30 Beautiful DIY Greenhouse Designs & Ideas (2024)

Last Updated on February 19, 2024 by Kimberly Crawford

A greenhouse garden offers several advantages over a traditional garden. Regardless of the scale of your garden, these advantages can be availed.

The idea of a greenhouse has existed in ancient times such as the Roman era, where plants were grown in environmentally controlled situations.

Around the 17th or 18th century, greenhouses became prominent in England and the Netherlands. The basic idea behind a greenhouse is to provide adequate heat to plants (and thereby protecting them from the harsh weather) through the approaching solar radiation through the transparent glass.

A greenhouse consists of a glass (preferably transparent) enclosure (such as dome) inside of which plants are grown throughout the year.

In this article

Materials Needed

Transparent plastic or glass
Wood or metal for frames
Screws and nails
Measuring tape
Hammer
Screwdriver

Steps to Build a Greenhouse

1. Plan Your Greenhouse

Planning is the very first step. Determine the size, location, and type of plants you will grow. Consider the sunlight exposure and accessibility to water and electricity.

2. Gather Your Materials

This includes selecting the right type of frame material (wood or metal), and the covering (plastic or glass).

3. Build Your Frame

Start with the base, ensuring it’s level and stable. Next, construct the walls and roof, ensuring they are securely attached.

4. Install the Covering

Attach your plastic or glass to the frame, ensuring it’s tight and secure. This will protect your plants from weather, and allow sunlight in.

5. Set Up Inside

This includes setting up the internal layout. Install benches, watering systems, and possibly heating if required.

Greenhouse plans

Technically speaking, there are 2 common ways of greenhouse design. Span-type and lean-to type. The former comprises of double sloped or A-shaped structures and the latter consists of a single roof and is supported onto the side of a building.

At least one of the sides of a greenhouse needs to be facing the sun’s rays and hence needs to be made of glazing material such as glass.

Nowadays, Polyethylene or Polyvinyl are commonly used for making these enclosures. The frame for a greenhouse can be made using steel (galvanized against corrosion), wood or Aluminum.

Modern techniques for heating a greenhouse include complimenting solar radiation with hot water and steam. In this way, the energy from the sun can be used for heating water. Based on the temperature requirements, a greenhouse can be classified into
· Warm greenhouse
· Cool greenhouse

What can I grow in a greenhouse?

The selection of plants for growing in a greenhouse depends on the plants’ temperature requirements during day, night, and topography. Vegetables, ornamental plants, shrubs, and tropical plants can be grown in a greenhouse.

In a warm greenhouse, temperatures during nighttime are relatively higher than that of a cool greenhouse. Hence, flowery plants such as roses, orchids, African violets, and ferns are best suited to grow in a warm greenhouse.

Plants such as fuchsias, sweet peas, geraniums, tulips, and hyacinths that require lower temperatures during nighttime can be grown in a cool greenhouse.

How can I make a greenhouse at home?

Making a greenhouse at your home can be done in a matter of a few hours. Always choose a flat area where there is little obstruction to direct sunlight.

Some do it as part of landscaping your garden. Wooden frames can be used to support the glass/plastic enclosure. For the removal of rainwater, attach PVC pipes to the foundation’s sideboards. For heating water requirements, use PVC pipes, which can run along the frames of your greenhouse.

The material for covering your greenhouse could be clear plastic (4-6 milligram thickness) if the purpose is for growing plants. Polymer films lower the temperature and light content inside the greenhouse, resulting in a constant setting inside the enclosure. Polypropylene shaded plastics (up to 35%) also do the same job.

What is the best type of glass for a greenhouse?

Different types of glass material exist for making a greenhouse the most efficient.

Single pane glass
Double-paned glass
Tempered glass
Annealed glass
Laminated glass

The choice of glass depends on a variety of factors such as budget, location, purpose, and longevity.

Is green or clear better for a greenhouse?

Clear glass is more efficient than a coated glass enclosure for greenhouse since it allows more solar radiation to pass through. It also offers better heat and light conditions inside the greenhouse.

How do you keep a greenhouse warm?

If the location of your greenhouse gets very cold during winter, providing an alternative heat source can be thought of. Covering your greenhouse using insulating material is also a worthwhile option. Providing thermal water storage tanks and additional glazing to the enclosure will also keep the greenhouse warm.

What vegetables grow well in a greenhouse?

Depending on the season, different varieties of vegetables can be grown inside your greenhouse. Lettuce, cabbages, peas, broccoli, and carrots can be grown in the warm season. Peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash can be grown during colder times.

Can you grow all year round in a greenhouse?

Yes, it is very much possible to grow plants throughout the year inside your greenhouse due to its artificial nature, adaptability, and ability to change plants depending on the season.

1. A greenhouse using old antique windows

Using old antique windows is the easiest idea that you can try at home. It is the project that uses the old windows to make a square housing for your greenhouse. You will create a door, and then get a horse pipe in it for easy watering.

