Greenhouse ideas – 10 glasshouse design tips for gardens of all sizes
10. Opt for lightweight aluminium
An aluminium greenhouse is designed to replicate the good looks of a timber structure. ‘Aluminium greenhouses simply need an occasional wash with soapy water,’ says Andy Hancox of Alitex.
Aluminium framed greenhouse ideas are loved for their lightweight composition, making construction quick and easy.
'Aluminium also enables thin but strong frames and glazing bars, allowing more light to flood the space,' adds Andy.
‘For extra strength and longevity, aluminium can be finished in a polyester powder coat. This extra layer is highly resistant to scratching, cracking, peeling, UV rays and rust. Maintenance is minimal – an annual clean is all that’s required.’
1. Use it for dining and entertaining
There’s a big trend these days for greenhouse ideas that are more than just for raising plants. Many designs are so stylish that they’re more akin to conservatory ideas, and they make ideal dining and sitting rooms, especially in fall and winter.
‘There is definitely a sense that the appreciation homeowners have for design inside their homes is now moving into their gardens, too. Their greenhouses may have a functional purpose, but they have a very clear design aesthetic with contemporary and architectural styles more popular than ever, with people introducing relaxation, dining and lifestyle elements into their greenhouses,’ says Hartley Botanic CEO, Tom Barry.
Lisa Morton, director at Vale Garden Houses, agrees that a greenhouse design can be a beautiful space for people as well as plants. ‘Painting a glasshouse in muted tones and choosing rustic furniture makes for a calm and relaxing room,’ she says.
2. Build a wall at the base
A greenhouse design ideas with a dwarf wall has several advantages over all-glass structures. The wall protects against low-level breakages from misfired footballs or errant stones sent into orbit by your mower, and hides any unsightly gardening paraphernalia like grow bags and weedkiller.
‘Dwarf walls also provide the opportunity to be creative in your use of materials and produce a very aesthetically pleasing result,’ says Christopher White of Hartley Botanic.
A dwarf wall built in similar brickwork to your home can help it settle harmoniously into place.
3. Increase your options
Keen gardeners with room to grow – literally – can opt for multiple greenhouses to create optimum growing conditions for different plants.
Different heating options, from cold frames and temperate to steamy and tropical, will broaden your horticultural horizons, creating unique microclimates in your own backyard.
4. Incorporate it into a kitchen garden
Position your greenhouse at the heart of your kitchen garden ideas and increase the amount and variety of crops that you can grow.
If you are growing tomatoes, more tender herbs such as basil, winter salads, eggplants, chilies, zucchinis and similar warmth loving vegetable or fruit crops, they will all thrive under glass. Tougher crops can be started off under glass and then transplanted to beds outside as part of your vegetable planting calendar.
5. Add a shed to your greenhouse
One part shed, one part greenhouse – grow-and-store garden buildings, that fuse greenhouse and shed ideas are highly practical.
This design has a glazed front half, which provides an attractive space to showcase your plants, while your gardening clutter and potting compost can be kept neatly out of sight as part of the shed storage ideas behind.
6. Bridge the gap
A glazed structure, such as a greenhouse idea, can provide a charming link between two buildings with different types of construction. It will also create a green oasis in the centre of your home.
'Here, the steep pitch roof, low eaves and feature doors help bridge the change in levels between the house and outbuildings,' explains Lisa Morton of Vale Garden Houses.
7. Go Victorian with a vine house
'The Victorians were the first to design vine house-style greenhouses, which utilise existing house or garden walls,' says Catherine Kirkland, marketing manager at Gabriel Ash.
One advantage of a vine house over a lean-to greenhouse is that the roof pitch is offset, so it doesn't require such a high wall to achieve a structure of decent height and width.
'The wall acts like a giant storage heater, absorbing warmth from the sun in the day and slowly releasing it during the night,' says Kirkland.
8. Choose clear glazing
Virtually invisible, a frameless glass structure, like this bespoke model from Pure Greenhouse, allows clear views of your garden’s flowers and produce, both inside and out.
Made from 10mm-thick toughened glass joined by slimline stainless-steel brackets, this design features an innovative full-ridge glass-to-glass ventilation system that promises commercial-level air control.
Even the shelving is frameless, allowing maximum light to reach plants on the lower levels, a perfect small vegetable garden idea for optimizing your growing space.
9. Get the natural look with wood
The latest innovations mean classic wooden greenhouse ideas aren't as maintenance heavy as they once were.
'Canadian western red cedar is very high in natural preservative oils, making it virtually immune from decay and a great choice for greenhouses,' says Richard Baggaley, director at The Greenhouse People.
Cedar also has a unique subtle aroma that can deter pests – handy when planning the best food to grow in a greenhouse.
However, although traditional timber structures are undeniably beautiful, there are some that will still require quite a lot of maintenance. ‘They need to be repainted every year or two and reglazed every five years, which is time-consuming and costly,’ says Andy Hancock, managing director at Alitex. ‘They can also be susceptible to warping, shrinking, expanding and, of course, rotting.’
Create the perfect growing space under glass with these greenhouse ideas for gardens large and small, and nurture tender and exotic plants and crops year-round.