This Renter-Friendly IKEA Hack Turns Any Balcony into a Greenhouse

You might think that having a shed or greenhouse is something only those with sprawling yards can do, but there are actually lots of options for mini greenhouses out there (like IKEA’s ÅKERBÄR). There are plenty of inspiring DIYers who have created their own greenhouse setups with grow lights, glass shelves, and glass doors. 

Here’s another inspiring project to add to your list: In April, DIYers and YouTubers Mema & Dadam added a full-fledged greenhouse to their apartment balcony in the Czech Republic so they could optimize the space and house their substantial succulent collection. They chose the IKEA ASPAREN, an impressively large greenhouse, for the balcony they were working with. 

Mema and Dadam cleared out the existing patio furniture, gave the balcony a good scrub, and then assembled the 120-piece product, which was a feat.

Pro tip: They laid out all the pieces and organized them by size before getting started, then built the framework (the most time-consuming part), and lastly added the polyethylene and polyester fabric zip cover. You can watch the process below. 

The couple’s balcony is covered, but the aforementioned zip cover is a great option if you’re looking for temperature control for your plants and to protect them from the elements.

The DIY duo was drawn to the piece because it came with wire shelves, so they didn’t have to add any furniture or shelving, and it’s also easy to add accessories (whether from IKEA or not) to the basic pole framework, too, like hooks. 

These apartment-dwellers added several accessories to their zip-up greenhouse, like a clip-on thermometer, trays for ensuring smaller potted plants wouldn’t fall through the wire shelving, and a pouch that snaps onto the greenhouse framework for storage. They also added string lights, a lantern, greenery overhead, and hanging planters with hooks that can easily wrap around the piece’s pole framework. So whether you’re using this in a balcony or yard, you can fully customize it for an extra-cozy feel.  

You can follow along as they add things to the greenhouse, combat bugs, and care for their plants this summer. And for more IKEA gardening inspo, check out this potting table hack and this “plant chandelier” propagation idea.