn’t provide any fixed barriers, allowing for creative problem-solving.
By attaching wheels to this separator, it becomes a movable barrier that can be easily rolled out of the way when needed, providing a clear path for moving the trash can to its new location.
Half-Size Rustic Shed
In recent years, compact sheds that are roughly half the size of standard storage units have gained popularity. One such example is a mahogany shed measuring approximately six feet in height and three feet in depth, which would require an extensive amount of time to construct from scratch.
We appreciate the pitched roof design of this shed, as it effectively prevents rainwater accumulation behind the structure.
Evergreen Trellis
A more visually appealing alternative to a traditional compost bin is to construct a wooden frame around a wire trellis, then plant trailing foliage such as vines or flowers at the base. This design not only adds a touch of elegance to your garden but also provides better air circulation by allowing heat and odors to escape freely.
Scrap Wood Solution
For homeowners seeking a straightforward solution to conceal a small outdoor utility box or eyesore, a bi-fold partition is an excellent choice. By repurposing scrap wood with hinges, and then whitewashing the boards, you can create a functional yet aesthetically pleasing hiding place for your unwanted feature in no time, even before your company arrives.
Lattice Privacy Fencing
In many cases, lattice fencing proves to be an economical option for homeowners, with readily available sections at retailers like Home Depot. Beyond its affordability, lattice fencing also offers a convenient spot to display freshly harvested herbs from mason jars. Little did we know, this seemingly simple experiment would ultimately yield surprisingly impressive results.
