The White Woodburner: An Emerging Trend

Not all stoves are black — the white woodburner is shaking up home design. Here are 10 of our favourites from Jøtul, Scan, Hwam and more.

May 7, 2015
By Reece Toscani
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Fireside Lifestyle

Why Choose a White Log Burner?

When most people think of wood burners, they picture the same thing: a heavy, black cast-iron box. Maybe grey, maybe enamelled brown or green if you were lucky. But white? That always felt impossible — more suited to a glossy design magazine than the reality of soot, ash, and daily use. Yet here we are: the white woodburner has arrived, and it’s one of the most striking shifts in stove design in years.

At first, it might feel like madness: why pick white when you’re dealing with smoke, ash, and firewood? But that’s the genius of it. A white stove doesn’t just heat the room — it transforms it. In light, minimalist interiors, a black stove can stick out like a sore thumb. A white stove blends into the background, allowing the flame itself to be the star.

The look is distinctly Scandinavian: clean lines, pale palettes, natural light, and understated elegance. Where a black stove makes a bold, brooding statement, a white stove adds harmony and softness. It’s not just an appliance — it’s part of the architecture.

The Technology That Made It Possible

For years, the closest anyone got was ivory enamel. It was nice, but never quite “white.” Advances in enamelling during the late 2000s changed the game, making it possible to coat cast iron and steel in durable, brilliant white.

In 2010, Jøtul — one of the world’s oldest and most respected stove makers — introduced the F373 White Log Burner to the UK. It wasn’t an overnight success; people were cautious. But slowly, sales grew, and the F373 became a design classic. Other brands followed, and by 2015 the market had fully embraced the idea that stoves could come in more than one colour.

Woodburners with White Tiles

So, which ones stood out to us? Here are ten of our favourites available in 2015 — a mix of Scandinavian icons, Italian flair, and Dutch design.

Heta Scanline Tour 10/20/30

Danish stove maker Heta brought out the Scanline Tour series with serious presence. Each model — the Tour 10, 20, and 30 — used the same high-output 12 kW firebox but was clad in tall, glossy ceramic tiles. Available in more than 70 colours, the white finish was our clear favourite, creating a strong vertical statement in modern interiors.

La Nordica Fortuna

From Italy, the La Nordica Fortuna series offered something completely different: gloss ceramic cladding in bold colours, including white. The double-sided version was particularly eye-catching, letting you divide a large living space while keeping both sides bathed in firelight. Functional and theatrical in equal measure.

Thinking of going white?
A white stove may look sleek and minimal, but remember: the way you use it makes all the difference. We often get asked whether you can run a woodburner with the door open — it’s a common mistake that can quickly ruin the clean lines of a white enamel finish. If you’re curious about the do’s and don’ts, check out our guide on using a stove with the door open before you make your choice.

Enamelled White Cast-Iron Stoves

Jøtul F373 White

The stove that started the revolution. The Jøtul F373 proved that a white woodburner was not only possible but desirable. With timeless cast-iron design and durable enamel finish, it became the benchmark for all white stoves that followed.

Jøtul F305 White

Topping our favourites list is the Jøtul F305. With its wide flame picture, award-winning design, and multiple base options, it represented the peak of white stove design in 2015. The fact that it won both the Norwegian Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award that year speaks volumes. Available with short legs, tall legs, or a logstore base, it was versatile as well as beautiful.

Scan 66 Series

Possibly the most divisive stove ever released, the Scan 66 was love-it-or-hate-it. Oval-shaped with unique tempered-glass log retainers, it broke every rule of stove design. In white enamel, it looked futuristic and bold, and for those who loved it, nothing else came close.

Painted White Stoves

Rais Q-20 White

The Rais Q-20 combined cubist styling with practical efficiency. With its sharp edges and square profile, it looked every bit the design-led Danish product it was. DEFRA approval, an external air supply, side glass panels, and airwash technology meant it wasn’t just about looks — it performed to the highest standards too.

Hwam 3600 Series

The Hwam 3600 series marked the arrival of a new era for Hwam in the UK. With models like the 3630, 3640, 3650, and 3660, these stoves combined Hwams slick modern black glass door with painted white steel finishes. They also featured Hwam’s Autopilot system, automatically adjusting the air supply for cleaner, more efficient burning — years ahead of its time.

Scan 83 Series

Flexibility was the name of the game with the Scan 83 series. Over 65 variants were available, and 12 of them came in white. With options for rotating bases and wraparound glass, these stoves let you put the flames exactly where you wanted them — perfect for open-plan living.

Cera-Design Solitherm

German precision came in the form of the Cera Solitherm. A tall, slimline cylinder crafted from a single piece of curved steel, it looked like something straight from a design studio. In white, it was a statement piece. With excellent heat storage, it could keep radiating warmth for hours after the fire went out.

Harrie Leenders Fuga EL

From the Netherlands, the Fuga EL epitomised Dutch minimalism. With its tall, wide curved door, and utterly modern, the door and body came in a choice of material finishes, but it was the painted white finish that made it look more like a piece of furniture than a heater. Powerful, and perfect for design-driven homes that valued aesthetics as much as performance.

White Stoves: A Trend or Here to Stay?

Right now in 2015, white woodburners feel fresh, exciting, and a little bit daring. They’re still a niche choice — you won’t find them on every high street or in every countryside cottage — but the fact that so many leading manufacturers are now offering them shows that this isn’t just a passing curiosity.

The question is, will they stand the test of time? On the one hand, white enamel and ceramics are bold, fashionable, and undeniably suited to the light, Scandinavian-influenced interiors that are so popular today. On the other hand, trends come and go, and some will argue that a classic black stove will always feel timeless.

What we can say with confidence is that white stoves have already shifted perceptions. They’ve proven that a woodburner doesn’t need to be dark and heavy to be practical, and that colour can play a role in how we design our living spaces. Whether this becomes a long-lasting movement or a snapshot of mid-2010s style remains to be seen.

It will be fascinating to look back in ten years’ time and see if the white woodburner is still a talking point — or if the market has moved on again to something even bolder.

Have you owned a white woodburner? What was your experience, and how well has it lasted with everyday use?

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Reece Toscani

Reece has over two decades in the fireplace and stove world — testing, reviewing, and occasionally getting covered in soot, all in the name of wood-fired home heating. He cuts through the nonsense, busts the myths, and shares straight-talking advice to help you enjoy your stove without the confusion. From Fireplace Products to Redefining Woodburners, if it burns wood, he’s probably tested it, fixed it, or argued about it. Now, through Woodburner Insights, he shares that experience with the world — both here and on YouTube.