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Double BedsOne of the simplest and most elegant examples of furniture design is the Shaker style bed. This utilitarian style was popularized when the Shakers came into prominence around the late 1700’s, and remains a fashionable choice today among people who are seeking furniture that is durable and functional. Shaker beds are relatively plain wooden beds, and do not contain any of the ornate designs that typify some of the other styles of woodwork from that era. This faction did not see a need for any aspects of design that were purely for aesthetics; they were primarily interested in function. As the group was known for living in communes apart from society, they developed customs that were different from the normal everyday habits of the rest of the populace, and some aspects of their furniture reflected this. Because they believed in complete celibacy, the Shakers did not have much use for double beds, so most Shaker style beds were singles. Occasionally however, they would use double beds to save space, and two men, two women, or two children would sleep in them. The Shakers generally spent their entire lives living in one village, and because this sect was not as mobile as many cultures today, they manufactured their beds without the ability to break down. They would join the side rails to the headboard, footboard, and legs permanently, and this contributed to the overall sturdiness of the furniture. Also, to enable the movement of the beds around the house, most Shaker beds were made with casters at the end of the legs. They would just roll the beds over to the other side of the room in order to sweep the dust that had accumulated under them. In addition, to keep themselves out of the cold drafts around the floor while they were sleeping, most Shaker style beds were made comparatively high off the ground. As the Shakers were not interested in excessive decoration, they shied away from finishing their beds with heavy paints and stains, instead preferring light stains and varnishes to protect their furniture. Their beds were also absent any veneers made from rare, expensive wood such as mahogany or rosewood. Simple pine and birch from the local community sufficed as their sole building materials, as these woods were readily available and very functional. What the beds lacked in decoration, however, they made up for in superior craftsmanship. The Shakers were perfectionists, and each bed had to be made with the utmost in care, as they believed that this was a reflection on their spirituality. During a time period in American history when furniture craftsmanship was beginning to be influenced by the European penchant for the more ornate, the Shakers developed their own distinctive form of simplicity and functionality that has lasted to this day. With design aspects that mirrored their original makers’ uncomplicated lives, Shaker style beds have an elegance that has persevered through time, as the design remains a popular one in furniture stores and homes around the world.
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