Don't trash these garbage cans

At its most basic level, a trash can "has to work," says Julie Carlson, founder and editor-in-chief of Remodelista. But that doesn't mean it can't please the eye.

When Carlson moved from Mill Valley, California, to a Brooklyn apartment about two years ago, she lost her in-cabinet waste bin and had to find one that fit in her small kitchen.

"If it's not a built-in situation and you can pull out a drawer, then the trash can is really going to be front and center," she says. Most of our experts would agree that when a wastebasket is out in the open, you should consider features such as a lid that opens with a foot pedal, stainless-steel material to prevent odors, and compartments to separate recyclables. Ultimately, find one you won't mind looking at and using, because after ovens and refrigerators, the trash can is a star kitchen workhorse. As Carlson says: "At the end of the day, you're going to get pleasure out of a beautiful trash can."

"When you really have no room, you've got to get your trash can inside of a cabinet," says Maxwell Ryan, founder of Apartment Therapy. He would know: He has a small two-bedroom apartment in New York's SoHo neighborhood.

"The simplest solution involves classic Rubbermaid plastic trash cans, which fit nicely behind your lower doors and have a nice, wide mouth to throw stuff in." Want to make it really cool and efficient? Install a Rev-a-Shelf container ($36 for the 20-quart size, amazon.com), which puts a simple plastic trash can on a gliding track for easy access. Multiple sizes and configurations are available, as are lids.

For her own kitchen, Carlson bought the sleek Frisbee Trash Bin by Frederic Perigot ($324, store.luminaire.com). It is precision-engineered, made of epoxy metal and closes silently. "I knew that one of the first things I wanted to do was get that trash can," she says of her move to New York.

Designers consistently recommend Simplehuman's trash cans, and for good reason. Says Virginia- and Paris-based interior designer Kathryn Ivey: "They are attractive, come in a variety of sizes and you can purchase trash bags that perfectly fit all their models so you don't have to struggle with unsightly bag overhang." Indeed, the features are killer. For example, the 46-liter Rectangular Step Can Dual Compartment ($180, simplehuman.com) has a fingerprint-proof coating, two compartments, a smooth-closing lid and a superstrong steel pedal. "I think it's best to go for a sleek, minimal design," she adds.

The 13-gallon Rectangular Swivel Lid Stainless Trash Can ($300, trashcansunlimited.com), part of Commercial Zone's Precision Series, is a favorite of organizer Samantha Pregenzer, based in the San Francisco area, because it "really does blend into your aesthetic," she says. "It looks sleek to me. When they are round or domed on top, they appear to stick out like a sore thumb."

Becky Rapinchuk, founder of the blog Clean Mama and author of the new book "Simply Clean: The Proven Method for Keeping Your Home Organized, Clean and Beautiful in Just 10 Minutes a Day," is also a mom of three. She knows from experience that a busy kitchen needs a trash can with a foot-opening system and a solid lid, and that it shouldn't be too big. "I recommend not going over the 13-gallon bag size to ensure that it's emptied frequently enough to avoid smelling," she says. Her pick is the Rubbermaid Step-On Slim Fit Trash Can ($25, walmart.com).