36 Greenhouse Design Ideas That Will Inspire You

A greenhouse allows you to garden all year long, no matter the weather. Find greenhouses for every style, budget and setting, plus get tips on how to set up and maintain a greenhouse.

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By: Jeff Stafford, Felicia Feaster, and Jacquelyn McGilvray

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Add the Functional Beauty of a Greenhouse

If you're a gardener, then greenhouses are a great way to extend the growing season all year so you can enjoy orchids or fruit trees or even vegetables any time of year. But greenhouses are more than just a place to grow. Whether attached to the house or designed as a separate building, greenhouses can be contemplative spaces that allow you to relish the great outdoors even in the dead of winter. Their glass windows offer an often 360-degree view of the outdoors and allow you to stay warm and toasty even when there is snow on the ground.

This sweet steel-and-glass greenhouse offers year-round gardening opportunities for residents of the Maryland manor estate adjoining it.

Learn More: 10 Backyard Greenhouses You Can Buy Online

From: Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc.

Shop Owners' Place for Desert Plants

Atlanta couple Cary Smith and Libby Hockenberry, owners of the Victorian Atlanta, have built several small greenhouses in their backyard to allow them to experiment with new kinds of plants to sell in their plant store; this way they’re experts on everything before they try and sell them to anyone else. In this greenhouse, they leveled the ground, covered it with Indiana creek gravel and built a nurturing environment for desert plants that wouldn’t otherwise do so well in the Atlanta humidity. Tour Cary and Libby's plant-filled home in the link below.

See More of This Home: Tour an Artsy Atlanta Home Full of Houseplants and Botanicals

Disney-Inspired Greenhouse

These homeowners love all things Disney, especially Disney World's Epcot, which is home to one of the biggest flower and garden shows in the world. So, they decided to pay homage to their favorite theme park’s landmark in their backyard by installing a 22' x 11' geodesic-domed greenhouse complete with a hydroponic growing system.

Cold Frame vs. Greenhouse: What's the Difference?

A cold frame is typically a wood box with a glass or plastic lid that uses passive solar to protect plants from cold weather. It is often placed below the ground’s frost line, which also helps insulate the plants. A greenhouse can be a structure of almost any size, and although some may use passive heat sources, they often utilize electricity or gas to heat and cool the space. A cold frame is great for hardening off seedlings that you’ve grown indoors and for growing cool-weather crops in the winter. But you won’t be able to grow tropical or warm-weather plants in a cold frame in the winter months. With a climate-controlled greenhouse, you can grow a variety of plants throughout the cold weather, plus do all that a cold frame can do, too.

Get the How-To: How to Build a Cold Frame

Raised Bed Greenhouse

The accessibility and portability of this raised-bed greenhouse is bound to lead to a lot of plant productivity. The 46" x 46" raised garden greenhouse is perfect for growing in small spaces. It sits 28 inches off the ground to make gardening accessible to everyone. The lids can lock open for full access to do your planting and harvesting or for ventilation. The polycarbonate panels also help protect plants from pests and the cold. Plus, the lightweight materials make it easy to disassemble and move the greenhouse. The structure includes two planting areas, internal water drainage and plant hangers for trellising. Plus, it has built-in storage space for gardening tools and accessories. Take a look at some more greenhouses you can buy online.

Buy It: Amazon, $454.31

Salvaged Doors + Windows

We love this charming greenhouse attached to the back of the home's garage. It was built inexpensively from salvaged windows, a dumpster-dive door, recycled lumber, an old clawfoot tub and other repurposed building supplies. Because it is attached to the home, electricity and water were easily run to the greenhouse, making it convenient to water the plants and control the climate.

See More of This Space: Tour a Greenhouse Made From Upcycled Windows

Montana Winter Garden

Packed with functional growing space and clever ideas for reusing vintage finds, photographer and farmer Becca Skinner's Montana greenhouse is a dream come true, especially in winter. The 14’ x 20’ kit is from Cedar Built Greenhouses. Becca chose to go with a custom, wider build (their typical greenhouse is 12 feet) because she wanted enough space to fit a dinner table inside for hosting events or dinner parties. There are eight automatic vents on the roof to let hot air out in the summer and two fans near the floor vents to help move air through when it starts to warm up.

See More of This Greenhouse: Warm and Welcoming: Tour a Vintage-Inspired Greenhouse in Montana

Consider Buying DIY Instructions + Plans

A custom-built conservatory or hothouse can be very expensive — save money and build your own. DIY greenhouse plans with cut lists and step-by-step instructions are readily available online starting at around $10. They'll make the process a lot easier and stress-free. This combination greenhouse and shed was built from a plan that was purchased from an Etsy shop.

SHOP: The Best DIY Greenhouse Kits and Plans

The Right Flooring Matters

Greenhouse floors need to have excellent drainage. Floors can be made of concrete, stone slabs, brick, sand or even dirt. Gravel floors provide excellent drainage and can be used in conjunction with a weed barrier to keep weeds from growing up through the rocks.

