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How to Make a Potting Shed from Old Doors

Published on May 14, 2018Last updated October 21, 2021 ♛ By Melissa J. Will

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Got some old doors? See how to upcycle old doors to create a charming little potting shed. This project is from the book, Upcycling Outdoors by Max McMurdo which includes 20 creative garden projects made from reclaimed materials.

If you would like ideas for shed designs, see this gallery of garden shed ideas. If you’re not sure what style of shed to choose, these shed buying tips are helpful.

Mini shed made from upcycled doors.
Potting shed made from old doors | Photos: Brent Darby

Make a Potting Shed from Upcycled Doors

Potting shed made from old doors
Potting shed made from old doors | Photo: Brent Darby

This project from the book, Upcycling Outdoors: 20 Creative Garden Projects Made from Reclaimed Materials by Max McMurdo with photos by Brent Darby is used with permission from The Quarto Book Group who also provided a review copy of this book.

Make a Little Potting Shed

Want to make a potting shed out of old doors?

This little potting shed is made from upcycled doors. This project is from the book, Upcycling Outdoors.
Potting shed made from old doors | Photo: Brent Darby

Greenhouses and potting sheds are not exactly known for looking beautiful. They are also not normally available to people with a small back garden or with limited access.

This three-door shed design utilizes gorgeous old, glazed doors, a scaffold board, and a bit of corrugated tin to create a usable yet stunning, cute and quirky shelter in which you can prepare and grow herbs and small plants.

Related: See my DIY Garden Tool Shed

Deliberately designed to be built in situ, the construction requires no power cables trailing out of your house, simply a battery-powered drill driver and a hand saw. You can completely strip and repaint the doors first if you wish, especially if your doors are very mismatched in style and finish, but I love the original shabby effect of the paint created by the old paint flaking off.

You can add additional, higher shelving if you require, to suit your needs. The glazing allows light through to your growing plants.

Old doors perfect for building a mini potting shed
Old doors | Photo: Brent Darby

Items to Source

• 3 old doors of the same height
• hinges (if none on doors)
• salvaged scaffold boards for shelves and roof supports
• corrugated tin (for roof)
• screws, rubber washers and covers

Tools

  • Electric drill
  • Angle grinder (to cut corrugated tin roof)
  • Wood saw
  • Measuring stick
  • Pencil
  • Ladder or stepping stool

1Screw Doors Together

Assembling mini potting shed
Assembling door potting shed | Photo: Brent Darby

 Clean the doors with sugar soap to remove grime. You can sand and paint them if you desire, but I just love the original patina on these. Fix the three doors together, using the original hinges and screws if present.

Using hinges to join doors.
Using hinges to join doors | Photo: Brent Darby

2Mark Off Shelves

Marking cut lines
Marking cut lines | Photo: Brent Darby

 Measure the interior width of the shed, mark and cut out shelves to suit using scaffold boards. (We will use the offcuts to create the wedges for the roof later.)

This shelf will be useful for storing plants, potting up and most importantly creating a rigid safe structure.

TAKE YOUR MEASURE FROM THE BACK WALL

3Attach Shelves

Hanging the shelf
Hanging the shelf | Photo: Brent Darby

Fit the shelves to the side and rear door to create structural rigidity through the doors using long screws. You can also add battens for extra support. As the shelf may get wet, I’ve decided to wax mine rustic brown.

Tip: As this is a large structure you may need help. Either use clamps or ask a friend.

4Cut Roof Supports

Preparing wood for roof supports
Preparing wood for roof supports | Photo: Brent Darby

Mark and cut the wedges to sit on top of the side doors. Angle from higher at the front to lower at the back – this will create a natural run-off for water, sloping away from the door to prevent drips as you enter.

Using a cut piece as a template
Use your cut piece as a template | Photo: Brent Darby

5Paint and Fix Wedges

Painting roof supports
Painting roof supports | Photo: Brent Darby

Paint or wax the wedges and front support. I’ve gone for matching subtle color, but you could create a feature using a bold colour if you’re feeling brave.

Installing roof supports
Installing roof supports | Photo: Brent Darby

6Cut Front Piece

Sawing front roof piece
Sawing front roof piece | Photo: Brent Darby

Using another offcut of scaffold board, create a support for the roof across the front of the shed.

7Cut Tin for Roof

Cutting tin roof with saw
Cutting tin roofing | Photo: Brent Darby

Measure your structure and add about 5cm (2-inches) on each edge to make sure you have an overhang large enough to prevent driving rain, but not so big that the wind gets in underneath. Cut and sand the rough edges carefully using an angle grinder.

Using angle grinder on roof
Using angle grinder on roof | Photo: Brent Darby

8Attach Roof

Putting tin roof in place
Putting tin roof in place | Photo: Brent Darby

Fit the corrugated tin roof using screws with rubber washers and covers. Fit these on the higher corrugations to prevent water sitting the troughs seeping through the holes.

You can also add a few hooks to hang tools from, if you like.

Fill with plants and admire your handy work.

This design is fantastic when space is limited in city dwellings and apartments—it could even be installed on a balcony and requires very little access.

Fixing tin roof in place
Fixing tin roof in place | Photo: Brent Darby

Again, here’s the finished potting shed:

This little potting shed is made from upcycled doors. This project is from the book, Upcycling Outdoors.
Potting shed made from old doors | Photo: Brent Darby

This is one of 20 creative upcycled projects in the book.

Upcycling Outdoors book cover

Upcycling Outdoors
20 Creative Garden Projects Made from Reclaimed Materials

by Max McMurdo

See it on Amazon

Discover your inner genius and learn how to transform unwanted junk into unique and creative garden designs with designer, upcycler and entrepreneur Max McMurdo. 

Time to get materials!

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

Mini shed made from upcycled doors.
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Melissa J. Will - Empress of DirtWelcome!
I’m Melissa J. Will a.k.a. the Empress of Dirt (Ontario, Canada).
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