DIY Wooden Cold Frame Plans

DIY Cold Frame – an elegant tiny home for your plants.

Plants need homes too - and especially in the winter! Cold frames are designed to allow sunlight in while retaining heat, and they’re used to keep plants warm and safe through early frosts and rough weather. They’re basically small greenhouses for individual plants.

Our DIY cold frame design is simple, durable, and elegant. In addition, the tough polycarbonate paneling looks nice while standing up to more serious threats and adverse weather than flimsy plastic. The design itself is quick to build, and it’s meant for any level of DIY expertise.

Ideal for: gardening, off grid, cold weather, greenhouses, farming, planting, and more.

Ready to build your own? Great! Just check out the DIY build guide and diagrams below to get started.

Instructions

A note before starting -

Please understand - the below diagrams are genuinely and carefully designed to help you navigate the build process. However, we don’t include specific recommendations for which tools, hardware, or products to use. These truly are “DIY” designs.

As such – a significant portion of the build-process will be up to you, the builder. So please know, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to assemble any of our designs! If you need to depart from the instructions, or rearrange things along the way, feel free to.

The only thing we ask: please be safe! And of course, there’s no shame in asking an expert for help or seeking guidance from your local professionals at any time.

And please: enjoy the process!

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Wooden cold frame 3D render, second view

How to make a cold frame

Step 1

Since this is a cold frame - let’s start with the frame.

For this step, you’ll need:

Four 28.5” 2x4’s
Four 50” 2x4’s
Four 18.5” 2x4’s

It’s up to you as the builder how exactly you want to connect all these. However, even building a small frame can be a challenging task. However, we recommend fully framing each long side, and then connecting them with the short side lumber.

First, two of the 50” 2x4’s to a 28.5” 2x4, in the manner shown above. Then, connect the other ends to another 28.5” piece of lumber. This completes one side of your cold frame.

Repeat the above procedure, and then connect the two long sides of your cold frame with the four shorter 18.5” 2x4’s. Take care to orient the boards as pictured.

At this point, you should have nice sturdy frame to work with.

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Step 2

Now, it’s time to add a top frame to your frame.

First, connect two 50” 2x4’s to two 25.5” 2x4’s, as pictured. Then set the completed rectangle on top of your original frame. For now, you can just let it sit unless you’d like to add the hinges now (see step 6 for hinge instructions).

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Step 3

Almost there!

For this step, install your polycarbonate paneling, using the above diagram for reference.

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Step 4

It’s time to add the hinges and handles.

When adding your hinges, take care to make sure they’re exactly level. To remedy this issue, consider marking and predrilling your holes before installing them.

For the last step: feel free to add some stylish handles to your new cold frame.

And that’s it! Great job. And of course, we hope your plants will appreciate your hard work as much as we do.

Happy gardening!

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2'' x 4'' Lumber - 25.5" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
1
2'' x 4'' Lumber - 50" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
5
Black Door Pull
Metal - Galvanized Steel
Quantity
2
2'' x 4'' Lumber - 25.25" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
1
2'' x 4'' Lumber - 25" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
3
2'' x 4'' Lumber - 7.25" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
1
2'' x 4'' Lumber - 28.5" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
2
Polycarbonate Panel 2' x 6' - 4" Length
Plastic - Mixed
Quantity
1
Polycarbonate Panel 2' x 6' - 51.75" Length
Plastic - Mixed
Quantity
1
Radius Door Hinge
Metal - Galvanized Steel
Quantity
2
Polycarbonate Panel 2' x 6' - 52" Length
Plastic - Mixed
Quantity
1
2'' x 4'' Lumber - 18.5" Length
Wood - Lumber
Quantity
4
Polycarbonate Panel 2' x 6' - 23" Length
Plastic - Mixed
Quantity
1
Polycarbonate Panel 2' x 6' - 22.75" Length
Plastic - Mixed
Quantity
1

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DIY Cold Frame

Explore in 3D

How to make a cold frame

Cold Frame Kit Parts List