Pure & Simple Shaker Style Bedroom Furniture Ideas

If you love clean, straight lines, minimalist design and practicality, the chances are that you’ll love shaker style bedroom furniture. Originally created by Amish artisans and skilled Amish cabinetmakers, shaker style furniture has a long history. In this post we’re exploring what shaker style furniture is, why it’s popular and some great product ideas for you to use to implement shaker bedroom style into your home. 

What is shaker style?

You’ve probably seen the term ‘Shaker style’ applied to furniture, but do you know that it’s a genre developed by United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, a religious sect more commonly known as Shaking Quakers or Shakers? Their guiding principles were simplicity, honesty and utility. As a result, their designs were utilitarian and practical but also simple and beautiful. 

Shaker cupboards were often made to exactly fit a room, reaching down to the floor and up to the ceiling, to maximise storage space and remove any cavities that would require cleaning. Traditional Shaker style bedroom furniture features clean lines, symmetrical and distinctive framed panel doors and pieces that are made with great care for functional use. Original Shaker furniture pieces were made of wood species such as pine, brown maple and solid cherry that were all easily obtainable in their local vicinity. 

Modern Shaker furniture should conform to the same principles of being simple and symmetrical, and is still a popular choice in modern houses for its sleek, unfussy looks. Making the most of all the storage space so that everything has its place and keeping things simple is an important element of Shaker style. Look out for pieces with hidden compartments, so all your clutter can be hidden from view. These days shaker furniture can be made of a range of types of wood, including solid oak, rustic cherry, maple and pine. 

Top Shaker bedroom furniture ideas

If you’re after shaker-style Amish furniture bedroom collections to create the look in your home, you’re in luck. There are lots of great quality solid wood bedroom sets and other furniture items, such as shaker nightstands, wardrobes, bookcases and chest of drawers available from a range of retailers that meet the Shaker principles of design and fine craftsmanship. 

Here are some of the top Shaker inspired bedroom furniture ideas we’ve found. 

1. Shaker fitted wardrobes, Sharps

Shaker-style fitted wardrobes feature clean and uncluttered lines with solid square edging. Sharps has taken inspiration from the traditional principles of the Shaker style to design fitted bedroom furniture, including wardrobes and wardrobe doors, that are simple and timeless. Available in nine colours, you can pick and choose the design for your Shaker-style fitted wardrobe to make it truly unique. Prices start at £2,000, find out more from Sharps. 

2. Aspire Atlantic wood bed frame in white with natural trim, B&Q

This budget option is one of the popular styles and features a timeless Shaker design. Its sturdy construction is tested to EN 1725 British standards and it has a painted white oak style finish. Supplied flat packed with straightforward self assembly, no tools required. Prices start at £89.99 for a single size frame, available from B&Q.

3. Lyle light grey wardrobe, Danetti

Stylish and practical, this modern Shaker style wardrobe is a complete storage solution offering a two-door cupboard for hanging space and a spacious velvet-lined lower drawer for folded clothes. The elegance of the soft grey painted wood finish, unique brushed brass hexagon handles, and warm wood finish legs will suit almost any traditional style bedroom interior. £799, available from Danetti.

4. Brompton acacia double bed, Oak Furnitureland

Introduce modern country style to your home with this elegant Brompton painted and natural hardwood range. The classic shaker styling is made from acacia that’s painted in a soft off-white and finished with solid ash lacquered tops. The Brompton double bed brings together classic Shaker-style furniture and modern functionality to offer a piece that works perfectly in contemporary homes. £549.99, available from Oak Furnitureland. 

5. Verona ottoman bed frame, Time 4 Sleep

The Verona ottoman is a classical shaker inspired design which is sure to stand the test of time.   Finished in a warm grey painted finish with contrasting oak effect plinths, it features gas lift pistons to raise and lower the base with ease, revealing a large versatile storage area which has a fabric floor to protect your belongings stored beneath the bed.  Was £499 now £389, available from Time 4 Sleep. 

6. Montana side table, Where Saints Go

Featuring a classic solid wood furniture Shaker style aesthetic, this nightstand is a lovely and effortless piece of furniture. Made from American oak, which is famed for its durability, water resistant properties and attractive wood grain, this little table has a single drawer and a storage shelf for easy access. £279, available from Where Saints Go.

7. Brompton seven-drawer chest, Oak Furnitureland

Elevate your bedroom space with this shaker bedroom furniture piece which features four deep drawers and three small top drawers finished with gunmetal cup handles. The chest is a perfect storage piece and offers lots of storage potential, plus it could also work as a dressing table. £579.99, available from Oak Furnitureland. 

8. Salina dressing table, Ercol

Part of a modern shaker bedroom sets collection in a contemporary pale white stain, this dressing table displays the grain to full effect whilst invoking a light, calming and relaxed feel to the furniture – just what shaker collections should be like. £925, available from Ercol.

9. Amberley single pedestal dressing table, The Painted Furniture Company

These Amberley dressing tables are available as a single or double pedestal design and are beautifully crafted. Designed, constructed and built here in the UK, every piece is made to order so you have a choice of wood finish, paint colour and handle. Prices from £920, available from The Painted Furniture Company.

10. Marmo desk, Loaf

Made from light oak with a marble top, this neat little desk in amish craftsmanship style, features a single drawer and would make a great dressing table. £895, available from Loaf.

Summary

As you can see, Shaker style furniture is as timeless and relevant a design style today as it was when it was first made in the 18th century.The solid wood construction and dovetail joints of the original pieces are still used by craftspeople today, but there are custom options and more budget choices like flat pack available too. In homes where storage is limited, the practical and utilitarian side of Shaker furniture is beneficial and anything that hides clutter in a room is always a bonus! 

By Sara Walker.