I built this scrap-wood round barn quilt table to thin out my overflowing timber offcuts and turn an old, weathered patio table into something striking. Barn quilts make brilliant scrap-busters and, because this design is round, it suits tabletops beautifully.

You’ll also see how I later transformed the finished table into a statement piece of wall art.

Before we dive into this tutorial, be sure to subscribe to my bimonthly newsletter to be the first to see my latest projects.  You can also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook, where I also include my unique mixed-media art projects

P.S. I’m thrilled my blog was nominated for this year’s Amara Blog Awards in the Best Creative Skill category. If you enjoy my projects and can spare a minute, I’d be so grateful for your Vote.

Scrap-Wood Round Barn Quilt Table (Then Upcycled Into Wall Art)

**This post may contain affiliate links. This means I earn a small commission on links used at no extra cost to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.**

Materials you’ll need

• Old round table (sound frame preferred)
• Scrap timber (I used bed slats + mixed offcuts)
• Wood planer (optional but ideal)
• Orbital sander + sanding discs (80, 120, 180, 240 grit)
• Table saw and/or circular saw
• Mitre saw
• Wood glue + hot glue gun and sticks
• Wood stains (I used dark mahogany and cedar) + rags/brushes
• Masking tape or painters tape (layout helper)
• Benchtop sander or jigsaw for shaping edges
• Iron-on wood veneer edge tape + old iron (no steam)
• Soft cloth, utility knife, scouring pad
• Oil-based varnish (2–3 coats) + brush/foam applicator
• Clamps (optional)
• Safety gear: eye/ear protection, dust mask

What is a wooden barn quilt?

A barn quilt is a timber mosaic made from strips of wood cut at 45° to form simple shapes that slot neatly together. You can vary the strip widths and lengths, but keep the thickness the same so the surface stays even. Most patterns begin with a star at the centre. You repeat the same 45° units around that star, growing the design outward. Only when you reach the outer edge of the square do you add different pieces—small squares, triangles or diamonds—to complete the border. If you haven’t made a barn quilt yet, this small version is the perfect place to start.

Prepare the base

I started with a free, battered outdoor table. The frame was sturdy, so it made a perfect base. Remove loose finishes and grime. Check that the top is secure, or add screws from below so you have a solid surface for glueing.

Sort and prep the timber

I’m lucky—my son works for a builder and brings home offcuts that would otherwise hit the skip. I used mainly recycled bed slats for this barn quilt.

Most pieces looked rough, so I planed them to a uniform thickness. If you don’t have a planer, sand them flat and consistent. Keep a few extra pieces ready; consistent thickness matters for a flat tabletop where glasses won’t wobble.

Sand both sides before cutting. Because pieces often flip to fit angle patterns, sanding both sides saves time later.

Plan the pattern

Lightly draw 8 “pizza-slice” guidelines from the centre to the rim. These keep the chevrons straight. I like starting with little “arrows”—two angled pieces forming a V. Make four identical arrows and place them on your guidelines. Keep everything dry-fit for now. You’ll glue once at least 80% of the layout feels locked in.

Cut consistent angles

Mix some narrower and wider strips; the size variation adds rhythm to the design while the identical angles keep the fit tight.

For this pattern, I cut every timber end at 45°. Estimating how much you’ll need is tricky, so I start with enough lengths to cover the tabletop one-and-a-half times. I usually have leftovers, which I turn into scrap-wood wall art—or I just keep making more barn quilts because they’re so addictive.

Set a stop block on the mitre saw for repeatable lengths, and mark the saw fence with a pencil line as a quick reference if you need extra parts later.

Once you have your wood cut, you can start creating your design.

Dry-fit the design

Build out from the centre, slotting arrows together along your pencil lines.

Keep adding chevron shapes in different thicknesses to the layout, working from the centre outwards. You don’t have to stick to this shape—rearrange the pieces in different ways, as shown here, while I moved the design around.

I kept shifting the pieces until the pattern felt right. This simple layout should be easy to follow from the photo below.

The design gets trickier as you reach the table’s curved edge. I left a slight overhang until the whole layout was complete. Even with careful alignment, mine drifted a few millimetres at the end, so I custom-cut the last pieces to fit the gaps. I ran out of matching timber and used a different species to fill the gaps.

It’s not a problem—if anything, it adds character to the final design. Before moving pieces for glueing, snap a quick photo so you can put everything back in the right order.

Staining the wood

This is the fun, creative stage. As you add colour, the pattern comes to life. Stain the edges of each piece as well—doing so helps disguise any tiny gaps.

I used dark mahogany, cedar stain and left some wood plain.  Start in the middle and glue the wood to the table as you go along, using the pencil lines as a guide.

Glue the barn quilt top

I used wood glue for strength and a few hot-glue dots to tack pieces so I could keep moving. Start at the centre and work outwards, following your guidelines. Press each piece firmly and wipe the squeeze-out as you go. Keep checking lines—small nudges now save headaches later.

Shaping the last pieces

To get the round curve on the barn quilt table, each end piece must be cut to size.  Put the piece of wood in place and use a pencil and draw a line on the bottom using the table shape as a guide.

I’m not great at cutting straight with a jigsaw, so I cheated and used a benchtop sander instead. I followed the pencil line and sanded away the excess. If you don’t have a benchtop sander, a hand sander works too.

Repeat this step for every piece. Please ignore the chaos in my workshop—lol.

How to add wood veneer tape

I wasn’t keen on the two-layer edge showing, so I finished it with iron-on wood veneer tape. I used an old iron—don’t use your best one, as the adhesive can transfer onto the soleplate.

Cut the veneer to the table’s circumference, leaving about 1 cm extra in case of shrinkage. I like a slight overhang at the top and bottom to guarantee full coverage. Hold the veneer in place, then press an iron (no steam) onto it for a few seconds to activate the adhesive. Work your way around the edge, repeating until the entire rim is covered.

I press the freshly heated veneer down with a soft cloth to ensure a firm bond. Then I trim the excess with a sharp utility knife for a clean edge.

To soften any sharp edges on the veneer tape, I lightly rub it with a scouring pad—it smooths the rim without scuffing the stain.

Seal for a durable finish

Two coats of oil-based varnish brought the colours to life and protected the top. Lightly sand between coats for a smooth result. I also sanded and sealed the legs so everything felt finished.

I sanded and sealed the legs of the table to finish it off.

From table to wall art

Here’s the twist—buyers wanted a table with matching chairs, and the chairs in my photos were just my dining set. So I removed the top and hung it as a round barn quilt wall art in my lounge. It’s heavy, so I anchored it into the brick.

The piece on the right of the display was made from offcuts from earlier quilts—nothing wasted, just how I like it.

More Barn quilt project ideas

If you want to be more adventurous, this barn quilt headboard could be a great project. Try adding the Shou Sugi Ban wood-burning technique to your design.

I had some old horizontal wooden blinds that I repurposed to create this barn quilt tray.

If you’re interested in any of the items used in this project, we’d appreciate it if you used our affiliate links. Clicking these links earns us a small commission at no extra cost to you, helping us create more inspiring and exciting projects to share. We’d also love to hear your thoughts—feel free to leave a comment or share this post!