All trends, from fashion to technology, slang, and interior design ebb and flow regularly. New trends emerge, and previous styles make a comeback with a slight twist to create a fresh look. American hardwood furniture is certainly not exempt from this pattern.
How Vintage American furniture trends have been shifting
Since the 90s, we’ve seen a rise in minimalism, but is that tide about to turn? It wasn’t more than several decades ago that we saw the bursts of bold, colorful rooms on the rise into the 80s This trend was done to move away from the more simple looks of the first few decades of the 20th century – and these early styles of the 1900s were made to counter the grandeur and opulence of the Victorian and Traditional furniture before them.
It seems the cycle of public trends gravitates between bold and grand to soft and subtle. Does that mean we can look forward to a return of hardwood vintage furniture? Will we see a resurfacing of the details of Traditional furniture or the solid hardwood builds within the Shaker and Mission styles?
The return of fanciful Traditional furniture
We are quite hopeful from recent trends that the classic claw foot and scallop designs of Traditional furniture are returning to more homes. What we’ve noticed is a desire for an “elevation of the classics.” Homeowners are embracing graceful ornamentation by mixing it with modern colors and materials.
Take for example this Englewood Kowan dining set:
This set stands beautifully amid the modern interior design of this home by veering away from the reddish tones often associated with old furniture styles. Instead, this set is shown in a beautiful stain that resembles a driftwood gray.
This embrace of such an old style makes this room feel elegant and timeless. It seems to invoke a sense of wonder.
Remembering the natural and sturdy Shaker designs
Vintage furniture truly does come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. One trend we are seeing resurface is the focus on natural wood paired with modernity and simplicity. This is a perfect way for Shaker furniture to make its comeback.
Shaker Furniture was made by the religious Shaker/Quaker communities of 19th-century America. This style has held on over the centuries and still can be found in many American hardwood furniture stores today. The original designs were very simple, with tapered legs, light stains, gentle curves, and wooden knobs. Many of the modern remakes have replaced the wooden knobs with metal options – like the Imperial Collection shown above.
The ever-enduring presence of Mission furniture
Mission furniture makes a statement through a solid build and 90-degree angles. It sticks out because of its thickness and weighted appearance. Mission furniture is often stained with deep and rich colors, like the Oakwood office set.
Mission furniture slowly rose in popularity in the late 1800s and had a resurgence in the mid-1980s. This comeback was sparked by the paneling and highly functional designs that were a trademark of the style.
This style looks nice paired with leather, copper, and iron. Not only are these pieces sturdy by design, but they kept a fairly sturdy reputation for the past century, even at their lowest point in trends.
Shop vintage furniture at Dovetails in Oregon
At Dovetails Furniture, we specialize in handcrafted American-made furniture. We not only have furniture in the Traditional, Shaker, and Mission styles, but we also have modern, rustic, and more.
We encourage you to explore all our collections to discover the quality craftsmanship of our American woodworkers.
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