Amish furniture has been around for hundreds of years. It became popular in America during the
1920s and 1930s as part of the American Folk Art Movement, a cultural trend that celebrated the
artistic traditions of American settlers’ homelands, specifically handmade art. While most
American folk art from that time faded into the background of American history, Amish furniture
earned mainstream popularity that has withstood the test of time.
With so much competition in the modern furniture industry and new interior design trends
emerging all the time, the fact that Amish furniture is still popular is quite impressive. So, what’s so
special about Amish furniture? It all comes down to the benefits of Amish furniture. Rooted in the
tradition of Amish furniture making, these benefits are just as relevant to furniture shoppers today
as they were 100 years ago. In this article we will explain each of these benefits so you can see for
yourself why Amish furniture is truly special.
1) Superior Craftsmanship
Amish furniture doesn’t refer to a specific style, (get that image of a shaker style chair out of your
head, Amish furniture comes in every style, but we’ll talk about that more later) it refers to the
legendary craftsmanship and proven techniques that Amish furniture makers have perfected over
hundreds of years. Amish furniture is made from solid wood using simple tools such as hand saws,
chisels, and planes.
Amish craftsmen utilize precision joinery techniques to create strong joints. Pieces of wood are
carefully carved so they fit together like permanent puzzle pieces. These wood joinery techniques
include box joints, bridle joints, mortise and tenon, dowel joints, and dovetail joints. This creates
the clean and seamless look that Amish furniture is known for. Screws and glue are used to
reinforce the stability of the furniture. To wrap up each masterpiece, the wood is meticulously
sanded until smooth, and a premium finish is applied to enhance the natural beauty of the wood.
The tradition of excellence and time-tested Amish furniture making techniques are passed from
one generation to the next. A lot has changed since the early days of Amish furniture, but Amish
furniture makers maintain an unwavering commitment to superior craftsmanship because it’s so
much more than a business to them. Amish furniture makers take pride in every piece, and it
shows.
2) Made in the USA
American made furniture (or American made anything for that matter) is rare these days. Products
that are made in the USA are generally better quality compared to products manufactured
overseas. That’s because American manufacturers adhere to stricter quality standards and safety
regulations, so their products are less likely to be defective, sub-par, or contain harmful materials.
The businesses that have managed to continue thriving on US soil in the wake of cheap overseas
manufacturing have been able to do so by producing better quality products.
Purchasing Amish furniture, or anything else that’s made in the USA, doesn’t just benefit the
consumer, it sends a positive ripple effect. When you buy Amish furniture, you support hardworking
American artisans and small businesses and your money stays within the US economy. American
manufacturers, including Amish furniture makers, must adhere to ethical labor practices and
environmental considerations too, so you can feel good about the impact of your purchase.
3) High-Quality Materials: Real Wood, Leather, Performance Fabrics
Amish furniture is made using high quality materials—real wood, leather, and performance fabrics.
In addition to superior craftsmanship, using these materials makes for durable, long-lasting, and
beautiful furniture. Amish furniture makers wouldn’t touch cheap materials such as particle board,
plastic, laminate, and veneer with a 10-foot-pole. The materials used in Amish furniture offer
durability, longevity, and a luxury look and feel that cannot be impersonated.
Amish Furniture Materials:
• 100% American Hardwood: No particle wood, printed laminate, or veneer here, Amish
furniture is made using solid American hardwoods. Some of the popular woods used in
Amish wood furniture include Maple, Oak, Cherry, Elm, Hickory, and Walnut.
• Leather is a soft, natural, and durable material used predominantly for chairs, stools, and
sofas. Leather cushions and leather upholstery add a layer of comfort and contribute to the
luxury look of seating. There is a wide range of leather options that go far beyond black and
brown.
• Performance Fabric: Performance fabric hasn’t been around since the dawn of Amish
furniture, but it has been a welcome addition. Performance fabrics are stain-resistant, easy
to clean, comfortable, and add a wide variety of colors, textures, and styles to the Amish
furniture repertoire.
4) Amish Furniture is Extremely Durable
Superior craftsmanship and high-quality materials come together to create an extremely durable
product. These days, it’s difficult to find products that are made to last a lifetime, but Amish
furniture is built just like it was in the good ole days—to last for generations. While it is luxury in
terms of quality and a little pricier than factory-made “fast furniture”, Amish furniture isn’t meant to
be wrapped in plastic and put in that sitting room you never use. Amish furniture is built to be used!
Kids jumping on the bed, muddy dogs running through the house, slamming your fist down on the
coffee table when your team loses, filling shelves and drawers with beautiful books and memories,
spilling a glass of wine on game night—it’s all part of life, and Amish furniture can take it. Amish
furniture is an investment you won’t regret because it will last. Made from real hardwood,
performance fabrics, and leather, it’s made to be pet-proof, kid-proof, accident-proof, and life-proof.
5) Customization Options
The level of customization available in Amish furniture is unbelievable. If you can dream it up, an
Amish furniture maker can pretty much make it a reality. From custom shelves that fit like a glove
to dining room tables with extra leaves to accommodate big families during the holidays and secret
storage compartments, you never have to settle for furniture that’s good enough. You can create
custom furniture that’s perfect for you in appearance and function. Custom furniture options
include style and design (the possibilities are truly infinite), size and dimensions, a massive range
of wood, stain, finish, leather, and fabric options to choose from, and special features.
In the Amish furniture world, there is no such thing as cookie cutter furniture. Since every piece is
handmade, every piece is one-of-a-kind. So even pieces that you see at an Amish furniture store
are technically custom!
6) Wide Range of Styles
A common misconception about Amish furniture is that it only comes in the traditional shaker
style. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. As we just discussed, custom furniture is a huge part
of the Amish furniture industry, so as new styles emerge, Amish furniture makers learn to create
new designs to keep up with custom demands. The result is a massive repertoire of styles under
the Amish furniture umbrella that continues to grow every year. Amish furniture styles include
farmhouse, modern, contemporary, rustic, minimalistic, transitional, and so much more.
Experience the Amish Furniture Difference
Amish Elegance is the premier Amish furniture store in Knoxville, TN—providing customers in East TN and across the country with authentic handmade Amish furniture. Amish Elegance works with expert Amish furniture craftsmen in Ohio to create one-of-a-kind furniture. Their massive furniture showroom showcases the quality and variety of Amish furniture with bedroom suites, dining tables, sofas, recliners, desks, kitchen islands, and more in every style from modern to farmhouse. They are experts in custom furniture with a highly skilled design team ready to tackle any project.
Check out their wide range of wood, stain, finish, fabric, and leather samples for custom furniture. Browse bedroom furniture, children’s furniture, dining and kitchen furniture, living room, office, outdoor furniture, and past custom projects for inspiration. Visit the Amish Elegance showroom or contact us today to learn more or discuss a custom project.