Massivholz

Wild oak

Wild oak is a type of European oak with a lively grain, visible knots and a natural colour scheme. In contrast to the calmer standard oak, this creates a natural look full of character.

What does Wild Oak look like?

Wild Oak is a character-rich, durable hardwood with a particularly lively grain. Prominent knots, strong color variations, and natural textures give the wood a rustic and authentic look. The color palette ranges from light yellow to warm, rich browns – often with a natural sheen.

Since Wild Oak is a natural material, each piece of furniture varies in structure, color, and grain. Especially with solid Wild Oak, no two pieces are the same – each is truly one of a kind.

Unlike the calmer standard oak, Wild Oak is intentionally selected for its more pronounced knots and dynamic grain. This results in a bold, natural appearance full of character.

Berlin collection made of Wild Oak by ekomia — Berlin collection made of Wild Oak

Wild Oak with professionally filled knot holes

What is the difference between Oak and Wild Oak?

Oak and Wild Oak come from the same oak tree and the same raw wood board. During selection for glued wood panels, standard oak uses lighter, more uniform pieces with few or no knots. Wild Oak, in contrast, features darker pieces with more striking grain. Larger knots are intentionally included and professionally filled with wood filler.

Feature	Oak (Standard)	Wild Oak
Wood type	European Oak (Quercus robur, Quercus petraea)	European Oak (same tree species)
Grain	Uniform, calm	Lively, bold, contrasting
Knots	Few to no visible knots	Deliberately many visible knots
Knot holes	Max. approx. 5 mm	Up to approx. 20–25 mm allowed, professionally filled
Appearance	Elegant, calm, homogeneous	Natural, full of character
Use	Classic furniture, interior design	Rustic style, modern contrasts
Sorting	Knot-free or low-knot grades (e.g. “Select”, “A/B”)	Sorting with knots, core cracks and color play (e.g. “Wild Oak”, “Rustic”)

All general details about Oak

Which Oak type is right for me?

If you’re looking for a natural, unique piece full of life, Wild Oak is the perfect choice.

If you prefer a calm, even appearance without surprises, classic Oak might suit your style better.

Wild Oak at ekomia

Wild Oak stands out with its natural look and expressive grain – that’s why we use it for our Berlin collection and custom tables.

We exclusively use European Wild Oak from sustainably managed forests with FSC or PEFC certification.

For surface treatment, we apply a vegan, ecological furniture oil that highlights the grain, allows the wood to breathe, and ensures easy care and repair.

Wild Oak furniture may vary in appearance. Depending on the raw wood available, pieces may include more or fewer knots, or lighter and darker slats.

When you order, for example, a table with matching benches, we make sure in production that all items have a consistent, harmonious look. The most beautiful side is always chosen to face outward.

Headboard of Schöneberg bed made of Wild Oak

Questions & answers for Wild oak

Here we answer some questions about Wild oak that are frequently asked by other users.

Oak and wild oak come from the same tree – the difference lies in the way the wood is sorted. Wild oak deliberately displays more structure, with visible knots, a lively grain and natural colour variations. This creates a rustic, expressive look, in contrast to the calmer, more even appearance of classic oak.

Wild oak furniture goes particularly well with calm, light-coloured floors such as natural oak, maple or light-coloured concrete looks, as they create a beautiful contrast to the lively grain. You can also create a beautiful contrast with a light-coloured rug in front of or under the furniture.