If you're a fan of Shaker style furniture but you're not sure if it will work in your home, here's a bit of good news. Shaker style furniture, including the distinctive Shaker chairs, tables, dressers and Shaker style beds, is one of the most versatile furniture styles in the world and can complement almost any décor.
The Shakers date back to 1774 when they fled England for America. Their strict religious beliefs required them to create an environment free from distraction, a "heaven on Earth" where they could worship with pure hearts and minds. This meant a blanket rejection of materialism, vanity, and decoration for decoration's sake. This is reflected in Shaker style furniture, notable for its simplicity, grace, and lack of adornment.
The clean lines and strict adherence to function above form was the inspiration for the modernist movement of the Bauhaus 150 years later. Even Danish Modern is a direct descendent of Shaker design.
If your home is traditional or Early American colonial, Shaker furniture fits right in seamlessly. It was popular among the colonists in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War as they rejected anything European for a style authentically American. Popularity surged again during the Victorian era during and after the Civil War. It provided a striking counterpoint to Victoriana's excessive frills and gingerbread styles.
If your home is contemporary or mid-century modern, Shaker furniture will blend in as the perfect complement to the furniture it later inspired. Some mid-century modern furniture could almost be mistaken for authentic Shaker pieces. Some contemporary furniture designers also borrow from Shaker themes.
 | There are hundreds of interior design styles, and each can be mixed and meshed with other designs, as well as your own, to bring about a completely distinct design that is yours and yours alone. |
 | You can feel like you are on vacation in a comfortable cottage every day by introducing the cottage style to your home decorating themes. Think light, airy, timeworn and relaxing. |
 | Thanks to their pursuit of perfection, the Shakers created furniture designs that are prized to this day for their elegance and simplicity. It's easy to add a Shaker feel to your home, but you'll need to look for reproductions to keep the cost down. |
A 1950s kitchen represented the age of linoleum and soft pastel colors, like pink and blue. |
Art deco is a distinct style calling for clean lines, vibrant, solid colors and chrome. It's easy to create this look in your home through vintage stores and reproductions as long as you know what to look for. |