Learn More: How to Set Up a Greenhouse and Flooring Options

Water-Wise Greenhouse

To conserve water and save money, these greenhouse owners installed rain barrels underneath each of the gutters to collect valuable runoff to water the plants inside and out. A trio of cold frames on the side of the greenhouse extends the growing season and the growing space.

Learn More: Save Water (and Money!) With a DIY Rain Barrel System

Elegant Cresting

Ridge cresting, jalousie windows and the semi-circle detail in the eave give this aluminum greenhouse a quaint English-country look. The louvered windows and ceiling vents provide plenty of temperature control and airflow on warm days.

SHOP: 10 Backyard Greenhouses You Can Buy Online

Upcycled Window Tabletop Greenhouse

Do you want a small greenhouse for hardening off seedlings or overwintering cool-season edibles? This mini tabletop glasshouse may be your answer. Constructed from four old windows and a table, this charming greenhouse is accessible for all gardeners. It is also lightweight, so two people could easily carry it in or out of the sun. The tin tile roof helps reflect sunlight and adds passive warmth to the interior.

Get the How-To: Turn Old Windows Into a Gorgeous Garden Greenhouse

Garden Shed + Greenhouse Combo

This adorable garden shed on Long Island, New York, has a glass-walled kick-out where the homeowner puts his plants in the winter and starts seeds in the spring. The adorable 91-square-foot shed with its charming Dutch door also houses all the garden tools.

Find More Ideas: 20 Great Garden Sheds and Potting Benches You'll Want in Your Backyard

Greenhouse Getaway Exterior

A dramatic, beckoning feature in a Douglasville, Georgia, backyard, homeowner Susanne Hudson's greehouse is not only used as a place for plants and greenery, but also as a place to display her many collections. See inside on the next slide.

Learn More: Tour a Georgia Garden Where Hydrangeas and Vintage Collectibles Rule

Greenhouse Getaway Interior

Susanne loves to relax and unwind in her lovely backyard greenhouse, a botanist's paradise. A comfy daybed loaded with plenty of pillows makes this a wonderful space to lounge with some gardening books. See more of this space in the next slide.

Greenhouse Getaway Interior

Susanne loves to collect natural elements like seashells, rocks and driftwood. She displays these treasures in glass jars, trays and shelves all along the walkway in her eclectic greenhouse. See more of this space in the next slide.

Greenhouse Getaway Interior

A way to enjoy her garden no matter the weather, as well as highlight her love of antiques, Susanne's pretty greenhouse offers many visual delights.

See More of This Backyard: Tour a Georgia Garden Where Hydrangeas and Vintage Collectibles Rule

Make Sure to Have a Solid Surface

Fenced all the way around, this spacious backyard was designed to encourage the entire family — including the kids — to take an interest in gardening. Before assembling a ready-made greenhouse like this one, the homeowners installed 12” x 12” pavers on top of a bed of sand to make sure they had a level surface for the greenhouse to sit upon.

See More of This Backyard: Grow Together in a Garden That Works for Kids and Parents, Too

Classic and Sleek

Like a little black dress, this 8’ x 12’ greenhouse is simple but oh-so-elegant. Made of an extra strong aluminum framework, its enamel finish is maintenance-free. Automatic rooftop ventilation makes sure it doesn’t get too stale and musty.

Learn More: How to Set Up a Greenhouse and Flooring Options

The All-Season Solarium

A solarium can function as a living room and plant showcase as in this striking combo of stone walls, white frame glass panels and ridge cresting from Conservatory Craftsmen.

Glass Artistry Exterior

This spacious greenhouse, designed by Groundswell Design Group, embraces both indoor and outdoor living with its custom-made fire pit and patio. We love the pairing of hard stone against the soft plantings — from the gabion retaining walls and the tiered natural-stone stairway to the variety of ornamental grasses and groundcovers. See the inside of this greenhouse in the next slide.

Find More Ideas: 60 Gorgeous Fire Pit Ideas and DIYs

Glass Artistry Interior

In the previous slide, we featured the outside of this luxurious greenhouse. The inside is not just a place to grow plants, it's also the homeowner's favorite getaway — in their own backyard. A large woodburning stove and radiant floor heat mean they can enjoy the space year-round.

The Lean-To Look

Using your home as the fourth wall of your greenhouse is a great way to save money and help provide radiant heat to your plants. Here, the homeowners used the existing patio and just added a concrete footer for the greenhouse to sit upon. Another plus of a home-attached greenhouse is easy access to electricity and water. When buying a greenhouse, look for windows that are tempered safety glass and a rustproof frame like this one.

Learn More: Water and Lighting in a Greenhouse

Mahogany Conservatory

A greenhouse can function as a stylish adjoining room to your home where you can enjoy an indoor garden year-round. The all-mahogany frame, ridge cresting and stone walls of this design by Conservatory Craftsmen also includes in-floor heating.

