Jump to:
If you have an old greenhouse in your garden, and you don’t plan to use it for planting, you will be pleased to learn there are other options. Rather than dispose of it, you can still make the most of one with these greenhouse alternative ideas beyond gardening.
Turning a Greenhouse into a Sauna
Using a greenhouse as a sauna might sound unusual, but it can work, especially if you have a full-glass unit. For one, the glass traps heat, and this collected heat warms the space, giving you that sauna feeling on a really hot day.
Extra heat sources like a wood-burning stove or infrared heater can build up more heat inside, but you’d need good ventilation to prevent overheating and allow fresh air to circulate.
Tips: If yours has roof and/or side vents, make sure to open them to release excess heat and humidity. Opening the door slightly also works if vents aren’t an option. Alternatively, this BillyOh Aurora 2-in-1 Free Standing Electric Patio Heater is worth considering if you have electricity in your greenhouse.
Backyard Glamping Greenhouse Tent
This is brilliant if you or your family enjoy camping in the garden. Swap your usual tent for a greenhouse by throwing a large tarpaulin over the top. This provides you with a tall, tent-like building, perfect for glamping (glamorous camping).
You can create gaps in the fabric to look up at the night sky through its clear glass roof! However, you might have to deal with the hard surface underneath the greenhouse, rather than the grass that people normally camp on.
Access to electricity is optional, but it’s best to have it so you can hang string lights, use a heating source if you’re glamping during colder months, and power some electric appliances.
Sunroom Home Extension
Glass makes up the entire sunroom, which makes a greenhouse a perfect alternative for enjoying the sun in your home. And since most sunrooms are attached to the side or back of the house, this idea will particularly work for lean-to greenhouses.
The BillyOh Polycarbonate Lean-To Greenhouse is a great example. It’s built with rust-free aluminium framing and twin-wall polycarbonate full and panoramic windows. There’s also a built-in opening vent for ventilation and guttering for drainage. Even better, a galvanised steel base is included for a strong foundation.
Attach it to your patio so it connects the outdoors with an indoor space, and you’ll have a glass-enclosed porch or living room with sunny exposure.
Tip: A summer house is another garden building that makes a great sunroom alternative. But rather than being attached to a wall or building, it’s a freestanding unit. With its fully cladded walls and a proper floor, it is likely to be more cool and comfortable than a greenhouse.
Read our guide, ‘What’s the Difference Between a Summerhouse and a Sunroom?’ to learn more.
Indoor-Outdoor Dining Space
A greenhouse is still an enclosed space, which makes it a great option for a garden dining room. Instead of having your dining set exposed on the patio, you can place it inside a greenhouse.
Plants make a lovely backdrop, while string lights, lanterns, or candles can add a warm glow in the evening. You can decorate the space to match each season or holiday celebration.
For instance, Christmas trees, ornaments, and poinsettias for Christmas. Or, a simple summer theme with a gingham tablecloth and bunting for BBQ parties.
The full windows of the greenhouse will give you and your guests a view of your garden, letting everyone enjoy the beauty of the outdoors while dining in a sheltered setting. Bonus if it’s snowing, making the celebration even more special!
Greenhouse Alternative Ideas: Round-up
These are just a few ideas for using your greenhouse beyond just housing plants. We’ve chosen options that best suit the structure and design a greenhouse already provides.
A sauna, a glamping tent (with a sturdier structure), a sunroom, or an indoor-outdoor dining space—may these ideas inspire you to get creative with how you use your greenhouse!
