If you like your furniture built solid and built to last with no frills or needless embellishment, then Mission Style furniture is what you’re looking for. The Mission or Arts and Crafts Movement was a backlash against the extravagant, over-the-top designs of the Victorian era and also against the mass produced furniture emerging after the industrial revolution. In the late 1890s, craftsmen such as Gustav Stickley led the charge to incorporate clean, geometric lines and natural materials to produce structurally sound pieces that emphasized the originality of the craftsman and his handiwork.

Telltale signs of Mission Style furniture include visible joints, such as the mortise and tenon that was popular at the time and continues to serve furniture makers today, as well as quarter-sawn wood which gave the grain a beautiful look. Nails and rivets were often left exposed to add a gleaming contrast to the wood or upholstery. While the philosophy seems to set-up decades of fabulously boring furniture, it was anything but. Rather, Mission furniture was beautifully designed, with manufacturers relying on exquisite craftsmanship and finishing techniques to add serene elegance to an item.

The Mission Style has been revived recently with many furniture manufacturers producing sturdier, solid wood pieces built to be passed on from generation to generation. This philosophy has been extended to much of the aesthetic of contemporary furniture. Clean, sharp geometric lines and a lack of ornamentation along with a renewed sense of pride in craftsmanship are present in much of today’s furniture.
If you’re interested in getting the Mission look in your home search out solid, rustic-looking pieces that appear to have aged well or newer pieces that look like they can stand the test of time. Rich wood tones like mahogany and stained oak are the trademarks of classic Mission Style, but modern pieces can be found in a wide array of colors, wood types, and finishes. Good luck as you work toward creating a beautiful Mission look in your home.

Renewed interest in Eastern décor has contributed to the popularity of Moroccan furniture, and today’s choices are more varied than ever. Moroccan décor evokes images of rich palaces, harems and the sumptuous tents of travelers in the ancient caravans of the Near East. Think Arabian Nights and the Bazaars of Marrakech and you’ll understand why so many people are using Moroccan furniture to bring a sense of luxury and richness to their homes.

What Makes Moroccan Furniture Unique

There are several key elements to Moroccan décor that are central to the romantic, elaborate richness of the style. One of the most important features of is the use of color. Rich, jewel-tone colors can be found in everything from the intricately woven rugs to the detailed embroidery of throws, cushions and ottomans.

Moroccan furniture is always imbued with color in some fashion. The carved wooden tables are detailed with painted tracery in at least two or three complimentary colors and you can often find one to match the particular color of your room for a stunning accent piece. Ottomans, now popular world wide but originally Moroccan furniture, are large, low, over-stuffed cushions for seating that are usually made of leather. Truly Moroccan ottomans will be embroidered in contrasting threads with elaborate designs that may incorporate leaves, twining vines, animals and stylized patterns from ancient texts or buildings.

Ornate woodworking is a signature of Moroccan furniture. You will not find a plain, unadorned coffee or end table made by Moroccan craftsmen, who pride themselves on their dexterity at hand carving elaborate fretwork and delicate details in exotic hardwoods such as lemon wood or thuya burl. Each table is a work of art, often with six sides in a hexagon shape and side carvings that may include curved spindles, latticework and graceful arches. These will be decorated with painted details in jewel colors like reds, deep blues, brilliant golds and greens.

Moroccan décor such as mirrors, lanterns and frames are all made with the same attention to detail as larger pieces. Rich swirls and geometric shapes in broad bands hold handset and polished stones, cut glass and mosaic tile around mirrors or frames. These make a bold decorative statement in any room. The lanterns are punched with elaborate patterns in metal with inlays of colored glass to soften and refract the light of candles and fire the room with a glow like the interior of a great jewel box.

Adding a Moroccan Touch to Any Room

A bedroom is the perfect setting for Moroccan furniture and accent pieces. You can convert this room into a personal retreat that will make you feel as though you have been whisked a world away to the lands of romance and adventure. Embroidered bed linens and throw pillows, beautifully carved and painted side tables used as nightstands and mirrors and picture frames trimmed in wrought silver, pewter or iron set with semi-precious stones or mosaic glass will pull together and complete your romantic retreat.

If you want to turn your back patio into an oasis, there is also Moroccan furniture that can withstand the elements. Wrought iron tables with inlaid tops of glass or marble mosaic and matching wrought iron chairs are a beautiful option. Try stringing Moroccan candle lanterns in the trees or lining them up along the railing of your deck to shine silhouettes of star and geometric patterns across the lawn.

If you aren’t sure you want to do an entire room in such a richly foreign style, start with a few gorgeous accent pieces. A beautifully pieced and embroidered leather ottoman can add color and romance to a more contemporary room, and the buttery softness will invite visitors to sink onto it. A plain entry hall can become a focal point if you choose one or two pieces such as an oversized silverwork mirror set with mother-of-pearl and a delicate candle lamp.

Whether you want to add just a touch of romance or turn your home into an Eastern bazaar, Moroccan furniture is always sumptuous, detailed and lovely.