Learn More: How to Set Up a Greenhouse and Flooring Options

Grand Garden Room

With its striking cresting roof line, transom windows and stone walls, this elegant solarium is a wanted destination for plants and people. The surrounding stone retaining walls and black wrought-iron railing mimics the grand greenhouse making the structure even more magnificent.

Most Charming Potting Shed

The front and back walls of this adorable greenhouse are built from hand-thrown brick while the side walls and roof are made of tempered glass. Corner finials, gothic-style and port-hole windows, along with a French door, add a ton of elegance to the idyllic surroundings.

Find More Ideas: 35 Amazing Shed Makeover Ideas You'll Want to Steal

Northwest Cedar

This natural wood greenhouse offers gardeners the beauty, warmth and natural ambiance of a solid cedar conservatory. The 8' x 16' structure features a high peak roof that allows summer heat to rise and easily sheds snow in the winter. Red cedar is a great choice for greenhouses because it is insect resistant and won't rot like other woods.

Find More Ideas: 10 Backyard Greenhouses You Can Buy Online

Creative Lighting

Greenhouses are no longer just for growing plants and are now being enjoyed by homeowners as garden retreats, artist studios, exterior living rooms and architectural showpieces. This backyard getaway has all the attributes of a nature conservatory — we especially love the old-school streetlight standing in the center — but it can serve many other purposes with its all-glass structure and auto-open roof vents.

Find More Ideas: 25 Swoon-Worthy Outdoor Chandeliers for Every Design Style

Keeping It Cool

During the summer months, consider hanging white curtains along the hottest wall in your greenhouse. The white fabric not only creates shade, but it won’t absorb the sun’s heat and re-emit back into the greenhouse.

Learn More: Water and Lighting in a Greenhouse

Look for Sturdy + Practical Doors

Sliding doors that open wide make it easy to move large planters and tables in and out of the greenhouse. Speaking of doors, when choosing a greenhouse for your yard, it's important to have secure door latches to help lock in humidity and moisture, two elements necessary for plants to thrive inside.

Find More Ideas: 10 Backyard Greenhouses You Can Buy Online

Silo Home Greenhouse

This off-the-grid home made partially from an old silo has an attached greenhouse that serves as a dining area as well as a place to house plants. The use of upcycled windows on both the greenhouse and silo is a totally cost-saving, Earth-friendly move that also gives the space a super cool boho vibe.

New England Style

Made from powder-coated white cast aluminum, this stunning creation by Christopher Lines & Associates has a French limestone floor and is ideal for year-round entertaining and serves as a backyard retreat from the main house.

Be Sure to Have Proper Ventilation

Latched vents on the roof and jalousie windows allow for proper ventilation as needed. Both are so integrated into the overall look that when they're closed, they simply disappear.

Learn More: Water and Lighting in a Greenhouse

Greenhouse Furniture + Accessories

Inside your greenhouse, stick with shelves and vessels that are low maintenance and easy to keep clean and tidy with a garden hose and heavy-duty nozzle. A variety of plant stands will allow you to move things around as the plants grow. Tables and benches made from wood slats allow water to freely drain from containers.

Retrofitted Greenhouse Roof

Get the most out of your outdoor shed by customizing it to serve multiple purposes. This garden shed comes equipped with a polycarbonate panel roof that lets in an abundance of natural light and keeps the cold out in winter so it has the ability to double as a greenhouse.

Find More Ideas: 20 Great Garden Sheds and Potting Benches You'll Want in Your Backyard

Tall and Green

Perfect for small spaces or as a starter greenhouse, an 6' x 8' model like this combines stylish design with durability. The tall door allows for extra airflow and the powder-coated green frame blends in perfectly with any garden setting.

Learn More: Water and Lighting in a Greenhouse

36 Greenhouse Design Ideas That Will Inspire You

Related To:

Shop This Look

Add the Functional Beauty of a Greenhouse

Shop Owners' Place for Desert Plants

Disney-Inspired Greenhouse

Cold Frame vs. Greenhouse: What's the Difference?

Raised Bed Greenhouse

Salvaged Doors + Windows

Montana Winter Garden

Consider Buying DIY Instructions + Plans

The Right Flooring Matters

Water-Wise Greenhouse

Elegant Cresting

Upcycled Window Tabletop Greenhouse

Garden Shed + Greenhouse Combo

Greenhouse Getaway Exterior

Greenhouse Getaway Interior

Greenhouse Getaway Interior

Greenhouse Getaway Interior

Make Sure to Have a Solid Surface

Classic and Sleek

The All-Season Solarium

Glass Artistry Exterior

Glass Artistry Interior

The Lean-To Look

Mahogany Conservatory

Grand Garden Room

Most Charming Potting Shed

Northwest Cedar

Creative Lighting

Keeping It Cool

Look for Sturdy + Practical Doors

Silo Home Greenhouse

New England Style

Be Sure to Have Proper Ventilation

Greenhouse Furniture + Accessories

Retrofitted Greenhouse Roof

Tall and Green

10 Backyard Greenhouses You Can Buy Online

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