3 Creative Ways to Utilize Your Shaker Chest

Shaker chests hold an honored place in any set of Shaker furniture. Lancaster, PA families have long used Shaker chests to store blankets and linens, and many chests saw use throughout the years as Hope chests for young brides.

Today linens are more likely to be stored in the hall closet, and the Hope chest has for the most part fallen into disuse. Even so, people still enjoy the clean, functional lines of Shaker furniture, and Lancaster PA families often find new, imaginative uses for their beloved Shaker chests.

The Chest as a Coffee Table

A Shaker chest makes an interesting coffee table, and its simple shape lends itself to many different décors. Quite at home with other Shaker furniture, Lancaster PA residents also find the chests’ polished wood finish adds a classical touch to modern living room sets. 

Entertainment Units

Shaker chests easily support a television for a simple, classy entertainment unit. Place the chest between two deep bookcases to frame the television and provide a place for DVD players and gaming consoles. If the chest has drawers, you can store DVDs and games inside.

A shaker chest also looks great directly underneath a wall-mounted television, filling the empty space beneath the television with an elegant piece of furniture with simple shape doesn’t distract from TV watching.

Chests as Seating Areas

Growing up with Shaker furniture, Lancaster PA kids were often scolded for sitting on the good furniture (I’m not sure where we were supposed to sit, now that I think of it). A shaker chest is strong enough to act as impromptu seating. Just add a cushion and use it wherever you need to combine seating and storage.

Shaker Furniture in Lancaster, PA

Whether you want a chest, bed or complete set of Shaker furniture, our Lancaster, PA showroom has plenty for you to choose from. Drop by today or check out our online catalog for the finest in handmade furniture.

Why Buy From an Amish Furniture Outlet?

At our Amish furniture outlet, we’re sometimes asked what makes Amish furniture so special. After all, today’s consumer has access to an international range of furniture styles and designs. Many of those choices cost less than handcrafted Amish furniture. What is it, exactly, that makes Amish craftsmanship unique?

We gave the matter some thought and finally decided on the five main reasons why we feel Amish furniture stands out from other choices. 

Timeless Beauty

Furniture, like clothing, follows trends with certain designs going in and out of style. Not all of these trends survive the test of time. (Think of the furniture from the 1970s and 1980s and how dated it looks today). While there’s nothing wrong with being trendy, adhering to the latest furniture fads often forces people to redecorate when fashions change. Today’s cutting-edge fashion is tomorrow’s chintz.

Walk into an Amish furniture outlet, however, and you’re struck by the timeless beauty of the furniture. Hardwoods and classic lines never go out of fashion, and they will look as good in 50 years as they do today.

Reliable Craftsmanship

Mass-produced furniture is made with quantity, not quality, in mind. Much of today’s retail furniture includes particleboard and thin veneers held together with glue, staples and screws. Because of this, the lifespan of many pieces of furniture is limited.

  

Not so with Amish furniture. Handcrafted from hardwoods using traditional joints and wood-working techniques, pieces from our Amish furniture outlet will last for decades, if not centuries. You can see the pride and skill of the craftsman in each piece’s strength and durability.

Heirloom Pieces

Combine classic beauty with longevity, and you get furniture that families can pass down from generation to generation. While people usually think of jewelry, books, watches and pieces of art as heirlooms, the well-made piece of furniture you buy today could still be in your family when your grand kids are grandparents.

Savings Through an Amish Furniture Outlet

People sometimes object to the prices at an Amish furniture outlet when compared to cheap alternatives. It’s true you’ll pay more for a solid wood, handmade piece of custom furniture than for a mass-produced item made from cheap materials. In the long run, however, Amish furniture can actually save you money.

Think of it this way: You may have to replace cheaper furniture several times over. In contrast, once you buy a piece of Amish furniture you should never need to buy a replacement. In short, buying from an Amish furniture outlet is a sound financial move.

Supporting a Traditional Way of Life

Finally, buying from an Amish furniture outlet helps support a durable, simple way of life. Despite the allure of modern convenience and technology, the Amish continue to thrive. At Snyder's Furniture, we think that’s well worth supporting.