Bedroom Curtains, Bedrooms, Interior Design, beige curtains, curtains

Traditional Bedroom Ideas 5 – Shaker Simplicity

The Shakers were a religious sect established in Manchester in the 1700s before emigrating to the state of New York, USA. They are best remembered for their furniture, textiles and the simplicity of their designs. Although the sect has lowered immensely in number – the Shaker style is still very popular.

They believed that everything in the home should have a function and therefore decorative elements were unimportant. Designing and producing their own furniture and textiles to the highest standards was their testament to God. Their style was functional, perfectly made and to them – naturally beautiful.

The Shaker’s Colour Palette:

The Shaker’s simplistic approach to interiors was seen in everything – even colours. They didn’t eliminate colours which would be seen in bedding and curtain fabrics, but the palette was very rigid. Aside from classic white for walls – the Shaker palette was made up of red, light blue, dark blue, yellow and a blue-green. The absence of other colours was due to how they sourced their dyes – from plants and clay. When choosing bedroom curtains and bed covers make sure that the colours are matte rather than a satin or sheer appearance.

Flooring And Furniture:

The Shakers hand crafted all of their furniture and original pieces are hard to come by – at least within a reasonable budget! They never sold to the masses and therefore the existence of what they made is highly collectible and sells for big money at auctions. Thankfully there are now lots of Shaker style furnishings to be bought on the mass-market. For those who want a more authentic look, you should buy pieces in Cherry-wood or Maple. Signature pieces for the bedroom would be a simple shaped wooden bed with slatted base and headboard.

Wardrobes and drawers were important for storage and could take up an entire wall – nothing should be left out of its designated storage place. Another essential aspect of the Shaker home was a peg rail that would run around the walls at roughly head height. These pegs would be for hanging up a simple mirror, their craft tools or outdoor jackets.

Textiles For A Simple Life:

Fabrics were always of natural material – never synthetic. Wool and cotton would be used in abundance for bedding and beige curtains. A simple woollen rug for the floor was sometimes seen in bedrooms during colder months. Although patterns are decorative, they did allow some detail with checks or gingham in curtains and bedding.