Originally Published on April 9, 2014. Last Updated on November 21, 2023.

Finding a place for your compost bin can be difficult when it doesn’t fit in with your landscaping or overall outdoor decor. If you don’t have a natural spot to place it, an unsightly compost bin can stand out like a sore thumb.

However, this stylish do-it-yourself compost bin is certain to complement any outdoor space.

---

Supplies:

• Wooden pallets (3-4)
• Saw
• Hammer
• Screws or nails
• Any type of flexible wire mesh
• Small door hinges (4)
• Staple gun/staples (optional)
• Simple latch (optional)

This simple project will help your landscaping, not detract from it. It uses reclaimed pallets, so it has a very low impact on the environment.

---

Step 1 – Prepare the area for your bin

Remove any landscaping rock or wood chips from the area where you’ll be placing the compost bin. The final product will stand three feet tall and its base will be two feet wide and two feet deep, so make sure that you clear four square feet of space.

You’ll want to start with bare earth so that worms and insects can get to your compost more easily.

---

Step 2 – Make your cuts

Break down your pallets into their bare pieces and carefully remove all remaining nails or staples. With this particular bin, you’ll want to make each side independently of each other and then affix them together at the end. If you are setting your bin against an existing structure you probably don’t need to make a back section. Use the larger pallet structural pieces as your edge frames for each side of the compost bin — most likely you’ll be making three identical sides.

Cut the thinner slats in a way to express your own style. The doors are simply smaller versions of the side panels, so follow the same method. Cut your mesh the width and height of each side of the bin.

---

Step 3 – Assemble your compost bin

By now you should have a good idea of how your compost bin will look once it’s put together. Frame the sides as shown in the picture above and feel free to use the thinner pallet slats any way you wish to make it your own style. Staple the mesh to the inside of your compost bin, and assemble the sides together. Finally, secure the doors with your hinges and latch.

---

And there you have it — your very own stylish compost bin! Let us know how yours looks.

This article was adapted for use on this site from the French blog bricobistro.com.