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Shirlie Kemp has decorated her greenhouse for autumn with pumpkins arranged among plants and warm lights along the roof. Design experts quoted by Ideal Home say seasonal greenhouse decorating can make the space more inviting, though practical details such as heating and plant care are not covered in the report.
Shirlie Kemp has decorated her greenhouse for autumn, using pumpkins among the plants and warm lights along the roof, according to a report by Ideal Home. The seasonal display offers a practical example of how a working garden structure can also become a more inviting place to spend time as the days grow darker.
The report says Kemp and her husband, Martin, share glimpses of their home and garden through the Instagram account @maisonnumber9. Their greenhouse display uses pumpkins as its main decorative feature, arranged on shelves among greenery rather than separated from the growing space. Ideal Home also describes warm orange lights hanging along the greenhouse roof and a small seating area outside.
Gareth Davies, design director at Classic Interiors, told Ideal Home that the arrangement works because it retains the greenhouse’s practical, plant-filled character. He said the pumpkins appear “part of the harvest” rather than purely decorative, and pointed to the contrast between their orange colour and the green foliage. Davies also praised the lighting and the seating area for contributing to a relaxed, lived-in impression.
The source does not specify the number or varieties of pumpkins, the type of lights used in Kemp’s greenhouse, or whether the display was installed for a particular event. It describes the pumpkins as part of what appears to be a plentiful harvest, but offers no crop figures. Its broader advice is to use warm-white LED fairy lights, consider solar or battery-powered options, and arrange pumpkins in varied sizes while leaving room for plants to remain visible.
A Greenhouse That Invites Winter Use
The display speaks to a small but useful shift in how gardeners may use outbuildings: a greenhouse can shelter plants while also serving as a seasonal sitting spot. Autumn decoration may extend the space’s use beyond growing and storage, particularly for people who already have a greenhouse and want to make it comfortable in colder months.
That idea has limits. Greenhouses can become cold, and decorative lighting or furniture should not obstruct access to plants or interfere with their care. The Ideal Home report presents the display as inspiration, not as evidence that every greenhouse is suited to regular winter use. Laura Rich, an interior designer at Furniturebox, suggested adding a heater to a greenhouse seating area, but the report does not give guidance on equipment, ventilation or safe installation.
For readers, the most accessible elements are modest: use a few pumpkins, keep foliage visible and add appropriately rated lighting. Those choices can bring seasonal colour to a garden without bringing Halloween decorations into the home. The emphasis is on adapting an existing space, rather than copying the scale of Kemp’s display.
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Kemp’s Earlier Greenhouse Displays
Kemp has previously used her greenhouse as a place for seasonal decoration. Ideal Home says she decorated it for Christmas the year before, an example the publication had covered. The new autumn display follows that earlier project and reflects the couple’s practice of sharing home and garden updates online.
The report places Kemp’s display within a wider interest in decorating greenhouses and other garden buildings. It also mentions Dawn French’s decorated greenhouse and chef Clodagh McKenna’s garden pub decorated for Christmas. These examples are presented as illustrations of seasonal styling, not as evidence of how common the trend is. The report provides no survey data or measure of its popularity.
For its practical suggestions, Ideal Home draws on comments from Davies and Rich. Davies recommends pumpkins in a range of sizes, grouped with space around them, and a small chair or bistro table if room allows. Rich suggests warm-white LED fairy lights along the frame and roof bars; she says solar or battery-powered lights can avoid the need for an outdoor socket.
“The pumpkins “almost feel like part of the harvest and not just purely decorative.””
— Gareth Davies, design director at Classic Interiors, quoted by Ideal Home
Details the Report Does Not Give
Ideal Home does not provide a date for the greenhouse photographs or say when Kemp installed the autumn decorations. The report also does not identify the pumpkin varieties, confirm whether all the pumpkins were grown by the couple, or give details about the greenhouse’s size and layout. Its suggestion that the Kemps had a bumper crop is an inference from the display, not a stated harvest measurement.
It is also unclear whether the lights are specifically designed for greenhouse use, whether the seating area is intended for regular use, or how the couple manages temperature and ventilation. No cost estimate, product list for Kemp’s own display, or information about how the decorations affect the plants is provided. The expert comments are design suggestions rather than safety or horticultural assessments.
A Display to Adapt at Home
The report does not announce a future event or say whether Kemp plans to change the display later in the season. For readers interested in the idea, its next step is simply to adapt the elements to their own space: begin with a small group of pumpkins, leave room for plants and choose lighting suited to the greenhouse and its power options.
Anyone adding a heater or electrical equipment should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use products suitable for the setting. The source does not provide technical guidance on greenhouse heating or electrical installation. Whether the display becomes a regular seasonal feature for Kemp, or whether she shares further details about it, remains unknown.
Key Questions
What has Shirlie Kemp added to her greenhouse for autumn?
According to Ideal Home, Kemp has arranged pumpkins among the greenhouse plants and hung warm-toned lights along the roof. The report also describes a small seating area outside.
Who commented on the greenhouse design?
Gareth Davies, design director at Classic Interiors, praised the way the pumpkins sit among the greenery. Laura Rich, an interior designer at Furniturebox, discussed seasonal greenhouse decorating and suggested warm-white LED lights.
What does Ideal Home suggest for decorating a greenhouse?
The report recommends starting with warm-white LED fairy lights and arranging pumpkins in different sizes without hiding the plants. Davies also suggested a small chair or bistro table where space permits.
Does the report say Kemp grew all the pumpkins herself?
No. Ideal Home suggests the couple may have had a bumper crop, based on the pumpkins in the greenhouse, but it does not confirm their source or give harvest figures.
Is Kemp’s greenhouse display a guide to heating one in winter?
No. Rich mentions a heater as one possible addition to a seating area, but the report does not provide heating, ventilation or electrical safety instructions. Readers should follow product guidance and seek qualified advice where needed.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
