Greenhouses are no longer the preserve of elite gardeners with sizable yards and seemingly bottomless pockets. Today’s designs come in all shapes and sizes to accommodate any budget. From compact indoor cabinets to ornate Victorian-style glasshouses, there are greenhouse ideas to suit every gardener. And the benefits of investing in your growing space are huge. At their most basic level, greenhouses can help extend your growing season by a month or two, or protect more tender plants over winter. Yet, elaborate designs can keep you gardening year-round and create a stunning showpiece that brings daily joy.
If you’re new to greenhouse gardening, then there is a lot to consider beyond just space and budget. Do you want a permanent structure that will feel like part of the garden, or a temporary greenhouse that can be rolled around or dismantled when not in use? Will it be positioned to receive full sun, requiring the use of shade cloths and greenhouse ventilation, or will it be in part shade, perhaps needing grow lights to give plants a boost? Do you want to grow hardier plants and veggies in an unheated greenhouse, or provide heating to grow more tender crops and plants? Materials matter too: glass, polycarbonate, or plastic sheeting all offer different levels of insulation, light transmission, and durability, while a wooden frame will require more upkeep than aluminum.
Whatever your growing ambitions, space, and budget, these greenhouse ideas will give you plenty of inspiration to get started.
1. DIY Greenhouse Kit
If you want the satisfaction of building your own greenhouse without designing it from scratch, then a DIY greenhouse is the ideal option. They are a great way to save on costs while learning the basics of greenhouse construction, as everything is supplied flat-packed.
Greenhouse kits are available in a huge range of sizes and usually have polycarbonate panels, which offer more resilience to wind, snow (and the occasional errant football). However, glass is an option if you prefer a more classic style. Check what material the frame is made from to ensure your greenhouse will be strong and rust-resistant. Reinforced aluminum frames, like those on this Idealhouse 6x8ft greenhouse available on Amazon, are lightweight and will stand up to the elements.
If you have a higher budget, then invest in a kit with galvanized steel frames, like these designs from YourGreenhouses, which are twice as strong as aluminum.
Just because a greenhouse is DIY, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to consult anyone. Even a small structure can trigger permit requirements if it requires a permanent foundation or exceeds a certain height. Beyond local government, some homeowner associations place further restrictions on structures, materials, and placement.
If you want power for heating and lighting, you’ll need to call in a licensed electrician. For water, a hose or rain barrel might suffice, but if you want to run in a dedicated pipeline, it’s best to call a plumber.
2. Portable Greenhouse
A portable greenhouse is an affordable and flexible option if you’re renting or looking to move in the near future. They are supplied as lightweight kits – or even pop-up grow tents – that are easy to assemble and take down when you’ve finished growing. Another plus point is that they can be easily moved around the garden to follow the sun or relocated entirely.
Portable greenhouses can be small designs that fit on a patio, or they can be fully walk-in designs, like the VEVOR Walk-in Greenhouse on Amazon, which comes with heavy-duty rust-proof tubes and sturdy shelves covered by a high-quality tarp.
While a more temporary solution than a DIY greenhouse, a portable design offers many of the same benefits, creating a warmer, more sheltered environment for starting seeds, hardening off seedlings, overwintering tender plants, and extending the growing season. If close to an outdoor power source, you can even provide heating in the form of a heat mat or small electric heater – just make sure you choose one suitable for humid greenhouse environments, like the GRPWWT Greenhouse Heater from Amazon.
3. Mini Greenhouse
No room for a big greenhouse, but still want to grow? Then a mini greenhouse is the perfect solution, suitable for compact yards, patios, and even balconies. They’re ideal for starting seeds, growing herbs, or protecting delicate plants. Design-conscious growers will love the classic cabinet style of this Bksfoaa Solid Wood Greenhouse Cabinet with Transparent Flip-Top Roof, on Amazon, which comes in two sizes and could be painted any color to suit your garden. If you’re looking for a more substantial design that’s truly built to last, invest in a Mini Lean-to Greenhouse from YourGreenhouses.
For a more temporary solution, opt for a self-contained shelving unit model, like the Worth Garden Upgraded 5-Tier Mini Greenhouse, which has wheels for easy relocation and can be folded up and stored at the end of the growing season.