Source: https://simplycountrylife.blogspot.com/2012/02/greenhouse-just-in-time-for-spring.html

2. Cedar branch greenhouse

DIY projects are always about the simple things we can do with materials in our homes. The cedar branch greenhouse is another smart idea that uses a cold frame that serves as a mini greenhouse.

You can rely on the mini greenhouse during the cold seasons but make sure that you remove it during the warm seasons.

Source: https://learn.eartheasy.com/2012/06/how-to-make-an-instant-cloche-to-protect-seedlings/

3. Using storm windows to make a greenhouse

Do you have some old storm windows in your old store? It is time to try something new with this material that you may have deemed useless.

All the steps you will have to follow to get the work done are simple. Check out the source link for inspiration on how to start over the DIY greenhouse project.

Source: https://gardentherapy.ca/old-window-greenhouse/

4. CD case greenhouse

CD case greenhouse is among the cute ideas that you will need to try especially if you always have the heart for a greenhouse. You don’t have to think so much about the expensive requirements that make up the greenhouse. Check the source below and get inspiration for everything you need to know about it.

Source: https://www.soyouthinkyourecrafty.com/cd-case-greenhouse-tutorial/

5. Plastic bottles greenhouse

Do you stay in a place where plastic bottles are available, and you are just thinking about a greenhouse? It could be an opportunity for you to use plastic bottles. Check out the source below and learn the steps for making a plastic bottle greenhouse.

Source: https://dengarden.com/landscaping/How-to-Build-a-Greenhouse-Made-From-Plastic-Bottles

6. Removable cover greenhouse

Making a removable cover greenhouse is easy. You will only need a ground frame that will hold the removable cover greenhouse. The purpose of the ground frame is to protect the burrowing pests from interfering with your cover. Check out the steps from the source below for real inspiration about the DIY greenhouse project.

Source: https://swingncocoa.blogspot.com/2013/04/covered-green-house.html

7. Frame-shaped wooden greenhouse

The frame-shaped wooden greenhouse looks nice, and all you will need are the wooden frames. You need a conventional height to allow for a better space for the growth of plants.

Check out the instructions from the source and see if you can get started with the greenhouse project.

Source: https://www.blackanddecker.com/en/ideas-and-inspiration/projects/greenhouse-how-to

8. The fold-down greenhouse

The fold-down greenhouse is another project that you should start right away. It is a convenient project that won’t demand a lot from you. You can be sure to have a beautiful garden without any worries about the weather.

Check the source for real inspirations about everything you need to know about the fold-down greenhouse.

Source: https://www.goodshomedesign.com/how-to-build-a-fold-down-greenhouse/

9. Geodome greenhouse plan

Here is a cute free greenhouse plan that you can try at home. The Geodome greenhouse is a cute idea that you will love doing since it looks attractive to the eye. It will discharge the greenhouse functions that you intend to use.

Get all the instructions from the northern homestead on steps on how to go about the Geodome greenhouse.

Source: https://northernhomestead.com/how-to-build-a-geodome-greenhouse/

10. Low-cost greenhouse plan

The greenhouse budget can be so high, and you are just not ready to incur all the costs. What if you try a low-cost greenhouse project that will cost less than 50 dollars?

You have some materials already at your disposal, meaning that you can still cut out the costs. Check the instructions from the source here.

Source: https://doorgarden.com/2008/10/27/50-dollar-hoop-house-green-house/

11. Free greenhouse plan

If you can master the tips from the howtospecialist, then you can easily depend on them for a free greenhouse plan. It only takes a few days before the project is ready. It is a DIY greenhouse project that will effectively discharge the roles of a greenhouse.

Source: https://howtospecialist.com/garden/greenhouse/free-greenhouse-plans/

12. Arched PVC greenhouse

The arched PVC greenhouse is the best DIY greenhouse project that you should try ta home. It uses complete PVC pipes to erect cute greenhouse plans.

Check out the steps from the source below and see if you can save some dollars which you could have otherwise invested on an elaborate greenhouse.

Source: https://www.pvcplans.com/pvc-greenhouse.htm

13. Barn greenhouse

Have you tried the barn-style greenhouse? It is a free DIY greenhouse that has all the instructions from the source below.

It’s a cute project that will help you maintain your crops. All the materials that it uses are easy to get since it uses corrugated metals and plastic on the sides.

Source: https://www.ana-white.com/woodworking-projects/diy-greenhouse

14. Straw bale greenhouse

Here is a cute DIY greenhouse project that will only require you to spend on the materials you will use for roofing.

The rest are available at home, and it will be a cost-effective greenhouse project that you will always love. Check out all the details from the source link below.

Source: https://hackhew.com/2015/09/14/pegoda-a-greenhouse-reimagined/

15. Little window greenhouse plan

The little window greenhouse plan ranks among the best DIY greenhouse plans that you will want to try at home.

If you have the old little windows that may seem less useful, you can modify them to make a nice DIY greenhouse project. Check the instructions from the source attached here.

Source: https://www.craftsalamode.com/2012/10/little-window-house.html