I recently screened in our back patio to create a comfortable outdoor area. We use this space all the time now, and the addition of the fire table really helps warm the space up in the cooler months, extending the amount of time we can spend out there.

In the hot and humid Kentucky summers, though, we don't use the fire function of the table. We still use it as a coffee table, and I wish it had a fire table cover to make the whole table a flat surface for entertaining.

I got the idea to make my own custom fire table cover while shopping one day, when I saw a table runner that was made up of wooden slats. It wasn't long enough to work for my fire table, but I decided I could easily make my own!

After measuring the width of the fire area, I cut a bunch of wooden slats a few inches longer than that. I cut enough slats to cover the entire length of the opening.

To keep this project inexpensive, I used very cheap pine boards. I wanted to pretty them up with paint, but I didn't want it to be completely opaque. To create a quick and easy wash, I simply mixed water into some Curb Appeal paint to thin it down. This paint is made for outdoors, so it will hold up well to any weather that might reach in to the table.

I quickly brushed it on the top and sides of each slat. It goes on pretty solid when wet, but as the paint dries, it soaked into the untreated pine, letting some grain show through and looking more like a stain.

To assemble the cover, I placed all the slats face-down on the table, spacing them evenly over the whole opening. (I didn't bother to paint the back of the slats, because they won't show)

To hold the slats together, I hot glued wide, twill tape ribbon across them all, down one side.

Then I put a second ribbon on the other side, to secure everything together. (I chose to use glue rather than a staple gun because I didn't want the exposed staples to possibly scratch my table surface.)

And with that, my custom fire table cover was done! I just had to flip it over and I had a wooden slat table runner that provides a flat surface for decorating or serving appetizers!

WARNING: For safety, especially if you have small children in the house, always disconnect the gas line from the table before putting a wooden cover over top of the burners.

The flexible twill ribbon makes it easy to just roll the cover up when it's not needed, so it can easily be stored in a small space.

This was a super easy project that I couldn't be happier with!