How to Make a Wood Shim Table Runner

Bring a rustic-chic look to your holiday tablescape with an easy-to-make wood shim table runner.

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November 25, 2014

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

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Dress Up Your Table

Give your everyday table a chic transformation with this easy-to-make wood shim table runner. And you need less than 10 materials to make it. You'll need: 3 packs of wood shims per 6-foot-long table; pen; wood stain; paintbrush; hot glue gun; hot glue sticks; measuring tape 2 1/2 yards of canvas per 6-foot-long table; fabric scissors.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Mark Canvas

In order to create a surface for the wood shims to adhere to, they'll need a backing cut from canvas. Unfurl the canvas to its intended overall length, then place a wood shim on top. Use the measuring tape to mark the width of the shim to the canvas with a pen.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Cut Canvas

Once canvas is marked, cut along the marked line for depth, then cut it to its overall length using fabric scissors. Tip: An easy way to determine length is by adding an additional 16 inches to the overall length of your table; this results in 8 inches of overhang at each end.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Dry-Fit Shims

Place wood shims on top of the cut canvas. For a dimensional effect, flip each shim in the opposite direction.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Add Stain

Using a paintbrush, apply stain to each wood shim.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Apply Glue

Apply glue to the bottom of each wood shim and quickly set in place on the canvas.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Touch Up

Once all shims are in place and the glue has dried, touch up any edges that may have been nicked using stain.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Prepare for Guests

Your finished table runner is perfect for adding extra oomph to your year-round dining room table during the holidays. But you can keep it up past the holidays, too.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn