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Before: Blue Blemish
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/air_cond.jpg)
Recycling is a good deed (and it’s the law in many U.S. locales), but it does raise a question: where to put the extra bins needed to sort the trash?
After: Boxed In
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/d1a3207fca74c97a43298fc42ed91da1.jpg)
To add polish to her yard and a hiding place for the bright blue recycling containers, this homeowner fashioned a nifty cover from spare 2×4 boards that she had left over from building a chicken coop. She screwed it together and stained it an attractive dark brown.
Before: Ghastly Gadgets
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/diy-wood-screen-14.jpg)
Our friends at the gas and electric companies don’t always have the greatest taste in gadgets. Their meters are pretty unsightly.
Afte: Clever Curb Appeal
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/diy-wood-screen-18.jpg)
A neat, slatted screen comes together quickly with a brad nailer, plywood, and 2×4 boards—and even features the home’s address number as well. Before you attempt a similar project, be sure you understand your local utility company’s needs for clearance around and access to the meters.
Before: All Tangled Up
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/hose_hiding_planter_before_tml.jpg)
A garden hose gets tangled and dirty just lying like a snake in the grass, and detracts from your yard’s beauty.
After: Get Growing
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/hose_hiding_planter_2_pieces_tml.jpg)
This homeowner built a neat wooden box to hold the hose, then topped it with a lid that features recessed planter. The flowering plants disguise the purpose of the container and add color to the landscape.
Before: Uncool Cooling Unit
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/old_ac_ugliness.jpg)
This incredible hulk is a genius at cooling your home during the steamy season, but let’s face it: the rest of the year it looks pretty monstrous.
Related: New Front Doors Change Everything in 4 Entryway Before-and-Afters
After: No-See AC
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/slat_ac_after_1.jpg)
A creative use of segmented wood slats creates a truly eye-pleasing screened cover for the AC unit. Steel rods at each corner allow the screen to hinge and fold away for winter storage. This DIY project is a bit labor-intensive, but the results make it worth it.
Before: Beat Up Back Door
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Backdoor-3-Two-Days-Ago.jpg)
On many homes, the utility meter sticks out like a very sore thumb. Whose home is painted that drab institutional gray, after all?
After: Camouflaged with Color
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Backdoor-10-5-With-Deck.jpg)
Simply take a cue from the chameleons and paint the box to match the surrounding wall. Suddenly, the offensive box just blends into the scenery. Use rust-resistant outdoor paint (and consider checking with your utility company before painting).
Related: Hard Sell: 7 Pretty House Colors That Scare Buyers Away
Before: Chipped Paint
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/scraping-paint.jpg)
Painting a less-than-lovely cinder block foundation helps a little bit, but it’s not a long-lasting fix—and when the paint begins to peel, it can really detract from a home’s curb appeal.
Related: Before and After: DIY Facelifts for 8 Home Exteriors
After: Fresh Facade
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Foundation-Refacing.jpg)
A product called Ledgestone is designed just for spruce-up jobs such as this. It comes in easy-to-use sheets, but you’ll need a diamond blade saw to cut the edges to fit. Epoxy and a sealant keep the whole thing together.
Related: No-Fail Exterior Paint Colors
Before: Unsightly Septic Tank
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen_Shot_2016-03-31_at_10.54.11_PM.png)
The concrete lid of a septic tank is definitely an eyesore in this otherwise verdant landscape.
After: Secret Garden
![](https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screen_Shot_2016-03-31_at_10.52.23_PM.png)
This clever gardener covered the lid with mulch, which can be easily swiped to one side when access to the tank is needed. A few potted plants, surrounded by more mulch, and a pretty bird feeder top it all off. Guests will never know what’s lurking below.