GREENHOUSE MAKEOVER - THIS HOME GROWS

Today I’m sharing how an old well-used aluminium framed greenhouse can be transformed into something beautiful with a This Home Grows makeover.

It’s been a labour of love but a lot of fun seeing hubby’s skills grow and now to see how much our family uses this greenhouse. There’s no better way of stepping back from the fast pace of everyday life than heading outside and, in my case, into the greenhouse.

Why a greenhouse makeover?

A makeover allowed us to retain the functional elements of the greenhouse whilst being creative with colour and design.

Hubby has wanted a greenhouse for some time and would have settled for anything however I needed its design to match its utility. The garden could be viewed as part of the home interior and your style should be reflected here as it is on the inside. Without the budget for a dream National Trust version the search began to grow our own, This Home Grows style. It’s not about what it looks like at the start, it’s about what it can become.

So, when we spotted an algae-covered greenhouse ‘free to a good home’, I knew we’d found the one for our makeover project. All the glass was intact and it included a potting bench, bonus!

The greenhouse would be sitting proudly in the kitchen garden in view from the house so I wanted it to look beautiful and be a feature. To find out how we created our kitchen garden, it’s all in my post A Kitchen Garden To Grow Your Own. Whilst we may not have a Petit Trianon with a greenhouse fit for Marie-Antoinette, we will have an attractive greenhouse in a picturesque setting.

To us, items with an inherited feel offer the most potential. Like any project worth doing, it just takes time and patience to unearth it. A well-used potting bench or rusty frame tells the story of a preloved item and it’s about how to give them new life. But sometimes, a little imagination and hands on time is all that’s needed to turn an old item into the perfect one for you.

Don’t be afraid to see what’s up for grabs in your local area. Often people will list greenhouses for free that are old and they just want removed from their gardens. Just because something’s old, it doesn’t mean it’s not got more to give. Creating a beautiful greenhouse doesn’t have to cost the earth. Amazing results can be achieved from a simple aluminum frame and hopefully we’re about to show that…

Safety first

Once you have your old aluminum greenhouse frame, check the structure so you know it’s safe and ready for its makeover. Before we could get properly started on the design tasks, we needed to do a few repairs. With four previous owners, you’d expect a bit of wear and tear but these were easily fixed using a standard greenhouse repair kit from Amazon.

Start with the base

Before you can grow your greenhouse into something more aesthetically pleasing you need to think about the base. You know how it goes here, in order to grow we often need others to help. It was perfect timing to salvage my aunt’s old patio slabs and turn them into a perfect greenhouse base, or Dad and hubby did!? Gardening is all about being resourceful. Using reclaimed materials where possible is not only cost effective but good for the planet.

My dad’s talent in making old patio slabs look beautiful came in extremely handy. What did he expect after he’d done such a brilliant job of repointing the whole of our outdoor patio. Learning new skills in retirement Dad ;). We laid the slabs straight onto earth (which I am sure professional landscapers will be horrified with) but it is sufficient for what we need. It also means there is minimal work if we ever need to move it.

The whole project relies on reusing an old greenhouse and transforming it into something unique. Any other materials that you can reclaim will keep your greenhouse makeover at a reasonable cost. This includes any tools you might require. We’ve managed to find so many brilliant second hand garden tools from local sales and listings. See that spade in the left-hand part of the picture, well it’s a second-hand military issued one from the 1940s that’s still going strong!

Add texture

Next, it was choosing a material that would withstand the seasons. Metal frames can look great as modern and industrial structures, but I wanted to add warmth and longevity by introducing wood. Replacing the lower panes only would enhance the metal structure without compromising on light. Replacement glass is cheap but if you are worried about safety there are PVC alternatives.

Hubby, a self-taught and DIY whizz, quickly got to work on building the wooden inset frame. This was the only significant cost incurred for our greenhouse makeover. By adding wood, we’ve invested in this structures future and it gives the greenhouse the rustic, handcrafted elegance it needed. The wood is simple tongue and groove with fence capping rails which came to approximately £150. Luckily, they fitted perfectly without having to cut lengthways. Horizontal sections were used to fix in place on the back (see finished picture below). For more information on how to construct your own, please do not hesitate to fill in a Contact Form or DM us on Instagram.

Time to decorate

First, apply a primer suitable for metal then add a few even coats of paint to both the frame and wood. The beauty is that it can be refreshed and changed over time, growing with us and the garden. Using a single colour helps to unify the materials and soften its appearance. We used the trusty Cuprinol paint in the same shade as our garden furniture. It’s a firm favourite.

I had to style it up before it was considered complete. I found this big wooden heart in TK Maxx reduced to £6 that I absolutely adore. Festoon lights saved from our wedding add the perfect glow in the evening and it feels romantic inside from their light. These well-used planters dress the entrance and I remember finding this roller when we first moved into This Home and wanted to hold onto it. Now it’s found its place with a new story.

Greenhouse makeover complete

There you have it, one free, upcycled greenhouse made beautiful. It’s where the garden meets interior and provides another extension to This Home. It has become so much more during this makeover and, quite frankly, it’s a little sanctuary.

As found by an RHS study, a daily dose of gardening boosts your mental wellbeing as much as running or cycling. When work finishes, the greenhouse is that place to go and contemplate without distraction. It’s a creative space to experiment and show Esme how we grow. I’ve enjoyed watching every family member step in and potter. Now, a happy place to nurture ourselves as well as the plants.

What’s next?

There’s a strong desire to continue growing more from seed. It’s not only cost-effective but an incredibly satisfying way of filling the raised beds and garden with variety and colour. Having the greenhouse now gives us more room to sow more trays without filling every sunny windowsill indoors. It also means we can trial new plants. We also hope to find a spot around the greenhouse to grow our own cut flowers next year.

More than a greenhouse

More than a greenhouse to meeee, sang in a Bee Gees tune. I’ve grown up hearing a lot of it! Anyway, Willow Crossley notes in her book, The Wild Journal, that “immersing yourself in nature can increase your creativity and create curiosity”. She doesn’t know me from Adam, nor her I, but you know when someone’s words just resonate on a level that makes you feel like you know them? Yes this journal is that. Where’s a more wonderful, effective place to visit every day than the greenhouse you and your family have grown? Surrounded by plants, looking out at the blue skies with greenery at every angle. It feels pretty special. Grow that space yourself, you can do it.

If you’re interested in finding comfort, not just in growing your own but doing so in style, then what are you waiting for? Find an old greenhouse that’s calling for someone to love again and make it beautiful. Everything deserves a chance to grow. Please don’t forget to tag us @thishomegrows so we can see your makeovers.

As with everything we do, we’re sharing our story in real time. I hope you’ll visit This Home Grows again to see what we’re up to next. We’re already onto our next garden project and this one’s for Esme. Check out our garden highlights on Instagram.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and happy home growing.

Hols x