The latest stories from Remodelista

Yes, okay, it’s technically back to school season. But drudgery and dullness are not required! Take it from the Gardenista editors, who are keeping summer’s irreverent playfulness going—in the garden and beyond. Have a look:

Above: Fan has surprised herself with her love for these whimsical portrait chairs. “They are loud and full of color (without being colorful), and I think they are utterly captivating,” she writes. See her favorites in  Trend Alert: Figurative Outdoor Chairs.
Above: Every outdoor (and indoor) shower needs fish soap on a rope. The fish-shaped Welcome Soap by Japanese heritage brand Tamanohada is $44 at Goodee; see more picks in The Refresh: Designing an Outdoor Shower for My Backyard.
Above: There’s plenty of time yet for harvesting basil, tomatoes, and late-summer flowers. See more in Expert Advice: The Head Gardener at Thyme in the Cotswolds, on Growing Crops in a Hoop House. Photograph by Jim Powell for Gardenista.

P.S. You might need this: 7 Things to Do in the Garden this September to Prepare for Next Spring.

We know what you’re thinking. A good-looking waste basket?

Or maybe: $70 for a waste basket?

To which we say yes, we believe the simple waste bin can be an attractive object and perk up the office (or the bedroom, or the bath). And just as important, the buy-it-once bin, though perhaps slightly spendier than its $25 plastic equivalent, won’t follow its contents to the landfill.

Here are 10 options we like:

Above: The Recycled Steel Trashcan is available in a variety of sizes and shapes starting at $24 from Puebco.
Above: An unusually artful option: The Hand-Marbled Scallop Waste Bin in Ocean Wave is collapsible and made from 100 percent recycled cotton paper; $70 from Inner Child. (Also available from Anthropologie.)
The Blomus Wilo Wood Wastepaper Basket starts at $56.95 from West Elm.
Above: From Japanese co. Yamazaki, the Round Rim Trash Can has a steel body and walnut veneer rim; $70 from West Elm.
Above: The Knodd Bin with Lid is a favorite for versatility and price: It’s $31.99 at Ikea.
Above: The Classic Kitchen Bin 10.5 Liter is a continual favorite (see Design Sleuth: Gorgeous Garbage, A Pedal Bin from the UK) and works well as an office bin, too. It’s on sale for £28 from Garden Trading.

Above: Hay’s Shade Bin is available in three colorways; from £28 at Connox.
Above: The Threshold Solid Wastebasket in powder-coated steel is $23.
Above: From Japanese company Bunbuku, the Metal Trash Bin is available in Ivory from Miscellaneous ($59 for the small size).
Above: The lightweight Menu Wire Bin is $69.95 from Danehus.

For more aesthetic home office accessories, see:

• 10 Easy Pieces: Modern Wall-Mounted Desks
• 10 Easy Pieces: Desks for Small Spaces
• 10 Easy Pieces: Classic Desk Lamps
• 10 Easy Pieces: Old-School Office Supplies to Keep You Organized

N.B.: This story originally ran on September 3, 2025 and has been updated with new links and pricing.