By the Bedside

Pretty woven cane and bamboo baskets can give your bedroom a lovely natural look. You don't need a lid, as you won't be putting any wet waste in them.

If you do find a pair of sturdy baskets with flat lids, place one on either side of your bed. Place your bedside lamp on one and the other one can double up as a waste paper basket.

You could also have a plastic bin with a handmade paper covering in earthy colours. Fabric coverings for plastic bins are also available. These come in prints and solid colours and can be changed every now and then.

Funky Furnishings

Add to the vibrancy in your kid's room with bright plastic buckets. You could even get one with cartoon characters. With these cool bins, you won't have to worry about your son leaving those paper rockets about the place.

You could also do up the dustbin as a home project. Take a large sheet of white chart paper and ask your kid to paint on it. Add on glitter and ribbons too and cover the bin with it.

In the Closet

The household bin is best left in a cabinet, ideally the one below the sink. You don't want your home reeking.

Try a plastic or a stainless steel bin as these can be cleaned easily. Make sure the bin has a sufficiently wide rim and is about 1½ ft. to 2 ft. high so the garbage doesn't spill over.

A lid for this bin is a must but avoid a pedal (flap top) bin. It becomes difficult to keep your foot on the pedal while you are emptying your plate. You could also attach a metal ring to inside of the cabinet door and hang the bin in it. This way you won't have to bend every time you need to chuck something.

If you are the eco-friendly type but are too lazy to separate the dry and wet waste, then get yourself a twin bin. These square bins are attached to each other and don't occupy too much space. Line the one for wet waste with a garbage bag. Simply label them with 'DRY' and 'WET' so the kids don't get mixed up.