What is burl wood - explanation and examples

January 2, 2024

If you like the usage of solid wood in home interiors, you will surely get excited by this special type: burl wood. In this article, we provide some insights of burl wood and show some examples how it can be used in design and furniture making - also, we take a look at our burl nightstands (one of our most exciting floating nightstand projects!).

burl wood veneer

Understanding burl wood

Burl wood (also known as bur or burr) is one of nature's rarest materials — a deformed tree growth with a uniquely swirling grain. It is commonly found in the form of a rounded outgrowth on a tree trunk or branch that is filled with small knots from dormant buds.

This type of deformation is called burl in American English and bur or burr in UK English - meaning the same.

Usually, burl occurs not too high, sometimes on the bottom part of the tree trunk, but even more often under the ground, as part of the root system. In fact, the texture of burl and root materials are often very similar.

As it turns out, burl is not a wood type, it is part of a tree - but not all trees have it, it is rare.

Cost of burl wood

Burl is praised for its highly figurative look and its extraordinary wood grain that cannot be found in regular solid wood materials. Though we could not gather precise statistical data, it is agreed amongst all woodworkers, furniture makers and wood suppliers, that burl is indeed rare, therefore it is much more expensive than regular solid wood. In fact, the same amount of burl wood can be multiple times as expensive as common hardwoods.

Gathering burl wood material therefore is a happy moment for all who work with wood and appreciate such characteristics.

walnut, elm, maple, oak, chestnut burl

Which trees produce burl

Various types of trees can develop burls, but some species are more prone to forming these growths than others. Some common trees that are known for producing burls include walnut, elm, maple, oak, chestnut (link a faválasztó oldalra vagy ide https://www.mybettershelf.com/how-mybettershelf-furniture-is-made). The specific characteristics of the burl wood depend on the tree species, environmental conditions, and the causes of stress or injury that led to the burl's formation.

Examples of burl wood decor and furniture

Burl wood is regularly used by woodturners and woodworkers, making bowls, knife grips, cutting boards, picture frames, but also by furniture makers for making really premium furniture such as nightstands, end tables, coffee tables, etc.

To keep these projects financially feasible, burl materials are often used in a form of veneer, applied to solid wood, or fiberboards (such as MDF or plywood).

About mybettershelf burl nightstands

When we started our first burl wood project, our long-term dream became true. As our main profile is making floating nightstands, it was evident that the burl will be a part of a nightstand - and as its most attractive part is the drawer front, it was an obvious choice.

To avoid prices getting too high, we also decided to use burl in a form of veneer. Currently, we offer American walnut and chestnut burls, this way providing a quite dark and a medium-tone color option to our customers.

chestnut burl wood nightstand drawer front

chestnut BURL nightstand

Frequently asked questions

What is burl wood — and what does burl mean?

Burl wood (also written as bur or burr in British English) is wood that comes from a rounded, deformed growth on a tree trunk or root system, where the grain has developed in an irregular, swirling pattern. The word "burl" refers to this growth itself — not a separate wood species, but a rare occurrence that can happen in many different tree types.

Is burl wood expensive?

Yes — burl wood is significantly more expensive than regular solid wood. Because burls are rare and occur unpredictably in nature, the same amount of burl wood can cost several times more than common hardwoods like oak or walnut. For furniture making, burl is often used as a veneer applied to a solid wood base, which makes it more financially accessible without compromising on its distinctive visual character.

What trees produce burl wood?

Many tree species can develop burls, but the most common ones in furniture making are walnut, oak, maple, elm and chestnut. The specific pattern and color of the burl depends on the tree species and the environmental stress or injury that caused the growth. Walnut burl is particularly prized for its rich, dark tone and dramatic figuring.

Can burl wood be used for furniture?

Yes — burl wood is widely used in premium furniture making for its unique, highly decorative grain. Because of its rarity and cost, it is most often used as a veneer on drawer fronts, tabletops or cabinet doors, where its visual impact is most visible. Mybettershelf offers handcrafted floating nightstands with burl drawer fronts in American walnut and chestnut burl — each piece is unique by nature.

What is the difference between burl wood and regular wood?

Regular solid wood has a relatively straight, predictable grain. Burl wood, by contrast, has a swirling, interlocked grain full of small knots and eyes — the result of the tree's abnormal growth. This makes burl wood far more visually dramatic, but also harder to work with, which is part of why skilled craftsmanship is essential when using it in furniture.