Why 200 Years Later, Shaker Style Is Still the Most Enduring Look in Interior Design – and Yes, It Works Beyond the Kitchen

Shaker-style dining nook with sage green walls, dark wood dining table, built-in banquette seating, rustic ceramic pots, still life paintings of fruit on the walls, and wooden beams.

Shaker style has been around for more than 200 years, making it one of America's oldest and most enduring design aesthetics. Defined by simplicity, utility, and fine craftsmanship, the Shaker style isn't about overly ornate design; instead, it embraces simple silhouettes, enduring materials, and time-evolved pieces.

While the historic design style commonly translates as Shaker kitchens in today's homes, Shaker decorating principles can apply to spaces beyond the cooking space. 'For me, Shaker design is often misunderstood as simply being plain or minimalist. In reality it's a philosophy of making rather than a visual style,' says Paul Staden, founder of handcrafted furniture company Pilgrim House.