4. Cold Frame Greenhouse
Similar in concept to a mini greenhouse, a cold frame is a more affordable and space-efficient way to get many of the benefits of a full-sized greenhouse. Traditionally, a cold frame is a low-to-the-ground wooden box with a transparent lid, like this Bar Harbor Cedar Cold Frame on Wayfair. Their design enables them to make the most of the earth as insulation and reduces exposure to harsh winds. However, in milder climates or more protected patios, this stylish Garden Wood Portable Cold Frame with Wheels from Amazon. elevates the plants and allows for a lower storage shelf below.
Cold frames aren’t usually heated, but they are ideal for protecting hardy crops from extreme frosts, winter sowing seeds, and hardening off seedlings in the spring.
5. Lean-to Greenhouse
A lean-to greenhouse is not only space-saving, but it’s also more energy efficient when attached directly to the wall of your house, as it benefits from the warmth of the building. This also gives the greenhouse more protection from the elements.
Designs can be solid fixed structures, like this Palram Canopia 4x8 Lean-To Greenhouse from Amazon, or they can be temporary solutions, like this Ohuhu Portable Walk-in Wall Mounted Greenhouse.
Because lean-to greenhouses are fixed against walls, their orientation makes a big difference to light levels. South-facing walls are ideal for capturing most sunlight during the day, while west-facing walls provide good afternoon warmth but can get quite hot in summer. A shade cloth, like this Cool Area mesh tarp from Amazon will help.
East-facing lean-tos get good morning light, but they may need support from grow lights in the afternoon during winter, such as the SANSI 192W String LED Grow Light, which is suitable for outdoor greenhouses.
6. Recycled & Upcycled Greenhouse
A recycled greenhouse is an eco-friendly way to get creative with your growing space. Greenhouses can be made from salvaged materials, like old windows that have been discarded after home renovations. You can even join together old plastic bottles to make windows and build a wooden frame to support them.
Not only is a recycled greenhouse better for the environment, but it adds character and uniqueness to your garden while saving money.
7. Hoop House
If you have more serious growing ambitions and plenty of space, then you’ll want to invest in a hoop house or high tunnel. These larger, arched structures are made with hoops and plastic sheeting. They are widely used in small farms but are increasingly popular among serious home gardeners, too, as they are great for extending the growing season and protecting crops at scale.
You can take advantage of this type of greenhouse in a smaller yard with a compact design like the Yitahome 10'x6.5'x6.5' Walk-in Tunnel Greenhouse, available on Amazon, or make the most of a big yard with the 44x10x7ft Extra Large Heavy Duty Walk-in Tunnel.
8. Smart Greenhouse
Kit out your greenhouse with smart technology for the ultimate growing experience. Automated systems can be used to monitor and control irrigation, temperature, and ventilation. Imagine vents and fans programmed to open or switch on when conditions get too hot or too damp; drip irrigation or misting setups linked to soil moisture sensors, so they deliver water only when needed; LED grow lights that turn on automatically when sunlight dips below a set level, and use programmable light cycles. All this can be set up to feed data straight to your phone so you have real-time insight into conditions without even stepping into the greenhouse.
You can even take it to the next level and make your greenhouse more sustainable by integrating solar panels to power lights, fans, and pumps.
If you’re on a budget or new to the concept of smart greenhouses, start with temperature control, as this will make the biggest difference to what you can grow. The Meross Smart Temperature Controller, available on Amazon, is compatible with various heating and cooling equipment and can be controlled remotely from anywhere using the internet.
9. Decorative Glasshouse
Take inspiration from historic Victorian glasshouses and create a classic design that’s both functional and truly beautiful. A traditional decorative glasshouse provides a stylish focal point while housing tropical or ornamental plants. It’s a true hobby room that can serve as a relaxing space to tend to your plants.
Though visually stunning, a Victorian-style glasshouse is much more of an investment, with quality designs costing $10,000s. It’s an option to consider if you want to make a dedicated space for your passion in your long-term home.
Take a look at greenhouses by Hartley Botanic, which sells the most breathtaking bespoke aluminum glasshouses, made in England.
10. Indoor Greenhouse
Who said you need a garden to have a greenhouse? You can garden year-round in a climate-controlled environment with an indoor greenhouse kitted out with growlights. It’s the perfect solution for nurturing herbs, microgreens, and houseplants – there’s no need to worry about frost or changing seasons.
Compact cabinet or shelf-style models fit neatly into kitchens, living rooms, or even home offices. Plant cabinets fitted with grow lights double as stylish furniture pieces, with sleek glass doors. But for something more serious, opt for a design like the Vevor Plant Stand from Amazon, which has four (or more) tiers fitted with grow lights connected to a timer and a thermometer that checks both temperature and humidity, so you can ensure a perfect growing environment.
