A terrarium table turns a living centrepiece into functional furniture, a glass-topped table with a planted terrarium built into it. It's a real statement piece, and you can either build your own or buy a ready-made one.

What is a terrarium table?
It's a coffee or side table with a sealed glass compartment holding a terrarium, usually moss, ferns and hardscape, viewable through the tabletop. Because it's enclosed, it runs the same self-sustaining water cycle as any closed terrarium needing only occasional care.
DIY vs buy
Buy: ready-made terrarium display tables take the woodworking out of it, see the picks in our statement terrariums guide. DIY: the classic approach is a glass-topped display or coffee table with a removable lid, planted like a large closed terrarium. Build the landscape bottom-up: drainage, charcoal, substrate, then moss, ferns and stone.
Design ideas
- A mossy woodland floor with cork bark and slate for a forest-under-glass look.
- A minimalist moss-and-stone Zen scene.
- A tropical layer of small ferns and fittonia for colour.
Frequently asked questions
How do you maintain a terrarium table? Like any closed terrarium, bright indirect light, water only when condensation stops, and remove any dead leaves.
Can I build a terrarium into any table? You need a sealed glass compartment and access to plant and tend it; purpose-built display tables make this far easier.












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