Extremely popular in the cabinet industry, today’s Shaker style is characterized by simplicity, functionality, and honesty. You would be correct if you think these sound like early American religious values. You wouldn’t be far off if you were reminded of the Amish. Because of their shared values, thousands of Amish have begun manufacturing this distinct style into Shaker Furniture.
The Original Shakers
In the early 1800s, the Shakers (a sect of Quakers) arrived in New England and set up the largest successful communal experiment in the U.S. They valued humility, utility, and simplicity. Because of the shaking dances they performed on Sundays meant to humble themselves before God, they earned the name “Shaking Quakers.” They lived celibate lives, and each colony had four houses for the men, women, boys, and girls.
The Shakers tried to be self-sufficient and set apart in all things. They made their own furniture for these large houses, maximizing the spaces carefully. But they emphasized humility in all things. Free of excess and ornamentation, their furniture demonstrated timeless, beautiful styles.
The Look of Shaker Furniture
Like Mission and most Amish furniture, Shaker styles are simple. (Albany Collection pictured) They emphasized straightness in life, dances, and furniture. You’ll see mostly straight lines, with some circles, on their furniture. Sometimes they included gentle curves on the bottoms of case goods. On beds and cabinets, they squared off panels, giving them dimensions. The craftsmen rounded and gently beveled the drawers with subtle touches that drew attention to the beauty of the wood. Because they separated themselves from the rest of society, they avoided buying hardware or handles. Today, the turned-wood knob is the most easily identifiable trait of their furniture.
Their communal life led them to innovate with space-saving and cleaner-friendly styles. They added legs under most pieces, allowing them to be cleaned under. They moved the trestle from their tables from just above the floor to directly underneath the table. This style accommodated more people and allowed for easy cleaning. Today, most Shaker tables have four narrow legs, allowing the beauty of the wood to shine through.
Many people confuse Shaker, Mission, and Amish furniture. These three styles share distinctions like solid wood, simple designs, and careful craftsmanship. Of these, Shaker furniture brings a lightweight dimension to their solid wood designs. Although early Shakers often painted their furniture, today’s artisans use light-colored stains and varnishes. With the tapered legs, hardware that blends into the furniture, and straight or curved lines, the Shakers designed furniture that intentional designers value today.
Modern interior designs and uses
Shaker furniture can be found in most large furniture retail stores all over the U.S. For consumers who value simplicity and history, this style fits their needs perfectly. Although the Shakers developed many styles for communal living, their space-saving furniture works well in an age when housing space is increasingly limited. In addition to built-in cabinets, the Shakers often used a bureau for storage in the kitchen. Today’s Shaker furniture comes in many different sizes. Bookcases come in cascading sizes. They specialize in various benches of various lengths, the perfect space saver for people who don’t care for the clutter of chair legs or who seat many people at once. Their hutches (Sara Ann Hutch shown), pantries, and mudroom benches are perfect for people who wish to maximize their space with elegance.
Although the Shakers are known for their ladderback chairs hung on the wall when not in use, they also used low chairs around the kitchen table, sometimes pushed under the table. The Espin and Gemini Lowback Chairs are two modern equivalents that sit at the same height as most tables. In living rooms, especially those with beautiful views, consider cubic panel chairs that sit low. The Shakers minimized visual clutter in creative ways.
Where to find Shaker Furniture
If you’re looking for Shaker furniture, Heritage Amish Furniture in Elida, Ohio, carries a huge selection. Customers can visit their showroom or website to view and order furniture. They have Shaker-inspired chairs like the Barrington, Carter, and Spencer, and the Newport Shaker Arm and Side Chair in different sizes. Their Shaker bookcases come in every size, perfect to fit into that one corner of your house. One of their biggest collections of Shaker furniture is in their occasional tables, simple four-leg tables to display heirloom art pieces.
However, they also market nearly any kind of storage a homeowner would want. They carry several lines of pantries, like the English and Lexington Shaker Series. The Newport Shaker Hutch proves a lovely statement piece for any dining room or kitchen. They have 30 Shaker-style TV stands, ensuring that the modern customer can choose exactly what storage they want below their TV. Those who want cabinetry in the living room should consider the Modern Shaker Bridge Unit, which has two sets of adjustable bookshelves and two consoles. For the intentional consumer, Heritage Amish Furniture has everything you need to fill your house with spaces that promote usability and fellowship.