Think you don’t have a green thumb? I’m right there with you. I don’t consider myself an expert, yet I love getting my hands dirty and creating small gardens. Even when plants don’t survive, the process is fun and therapeutic, so I keep experimenting.
Update: here are some of my own tiny gardens!
Open Face Terrariums West Elm
Small gardens are perfect for learning — you can try ideas without the commitment of planting large trees or extensive hedges. Containers and tabletop gardens let you experiment on a manageable scale and make it easy to replace plants if something doesn’t work out.
Recently I attended an urban gardening event at the new Seattle West Elm store. I was excited to learn more about terrariums and small-space gardening since tiny gardens have been on my to-do list for a long time.
West Elm Glass Jar Terrariums
The demonstration showed how simple it is to create a terrarium. With layers of pebbles, activated charcoal, soil and small plants, you can build an attractive mini-ecosystem that’s low-maintenance and beautiful on a tabletop or shelf. West Elm even gifted us a glass jar to make our own.
How to make a tabletop terrarium
West Elm Glass Terrariums
I’ll be making one soon and will share the results. Terrariums are an easy way to add greenery indoors without a lot of upkeep.
Hanging glass planters from West Elm caught my eye too. Air plants are ideal for these — they don’t need soil and are simple to care for. You can suspend them from a patio umbrella, porch, or inside near a bright window for a striking display.
These planters are especially great for renters or anyone without a yard — they bring a bit of nature to small outdoor spaces and balconies.
I nearly bought a bee-hive-shaped glass dome that creates a terrarium on a cake stand — a perfect centerpiece idea that proves a garden can go almost anywhere in your home.
Tabletop planters are ideal for apartment living: no deck or yard required. They’re compact, decorative, and easy to maintain, making them a great entry point for anyone curious about gardening.
My interest in small-space gardening grew after owning a house with a large, high-maintenance yard. I was stressed trying to keep up with grass and overgrown plants, and I decided to scale back. Since then I’ve embraced smaller, manageable gardens that are easier to enjoy and maintain.
In a tiny house and yard in Eastmoreland, Portland, I replaced grass with a curvy paver patio, added creeping groundcovers, and created a cozy backyard oasis. Although the lot was small, thoughtful plant choices made it lush and manageable.
We enjoyed that compact yard because it was the right scale for regular gardening without becoming overwhelming. Container gardening, pavers, and creative beds let you fit a surprising number of plants into a little space.
Last year I built a small potting table and herb garden in our current backyard, and it became a favorite summer project. With pots, herbs, and easy replacements, gardening felt approachable. Many of the plants I bought at big-box stores were covered by exchange policies, so replacing one or two unsuccessful plants was simple.
One plant I struggled with at first was a blueberry bush, but the replacement is now thriving in a container on my deck and producing plentiful leaves — even a few berries. Container gardening makes harvesting convenient and enjoyable without digging into the ground.
I also made a miniature tabletop Fairy Garden that became one of my most delightful projects. I’m hooked on gardens in boxes and glass jars. My kids laughed when I announced the Fairy Garden, but it was featured widely and they ended up loving it too — it’s a simple way to spark imagination and greenery indoors.
Another favorite small-space idea is a pallet garden — an easy, vertical solution that fits on a deck or balcony. My pallet garden is still on the deck, and I’ll refresh it with new plants soon. Vertical and stacked planters are excellent for maximizing limited space.
A simple stacked planter — two pots, one smaller on top of a larger — makes a charming focal point and lets you combine flowers and a small tree or shrub. It’s another easy way to add vertical interest in a compact garden.
Ultimately, there are so many enjoyable ways to garden even with limited space: terrariums, hanging planters, containers, pallet gardens, stacked pots, and small yard transformations. Each approach makes gardening accessible and rewarding.
Do you enjoy small space gardening? Have you ever made a terrarium garden?
See my Five 5-Minute Miniature Gardens for quick ideas you can try today.