Shaker, Continued: 7 New Favorites for a Trend Resurgence

It’s been over a decade since a relatively fringe 1700s religious sect—the Shakers—found unlikely ubiquity in the modern world. It started with Shaker peg rails (this story, originally published in 2013, took us by surprise when it went wild). Then Shaker-style kitchen cabinets became mainstream.


In all the years since, enthusiasm for the simple, utilitarian design has barely dipped. If anything, it’s grown. But recently a new slew of Shaker-adjacent news leads us to believe there’s revitalized interest in seeing Shaker design in new ways: Fan alerted us to this exhibit, at the American Folk Art Museum, on Shaker art (utterly “exuberant” compared to their pared-back furnishings). And there’s this pop-up, co-curated by the actress Frances McDormand, featuring Shaker cradles, which visitors to “take your time. Rock yourself. Mend if you’d like.” And if you’ve ever wanted to adorn your envelopes with Shaker designs in miniature, now you can, thanks to a new collection of Forever stamps.


The stamps were released to mark the 250th anniversary of the first Shakers’ arrival in America, the USPS notes—perhaps a reason for the resurgence. Though we can’t help but wonder whether Shaker cradles and hand-made wares answer a yearning, now, for simpler times.


Here are seven Shaker-inspired offerings we’ve noticed lately:
Above: Ikea, which usually takes its cues from Scandinavian design, turns instead to the Shakers: The Nakanäs Chair ($80) has a Shaker-style woven seat and curved backrest “for comfort and unadorned beauty.” Also available: The Nakanäs Table ($299.99).

Above: A collab between Oja Design and March SF, the Woven Dining Stool is available to order in a slew of custom colors and designs, though we like this fresh, colorful tape seat. (“For chair making, the Shakers preferred using fabric tape, because unlike rush, wood splint, or cane, tape does not dry out or pinch and snag clothing,” March notes.)
Above: A new release from Schoolhouse: the Ashfield Table Lamp ($499), made from beech and ash with a turned wood support.
Above: The humble, ubiquitous Shaker peg gets (admittedly) a very elevated twist by Belgian maker Van Cronenburg: Hand-cast in bronze in one of Europe’s oldest foundries, it’s “developed using historical sketches from the Shakers.”
Above: The Shaker Wooden Dining Bench from Target is $199.
Above: Just released by Maine-based furniture maker Heide Martin, the Shaker Side Table is “a nod to Shaker meetinghouse benches with a touch of whimsy.” Each is made to order.
Above: “The Shakers believed that furniture should be honest and not deceitful—no veneers or unnecessary ornamentation.” This Nightstand ($480), the latest release from chef and writer Clare de Boer’s furniture company, Roseland, follows suit: “It’s hand-rubbed with the same raw linseed oil we use on our bed, resulting in zero VOCs and a finish that becomes richer and darker over time.” (Read more about Roseland in A New Furniture Co. from Clare de Boer.)


For more timeless Shaker design, see:



* Found in Translation: 5 New Uses for the Shaker Box from Japan

* Remodelista Reconnaissance: Shaker (Ish) Peg Rails in an Upstate Kitchen

* In the Dwelling House: 16 Design Ideas to Steal from the Shakers

* Instant Order: 16 Simple, Smart Uses of Shaker Peg Rails from the Remodelista Archives | bit.ly/3XLoEJb


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