How to Make a Potting Shed from Old Doors

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.

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Make a Potting Shed from Upcycled Doors

Make a Little Potting Shed

Want to make a potting shed out of old doors?

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.

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

 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.

2Mark Off Shelves

 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

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

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.

5Paint and Fix Wedges

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.

6Cut Front Piece

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

7Cut Tin for Roof

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.

8Attach Roof

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.

Again, here’s the finished potting shed:

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

Time to get materials!

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