Don’t waste this stylistic opportunity!
In my job as House Beautiful’s Style Editor at Large, I’m fortunate to spend so much time in beautifully designed homes. Every aesthetic detail in these spaces is so thoughtfully considered—until you look around for a wastebasket to discard a stray wrapper. It’s there that, for whatever reason, the otherwise high stylistic bar has been set aside for a nondescript white bin stuffed with a plastic takeout bag. Needless to say, it can really kill the vibe.
Wastebaskets are a small but essential home accent, offering a discreet dumping ground for scrap papers, tissues, product packaging, or anything else on its way out to the household’s main trash can. And though it may not have the most glamorous task, it doesn’t mean it has to be wanting for aesthetic interest. For those who revel in the smallest elements, upgrading your wastebasket is an amazing opportunity to make a statement.
Ahead, I’ve sourced 10 stylish wastebaskets in a wide range of budget options, from affordable to elevated to totally aspirational. Here’s my case to you that upgrading your waste bin should not be considered a waste!
Hand-marbled and so completely one-of-a-kind, the seafoam hues and scalloped edges of this bin combine the feeling of Old World artistry and modern-day sensibilities. Whether in the town or country, beach or mountains, this waste bin works. Plus, it’s fully collapsible!
Pretty in pink, this wastebasket is almost too cute to hide under your desk. Use one as a waste paper bin and grab another one to house a container of jaunty geraniums.
A sleek, glossy blue finish and its swooping, elegant lines are a designer’s best friend. The soft color complements a range of interior aesthetics.
Playful and a bit cheeky, pop this wipeable pebbled leather wastebasket in a beach house’s guest room for a bit of unexpected whimsy that will be sure to set the tone for a fun-filled weekend stay.
Handmade in a traditional Vietnamese lacquer technique with a fine tortoiseshell finish, this waste paper bin is practically haute couture. Place it somewhere fabulous, perhaps in a boldly wallpapered powder bath where as many guests as possible can admire its style.
You had me at ticking-stripe lining, Ralph! Toss in luxurious leather details and warm woven wicker, and this waste basket is a classicist’s dream, at home in an office, powder bath, or tucked beside your coziest reading chair.
Calling to mind sophisticated European tailoring, Riviere’s handwoven leather bin is offered in a variety of colors and hardwood interior finishes. Used in an office, living room, or bath, this upscale wastebasket will tidy any space of loose papers and unsightly rubbish.
Known for Italian refinement, this Giobagnara bin is an elegant mixture of materials featuring handwoven rattan, unexpected celadon leather, and shiny chrome details. With true attention to detail, the bin is fitted with a removable plexiglass liner for easy cleaning. It’s the epitome of form and function.
This architectural form created by Labrazel is meant to impress. With a curving body cast in solid pewter, Baroque-inspired feet add a final, decadent wink.
Swirling malachite and chrome finishes mean this wastepaper bin would be just as suitable filled with a mound of ice and champagne as it would be with the discarded letters of old lovers. Fornasetti would certainly approve!
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