The Complete Guide to Shaker Style Kitchen Chairs
With their clean lines, subtle charm, and focus on quality craftsmanship, it’s no wonder shaker style kitchen chairs have enjoyed enduring popularity for over two centuries.
From the Shaker religious communities who first popularized the iconic style to today’s revival among modern interior designers, shaker chairs offer versatility that suits casual daily life along with a touch of humble sophistication.
What is Shaker Style?
To understand the appeal of shaker chairs, it helps to know the roots of shaker style. The origins trace back to the Shakers, a Protestant religious group that formed in 18th century England before migrating to America.
Living in tight-knit communities, the Shakers emphasized simplicity, functionality and quality hand-craftsmanship. These principles were reflected in their furniture like chairs made with spare, clean lines and free of embellishments.
Over time, these designs were adapted more broadly as “shaker style” beyond the communities. Today, the term invokes unfussy furniture with subtle grace and attention to detail using natural materials like wood or textiles.
Characteristics and Aesthetics
While shaker style embraces diversity, certain common characteristics unite the category.
Most notably, shaker pieces emphasize functionality and eschew excessive ornamentation. The look tends to feature clean, often straight lines and light-hued, unfinished wood tones. Shaker furniture highlights the beauty of natural materials rather than ostentatious decorations.
The spare, geometric designs often incorporate gentle curves and subtle textures from woven chair seats. But the overall aesthetic errs towards simplicity and order to maximize practicality and comfort.
Versatility and Appeal
The timelessness of shaker furniture helps explain its staying power. Shaker style manages to feel both freshly contemporary yet comfortingly familiar.
These versatile, unfussy pieces work equally well in pared-down modern spaces and cozy, rustic homes. Shaker chairs complement an array of aesthetics from farmhouse to industrial.
While suitable for everyday kitchen and dining areas, the humble nobility of shaker style also elevates more formal spaces when called for. This flexibility derives from a marriage of casual warmth and understated sophistication.
Common Types of Shaker Chairs
From side chairs to stools, shaker style takes many forms. But a few signature chair designs help define the category.
Ladder Back Chairs
The ladder back chair remains one of the most iconic shaker designs. As the name implies, these wooden chairs feature a slatted back reminiscent of a ladder.
The horizontal rungs offer ergonomic support while conveying subtle texture. Ladder back chairs often incorporate woven seat materials for added comfort and visual interest.
Spindle Back Chairs
Similar to ladder back chairs, spindle back styles also incorporate wooden vertical supports. But instead of wide rungs, these chairs have numerous narrow spindles lining the back.
The slender spindles are spaced closely together for a delicate, almost lattice-like appearance. The continuous vertical shapes create striking visual rhythm.
Bow Back Chairs
As another nod to ergonomic design, bow back chairs live up to their name with a gently curved top rail mimicking a bow’s shape.
Sturdy braces connect the sweeping top rail to the legs, creating eye-catching negative space. The curved backrest promotes excellent lumbar support.
Side Chairs
Shaker side chairs encompass any backless, armless design light enough to easily move around. These agile chairs maximize functionality as flexible seating options.
Many incorporate signature shaker chair elements like ladder back or spindle styling in a compact, portable frame. others have subtly scooped seats for added comfort.
Shaker Chair Materials
Traditional shaker chairs showcase natural materials, especially wood. But modern versions incorporate more diverse materials and colors while keeping the signature shaker look.
Wood Types
Classic shaker chairs feature hardwoods like oak, maple, cherry or walnut. The rich grains and natural warmth beautifully complement the pared-down shaker aesthetics.
Mahogany and hickory are popular choices for more contemporary takes on shaker designs. Softer woods like pine or poplar suit painted chairs.
Woven Seats
Many shaker chairs incorporate woven seats as an appealing counterpoint to the wooden frame. Natural fiber options like rattan, rush or splint offer texture and a touch of softness while remaining durable.
Woven wicker and fabrics like canvas bring added comfort. These textural seats make the chairs more welcoming and approachable.
Finishes and Colors
Unfinished wood showcasing the natural grain provides an authentically rustic shaker look. But painted finishes expand the possibilities dramatically.
Classic color choices include white, black, various grays and earthy neutrals like brown and tan. Soft blue, green or other colors add charming character.
