Mission style is a furniture design that uses clean vertical and horizontal lines and flat panels to emphasize the grain of the wood used. The simplicity of mission style furniture is in direct contrast to the elaborate and ornate designs that covered every inch of Victorian-era furniture.

A.J. Forbes designed the first mission style chair in 1894 for a San Francisco church; the word mission references the Spanish missions prevalent throughout California. New York furniture maker Joseph McHugh copied Forbes’ chair and is responsible for popularizing the term mission furniture. In addition to the Forbes chair design, McHugh also offered other mission style home furnishings.

The history of mission style furniture traces its roots to the Arts and Crafts movement of the mid-1800s. Originating in Great Britain in the 1850s, the movement was a response to the loss of craftsmanship that came with the mass-produced furniture of the Industrial Revolution. The movement flourished between 1880 and 1910, spreading to the United States and Canada in the late 1890s. Following a visit to England in 1898, furniture maker Gustav Stickley incorporated the ideals of hand-crafted furniture and simple design into the furniture he produced in his shops in New York.

Mission furniture, including mission style bedroom furniture, has a simple, clean and rustic look and tends to be large and heavy. Made from a variety of solid hardwoods, mission furniture highlights the beauty of the natural wood grain. Maple, walnut, cherry, poplar and oak all are conducive to use for mission style bedroom furniture as well as kitchen, dinette and living room furniture; a range of finish options create sleek, beautiful, hand-crafted furniture that fits any décor.

The straightforward designs used in mission furniture does not mean mission style bedroom furniture has to be drab or limited in options. Stylish curves and grooved panels provide subtle elegance and decoration. Available in a variety of designs, such as slat beds, four-poster, hidden, wall and panel beds, mission style bedroom furniture features solid and inlay panels that showcase the natural beauty of the hardwood. In addition to beds, our mission style bedroom furniture includes chests, dressers, night stands, vanities, armoires and mirrors.

The mission furniture we offer at MTB Artisans reflects the time-honored artistry of solid hardwood furniture made with quality craftsmanship. We are proud to combine a timeless American tradition with the convenience of modern accessibility and offer our customers the rich heritage of authentic American furniture.