Don’t underestimate the degree to which painted furniture can establish a beautiful alternative to traditional stained furniture, especially if you live in a contemporary house. The inspiration for the many examples on sale today comes primarily from the centuries-old designs that originated in parts of Europe and provide some striking examples of style and grace. The origins of hand painted furniture are much earlier than that, however, and it is thought that the Chinese used resin lacquers several millenium ago. Germans and Poles were also early practitioners of furniture painting and these communities, after immigrating into the United States, started the many Shaker communities. This is the reason why much of the Shaker style of furniture is unfinished.

A clear selling point of painted furniture is the incredible variety of distinct colors and shades that can be achieved. No matter what your desire, you can conceive a particular color or shade and there is a good chance that it can be made. This versatility means that you can do so many different things with furniture and the right paint and skills – you can stencil it, age it, decorate it and use it to obtain almost any desired effect. Artists have also chosen furniture as a canvas on which to express their skill and individuality.