Quality Craftsmanship
At their heart, Shaker chairs exemplify meticulous craftsmanship using techniques stand the test of time. This devotion to quality adds lasting value.
Traditional Joinery and Construction
Proper shaker chairs utilize time-honored wood joinery for optimal strength and stability. Favored methods include mortise and tenon joints, dovetail joints and corner blocks.
Thoughtful construction and joinery help these chairs endure decades or even lifetimes of everyday use when properly cared for.
Attention to Detail
From the choice of quality materials to impeccable finishing touches, shaker craftsmanship goes the extra mile. Expect tight joints without visible glue or nails and smooth sanded edges.
This meticulous attention to detail honors the legacy of the Shaker artisans who popularized this furniture style that today’s enthusiasts still admire.
Custom Options
While mass-produced shaker furniture abounds, many companies continue producing handcrafted or made-to-order chairs. Customization allows personalized dimensions, materials, finishes and even monogramming.
For those seeking one-of-a-kind shaker pieces, custom orders from specialized woodworkers bring unique character and heirloom quality.
Tips for Styling Shaker Chairs
The adaptability of shaker style makes it easy to incorporate these chairs into diverse spaces. Here are some top tips on styling shaker chairs throughout your home:
Kitchens
In kitchens, shaker chairs readily suit modern, industrial and farmhouse designs. Mixing ladder back and spindle back chairs creates appealing variety.
Woven seat styles add nice contrast to sleek counters. Use shaker chairs around kitchen islands or dining tables for casual mealtime seating.
Dining Rooms
Play off brightly painted dining room walls by topping bold hues with crisp white shaker chairs. Or opt for wooden chairs coordinated with wood table tops.
Create cohesion when mixing chair styles by repeating key details like leg shapes. Anchoring the space with an area rug also pulls the look together.
Living Spaces
In living areas, shaker accent chairs with arms make comfy spots for relaxing or reading. Armless side chairs work well in lounging areas or grouped as flexible seating.
Nestle a petite shaker side chair alongside a desk or table to serve as guest seating. The lightweight chairs can easily be pulled up for extra visitors.
Where to Buy Quality Shaker Chairs
With shaker style gracing everything from big box stores to Etsy, numerous options exist for purchasing chairs.
Antique and Vintage Stores
For authenticity, shop antique dealers and vintage stores for rediscovered shaker originals boasting hallmarks of traditional craftsmanship.
Expect to pay a premium for these uncommon vintage finds, which are often refinished or freshly painted by the retailers.
Independent Woodworkers
Commissioning shaker chairs from independent artisans allows full customization for heirloom-quality pieces. Be prepared to pay more for this specialty work.
Online Retailers
The widest selection across styles and budgets can be found through online furniture retailers. Many offer direct-to-consumer savings on mass-produced shaker chairs.
Big Box Stores
Major home retailers like IKEA, Target and Walmart carry very affordable shaker-inspired chairs suitable for occasional use. Expect trade-offs in materials and construction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here we answer some commonly asked questions about incorporating shaker style chairs:
What paint color should I choose for shaker chairs?
Soft whites and light grays are classic, especially for kitchens. But any neutral or subtle pastel creates a relaxed shaker look. Deep hues can be striking as well.
How do I refinish old shaker chairs?
Lightly sand any damaged areas before cleaning thoroughly. For a natural look, apply new stain that matches the original wood tone. Or paint over with an on-trend color.
What cushions work with shaker chairs?
Firm, dense foam cushions prevent sagging. Tie-on styles allow removal for cleaning. Look for smooth performance fabrics like acrylic, microfiber or brushed polyester.
Can I put shaker chairs outdoors?
Choose chairs made of durable, weather-resistant materials like teak, resin wicker or epoxy-coated aluminum. Look for waterproof, UV-resistant cushions as well.
How do I clean shaker chair seats?
Vacuum fabric seats regularly. Spot clean stains immediately. For wood seats, dust with a soft cloth and polish with wood cleaner as needed.
With their fuss-free elegance, ergonomic profiles, and exceptional craftsmanship, it’s easy to see why shaker chairs have retained devoted fans for generations. The right shaker chairs can infuse any interior with timeworn character or give it a freshly contemporary lift.
Allow this guide to inspire your own adventures in bringing home the humble, handcrafted appeal of authentic shaker style chairs to suit your personal taste.