There are plenty of people who love the idea of Amish furniture in their homes even though they aren't quite sure, exactly, what makes a type of furniture Amish. Think about it...do you really know what kind of furniture is Amish and what kind isn't? Most people get a sort of vague idea about wooden furniture, but beyond that-how can you tell which furniture is Amish and which furniture is not? To help you out, we thought we would point out some of the distinct styles of Amish furniture that are currently popular and give you a few tricks to identify each style the next time you go furniture shopping:
Mission Furniture Mission is one of the most popular styles of Amish furniture. It is easily identified by a flare at the base of the furniture's legs and doors and drawers that are inset. Often mission style furniture will have doors that are arched. These doors typically have panels that are raised or mullioned glass panels in them. Sometimes mission style furniture has crown molding on the top of it to help complete the furniture's "look." With royal mission furniture, however, there is a little more decoration in that the craftsmen will add a diamond shaped design to each piece of furniture they make.
Contemporary Furniture To some, the terms "contemporary" and "Amish" might almost seem oxymoronic. Believe it or not, there are skilled Amish furniture makers who have developed a contemporary feel to an older look. The most noticeable characteristic of contemporary furniture by Amish carpenters is the cleanliness of the design. The lines are easily identified and there are some very unique angles in contemporary Amish designs. Some furniture designers have also been developing a style of contemporary furniture that involves both wood and metal. The wood is usually smooth and most often; the wood has been painted black.
