Mulberry Greenhouses, a U.S.-based retailer of premium residential greenhouse structures, reports a marked increase in consumer interest in greenhouses used as multi-purpose living spaces rather than as growing structures alone. According to the company, a growing share of buyers now plan to use their greenhouses as home offices, studios, entertaining areas, and year-round garden rooms, reflecting a broader movement to treat outdoor areas as functional extensions of the home.
The shift comes amid sustained growth in both residential gardening and the controlled-environment segment of the U.S. greenhouse market. Data published by the United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service indicates that controlled-environment agriculture operations in the U.S. more than doubled between 2009 and 2019, rising from approximately 1,476 operations to 2,994. Industry analysts have valued the broader U.S. greenhouse market at about $ 9.5 billion in 2024, with continued expansion projected as residential buyers invest in durable, permanent structures.
Consumer participation in gardening has widened alongside that market. The National Gardening Association has reported that roughly 80 percent of U.S. households take part in some form of lawn and garden activity, a level the organization has described as a multi-year high. Independent industry observers estimate that between 15 and 18 million people took up gardening in the United States since 2020. As that base has grown, some participants have moved beyond seasonal planting to permanent structures intended for year-round use.
The trend Mulberry Greenhouses describes sits at the intersection of two established movements: the long-running growth in home gardening and the increased attention homeowners have given to outdoor living since 2020. Where a backyard greenhouse was once regarded primarily as a utilitarian structure for starting seeds and overwintering plants, a growing segment of buyers now approaches it as a hybrid space, one that supports cultivation while also serving as a room for work, rest, or gathering. Designers and retailers across the home and garden sector have noted similar patterns, with outdoor structures increasingly specified for dual purposes.
Several factors appear to be driving the change. The normalization of remote and hybrid work has increased demand for quiet, separate spaces detached from the main house. Smaller lot sizes in newer developments have made structures that serve more than one function a premium. A broader cultural interest in wellness, natural light, and connection to greenery has also made plant-filled rooms attractive places to spend time, not merely to tend. Together these forces have reframed how a meaningful share of buyers evaluate a greenhouse purchase.
Mulberry Greenhouses says its catalog is positioned to meet this demand through structures that balance horticultural function with architectural presence. The company points to the Exaco Janssens Cathedral and Royal Victorian lines, whose glass construction and traditional detailing suit buyers seeking a structure that functions as a garden centerpiece and a usable room. For year-round use, the company cites the Hoklartherm Livingten, which features insulated dual-pane glass designed to maintain stable interior conditions across seasons. For contemporary settings, it notes the modern KGT Linea II, whose compact footprint and clean profile suit smaller and design-oriented spaces.
“What we are witnessing is a genuine change in the role a greenhouse plays in someone's life. People no longer see it as a shed for plants. They see it as a room that happens to be full of light and living things, a place to work, to breathe, and to gather. Our responsibility is to help buyers invest in structures that will serve those needs for decades, not seasons. That durability is what makes the trend meaningful rather than passing,” said a spokesperson for Mulberry Greenhouses.
Industry observers caution that multi-purpose use carries practical considerations buyers should weigh, including ventilation, shading, insulation, and climate control, all of which affect how comfortably a glass structure can be occupied through the day and across seasons. Mulberry Greenhouses says it advises customers on these factors during the selection process, noting that a structure intended for regular occupation calls for different planning than one used solely for cultivation. The company adds that interest in multi-purpose use has been strongest among buyers considering larger and better-insulated models.
The reported trend aligns with wider data on how Americans are investing in their properties. As outdoor living has moved from a seasonal consideration to a year-round priority for many households, structures that extend usable living space into the garden have drawn increased attention across the home improvement and landscape sectors. Mulberry Greenhouses says it expects interest in multi-purpose greenhouses to continue as remote work, wellness trends, and outdoor living remain prominent in residential design.
The company, which carries product lines from manufacturers across Belgium, Germany, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, says future catalog decisions will continue to weigh how well structures support both cultivation and occupation. Additional information on its greenhouse lines is available through the company's website.
About Mulberry Greenhouses
Mulberry Greenhouses is a U.S.-based retailer specializing in premium greenhouse structures for residential and lifestyle applications. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company supplies a curated catalog of glass, polycarbonate, and cedar greenhouses from established European and North American manufacturers, including Exaco Janssens, Hoklartherm, KGT, Riverstone Industries, BC Greenhouses, Alton Cedar, and Nordic Garden Homes. Mulberry Greenhouses serves homeowners, gardeners, designers, and small-scale growers seeking durable, well-engineered structures for year-round growing and architectural integration. The company is woman-owned and offers custom configuration, technical guidance, and direct customer support across the continental United States.
Contact Details
Phone: 954-736-7403
Email:
[email protected]
Website: https://mulberrygreenhouses.com/