Walnut, Maple or Burl? Choosing the Wood for a Live Edge Table
The slab is the heart of a live edge table. Epoxy color can be chosen later, but the wood sets the character of the piece. These are the three we are asked about most.
Black walnut
Deep chocolate-brown heartwood with lighter sapwood along the edges. Walnut is the classic choice for dining and conference tables: rich, warm and easy to match with dark or clear epoxy. It is a hardwood that holds up well to daily use.
Maple
Light, creamy wood that suits bright, Scandinavian or coastal interiors. Maple makes blue and turquoise “ocean” pours really stand out, and figured maple adds a subtle shimmer.
Burlwood
Burl comes from a growth on the tree and has wild, swirling grain full of eyes and knots. No two burl tables look alike. Because burl has natural voids, it pairs beautifully with epoxy that fills and highlights them — often in island or “galaxy” designs.
How to choose
- Dark floors and warm interiors: walnut with black, smoky or clear resin.
- Light, airy rooms: maple with blue, white or clear resin.
- A true statement piece: burl with a colored pour.
We send photos of the actual slab before we start, so you choose the exact piece your table will be made from. See our custom tables page for how that works.
