Wood Shim Table Runner DIY

February 15, 2013 By

Hey hey!

I am SO pleased with how my latest project turned out!  My dining table has looked naked since Christmas, and I have been on the hunt for the perfect table runner.  It only took me a couple of months to come up with something, but I would say it was worth the wait.  The best part??  All you need is a hot glue gun for this project! Woohoo!

 Here is how my wood shim table runner turned out…

DIY Wood Table Runner

This is so easy to make!  Plus… It cost under $10… Woohoo!

Here we go!

You will need a pack of wood shims from the hardware store.  They will be in the lumber section.  These are the ones I used…

wood shims

My first step was staining them.  I originally planned to do it all one color, but then decided to mix it up a bit!  All of these are Rust-Oleum Wood Stains that can be found at Lowe’s.  Here are the four colors I used…

RustOleum Wood Stains

I just split them up into 4 groups and gave them all a coat of stain.  This stain is so awesome!  It only takes 1 coat and dries in under an hour… Woohoo!

While those were drying I started on the fabric.  Any fabric will due!  I had some of this utility fabric handy so I used it.

linen look fabric

My shims were all 12″ long, so I cut my fabric strip 10″ wide.  Then, just cut the fabric the length you want your runner to be… Easy!

fabric for table runner

Now for the easiest part!  Time to hot glue these babies down!

I laid out my shims first to get an idea of what it would look like.  There was no science here… Just eyeballed the whole thing.  Shims are thicker on one end, so I also made sure to change the direction they were going so they would not all be facing the same way.

hot glue gun

LOVE my hot glue gun!  Need a holder for yours??  Here is a tutorial for mine!

hot glue gun holder

Just pick up your shims and glue them down… So darn easy!

wood shim runner

That’s it!  Simple, cheap and oh so CHIC… My kind of project! ;-)

Here are a few more pictures of it on the table!

Wood Shim Table Runner

Shim Table Runner

Wood Table Runner

DIY Wood Table Runner

DIY Table Runner

What do you think??  Did I mention it cost me under $10 to make???  Yippee!

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I would love for you to share my table runner and PIN it below!  You guys are great!  Thanks again!

Have a great weekend!

~Whitney

44 Comments Filed Under: DIY Crafts, Tabletop Decor, Wood Stain Projects
  • Michelle Daniels

    Love, love this!! Thank you :)

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thank you Michelle!

  • Lynn Vining

    This is such a wonderful idea! Doubles as a trivet for hot dishes too! Gotta try this! Thanks for the inspiration!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Yes it does! Good thinking :-) Thanks so much!

  • http://twitter.com/SewWoodsy Katie Jasiewicz

    I love this idea!!! So original.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thanks Katie!

  • Bliss

    Ok, trying to say this calmly…… I LOVE IT!

    Pinned.

    Bliss

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      This made me laugh Bliss! THanks so much for your sweet message!

  • khartran

    How clever! I am thinking this might work for placemats too! Great job!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Very smart!… You got me thinking….

  • http://www.facebook.com/julia.nosovitch Julia Nosovitch

    Could also do this with some leftover furring strips cut in pieces. Nice project.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Oooh I have lots of those :-) ) Good call! Thanks so much!

  • Gail Vespa

    This gives me an idea with longer strips for a shade for the spare room.

    Loved this.

    pinned

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Good thinking Gail!! Good luck with that!

  • Jan Fusco

    LOVE………….IT! Gotta make that. Thanks.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thank you Jan!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/sandra.belue Sandra Belue

    I think this would be beautiful using your decor colors too….if your table was stained.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      For sure Sandra! Lots of options!!

  • jeanne

    absolutely lov this. I will be making these for my staging jobs

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Awesome! Happy you like it!

  • Jamie K

    Gosh Gosh….I love all of your ideas! Can’t wait to make this one! Yay!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      So glad you like it! Thanks for your sweet message!

  • Kellie

    I have to say, I love your projects and have been a follower for a while now. However, the pop-up ads have discouraged me from looking through your site. I don’t know that I’ll continue to enjoy Shanty2Chic any longer.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Sorry to hear that Kellie! Thanks so much for letting us know!

  • [email protected]

    Awesome idea!!! Luv it!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thank you so much!!

  • http://twitter.com/DiyDavis Kelly Davis

    I love this! It wouldn’t be as simple, but you can rip 1/4″ plywood into strips in any width (and length) you’d like and stain them.
    I’ve used thin wood strips for my wooden mosaic wall art (http://diymyhomes.wordpress.com/2012/11/06/how-to-make-wood-mosaic-wall-art/)

  • kathleen ward

    Yall think of the neatest crafts!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thank you Kathleen!

  • pamalama_dingdong

    love it..and i love the measuring spoon printable you did the other day,do you think you could do a printable for a measuring cup one too?

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thank you! Let me think on that one!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=184803702 Rachel Schmidt Pufall

    Amazed!!! Doing this soon!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Yeah! So happy you like it!

  • Karie Dawley

    Love this! My kind of project! You ladies are the best! What color is that room?

  • Damyon T. Verbo

    Using tapered shims may create an unstable platform for tall objects. I suggest using wooden lathe. Lathe has texture and is flat. I also suggest applying a coat of spray lacquer to the top of the strips to keep the stain in the wood and not on your table cloth, before attaching to the runner cloth.

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      That’s actually the look I was going for… Thanks!!

    • sic semper tyrannis

      What is wooden lathe? The only thing I can think of is the spinning tool.

  • http://www.facebook.com/tammie.heimbruchschmidt Tammie Heimbruch Schmidt

    You have some of the best DIY projects around. Thank you so much for sharing them with all of us!

    • http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/ Shanty2Chic

      Thank you Tammie! I appreciate your sweet comment! :-)

  • Patricia

    I love the look of your wood shim table runner, and will make one soon.
    Thank you for the inspiration

  • Jessica Ann

    I love this so much! I’ve done quite a few projects on your website and always go back for more ideas! Thanks so much for sharing and keep up the great work! You girls are amazing and such an inspiration!

  • Jessica Judyski

    AMAZING! Definitely making this :)

  • http://twitter.com/EdwardsLindsey Lindsey Edwards

    Agh! I love this idea! We have a package of shims leftover from our kitchen remodel! I have to get right on this!! Thanks!!

  • Frankie Laney

    This is so on trend. I love it and guess what’s going on my short project list?
    Yep, for sure.