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Although there are nearly a dozen different types of Amish furniture, two of the most popular are the Mission and Shaker styles. If you’re looking for a timeless, elegant an all-around versatile style of furniture that can successfully be used with just about any home decor, then you should consider one of these. However, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with some of their unique characteristics to make the best purchasing decision possible.
Characteristics of Mission Style Amish Furniture
Possibly the most common and widespread style of Amish furniture is Mission. If you’ve ever shopped for Amish furniture, chances are you’ve come across some prime examples of this style. Mission furniture is most easily compared to modern style, using straight lines throughout the design and construction with square corners and box-like shapes. You’ll also find that Mission style furniture uses tenon joints to hold the pieces together. This creates a classic look that’s perfect to use in both modern and old-style homes.
The one thing that you’re not going to find with Mission style furniture is rounded edges or bulky designs. As stated above, the entire focus of Mission furniture remains on straight lines with an emphasis on functionality over large flashy designs. If you find a piece of Amish furniture containing large seats or rounded edges, you can cross it off the list of Mission style furniture.
Characteristics of Shaker Style Amish Furniture
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An alternative choice of Amish furniture is Shaker style. Because it’s so similar to the Mission style, many people confuse the two with one another. In fact, some pieces of Amish furniture could easily be described as both Shaker and Mission styles. So, just what characteristics does Shaker furniture have? In terms of appearance, Shaker is a very plain style that places emphasis on functionality and durability over glamor. As opposed to the Mission style, you’ll oftentimes find Shaker furniture with rounded knobs built into them. With that said, Shaker still uses straight lines, squared off legs and an overall clean-looking design.
The bottom line is that both Shaker and Mission styles of Amish furniture are plain without a lot of extra detail. Most people prefer this timeless look, because it’s easy to decorate with and will last for countless years to come. If you want a more flashy style of Amish furniture, there are several other styles for you to choose from, such as the Queen Anne style. Take your time to look at examples of the available styles before making a final choice.