Easy DIY Decorative Stand For Over The Table

Have you seen those cute over-the-table rod stands? Today you will learn how to make an inexpensive decorative stand to attach over the table for beautiful tablescape decorating.

I have been wanting a stand for my outdoor table and finally got Brad on board to help me to build one.

When we remodeled our beach cottage, we had large dowel curtain rods which we removed.

Y’all know I had to save them because I knew I’d find a way to use them eventually. So I had the rod, now I just needed the stand.

Fortunately, we have saved materials from previous projects and found enough wood to make the stands by recycling old lumber.

So let’s take a look at how we did it.

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How To Make An Over The Table Rod Stand

We have a set of 3 square bistro-style tables that are used together in our outdoor kitchen dining area.

Fortunately, the dowel curtain rod was almost the exact length of the three tables together.

Therefore, we only needed a method to hold that rod above the table.

We only needed a few boards to use to make the rod stand.

In addition, we had some brackets that could be used to attach the boards.

I found great clamps that were perfect for securing the rod stand to the table. They are easy to remove and make storing the stand simple.

What Is A Table Rod Stand?

I have seen the rod stands used over tables to decorate for many occasions, such as weddings, showers, luncheons, and dinner parties.

Really any occasion that you want to take your table decorations to the next level.

They work great to add lighting over outdoor tables with no overhead light fixture.

There are so many options for decorating over the table, and I’m excited to finally have one myself for entertaining.

I’ve already started playing around with some ideas. I can’t wait for you to see them, but first, let’s talk about how to make one.

Materials For Decorative Stand

First, you need to determine the length and height of your rod stand.

I recommend adding a few inches to the dowel rod so that it extends beyond the length of your table.

In addition, you want the height of the stand to be a few inches taller than the rod placement.

We wanted the rod height at 42 inches, so the board we used was 45 inches long. Here’s what you need.

• 2 – 4 x 1-inch boards cut 45 inches long
• 2 – 4 x 1-inch boards cut 14 inches long
• 2 wide L brackets
• 4 narrow L brackets
• wood screws
• 1 – 1 inch dowel rod the approx. length of your table
• 4 Heavy-Duty Clamps – Note: Pay close attention to your table edge to determine what clamp style will work on your table. You should consider the table depth plus the depth of your base board to ensure that the clamp is wide enough to wrap around both.
• Black Spray Paint

You will also need…

• Cordless Drill
• Large drill bit the diameter of your dowel rod or larger
• Jig Saw
• Belt/Disk Sander
• Miter Saw

DIY Rod Stand Tutorial

Begin by cutting all the boards to the specified size using a miter saw.

Draw any decorative details to be cut on the board. I kept mine very simple with a small rounded top.

First, cut the decorative curve at the top of the boards and sand it with a belt or disk sander to smooth the edges.

Next, drill the hole at the top of the board for the dowel rod. I wanted my rod to be easily removed for storage, so the hole was slightly larger than the rod.

Attach The Rod Stand Together

Attach the base and stand together using wood screws to secure the larger L bracket.

If the screws extend beyond the wood, you can cut the tips off with a hack saw.

For added security, we used smaller L brackets on the sides of the boards to prevent any wobble.

Before attaching it to the table, here is what the over-the-table rod stand looks like.

Paint Or Stain Your Decorative Stand

Depending on the desired finish, you can now either paint or stain your rod stand.

Since our outdoor tables are black, I decided to paint mine black.

I used the same paint as we used to touch up the tables each Spring, so I could paint the stand while attached to the table. This made the job so much easier.

Secure The Rod Stand To The Table

Once everything is painted and dry, you can attach your rod stand over the table.

We used these black clamps and the stand feels very secure.

Please note that you need to consider the edge of your table to determine what type of clamp will work.

Over The Table Rod Stand

Now you can decorate over your tables with garlands of greenery or flowers. Add string lights and more to create a beautiful tablescape.

Now I’m setting up for a Mother’s Day Luncheon. I can’t wait for you to see the table and how the rod stand is decorated.

The over-the-table rod is decorated with DIY recycled tin can plant pockets. If you’d like to see the Mother’s Day Luncheon details, check out Creative Mother’s Day Luncheon Table Ideas.

Also, check out these additional posts that used the decorative over-the-table stand. Last summer, we hosted a Peachy Keen Dinner Party with deconstructed lampshades over the table. I added these DIY recycled jar-hanging flower pots to the table stand this fall.

Pin It To Remember It

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