Shaker bedroom furniture

The name Shaker derives from an American sect founded in 1747. Their individual approach to design produced a truly functional range of furniture and furnishings which lacked ornamentation and decoration. This style has once again become popular, and simple, well-designed and practical rooms can be created in this truly contemporary style.

All the elements in a Shaker bedroom are functional, so your eye is drawn to shape and proportion rather than colour or decorative detail. Despite this emphasis on function and simplicity, a Shaker room lacks nothing in a design sense.

Plain walls are an integral part of this style of decor, with natural fabrics and both painted and natural wood playing a very important part. Any well-made piece of furniture with graceful lines works well in this setting, as do fabrics such as muslin, gingham, linen and cotton. If you feel the need for pattern, use simple checks and stripes and keep floral prints to a minimum. Opt, too, for muted shades.

The colors used here are soft and there is nothing jarring in the scheme, so the room has a tranquil atmosphere. The colors of both walls and floor appear in the soft furnishings, giving a harmony to the space. The shutters give the room privacy, but simple off-white blinds or curtains would have been a successful alternative if you were looking for something a little softer. Note the detailing on the curtain at the head of the bed. The tabbed heading creates soft folds in the fabric without a fussy gathered effect, and although it is quite plain, it is an effective piece of detailing in the room.

Fresh flowers in an earthenware jug add just a splash of color, together with the other simple accessories on either side of the bed: the vine and lavender wreath bound with a short length of gingham ribbon and the terracotta jug standing on the chest of drawers. Finally, no Shaker look
would be complete without the most well-known of Shaker items — the oval timber boxes. Here they are stacked neatly on the table by the window.