{"id":13987,"date":"2019-12-12T10:30:22","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T15:30:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/?p=13987"},"modified":"2025-09-08T10:40:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T14:40:26","slug":"5-ways-to-participate-in-the-slow-furniture-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchcrafters.com\/blog\/5-ways-to-participate-in-the-slow-furniture-movement\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Participate in the Slow Furniture Movement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Slow Furniture Movement<\/a> embraces the deliberate creation and use of durable furniture. A part of the Slow Movement that values quality over quickness, it has emerged as a response to the mass production of disposable \u201cfast\u201d furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to spend a lot to participate in the slow furniture movement. Here are five ways that you can get involved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Shop Sustainable Solid Wood Furniture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Investing in solid wood furniture, whether it be new or used, will pay off in the long run. Wood furniture is more durable and will last longer than furniture made with cheaper materials. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"A
Time honored techniques are used in Amish woodshops where furniture is built slow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When buying new wood furniture, try to look for furniture\nmade with sustainably harvested wood. This means the wood comes from\nsustainably managed forests that carefully oversee the planting of new seedlings\nas mature trees are cut down for use. Remember, purchasing new may cost more,\nbut it pays off in the long run through generations of use. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Oxnard Dining Room Set<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

You don\u2019t have to buy new to participate in the Slow Furniture Movement. There are great buys out there that you can find at thrift shops, estate sales, church bazaars and weekend yard sales. Yes, there\u2019s likely to be some fast furniture thrown in there too, but chances are you can find furniture with good old-fashioned solid wood included. Furniture made long ago, before cheap materials filled the scene, were made better. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a>
Amish Child’s Wooden Chair<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When buying secondhand, don\u2019t hesitate to ask questions. See if you can find out what wood was used in older pieces of furniture. Talk with your thrift shop owner and ask what they know about the piece. You might learn something unique about the furniture you\u2019re interested in. Be cautious too; pre-owned furniture can contain a few pitfalls. Beware of things like pests in the wood or paint that could contain lead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Buy Less and Avoid Impulse Buys<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

They know how to getcha. The strategically placed end caps, the ads, all of it. It’s easy to fall for products dressed up in all the best slogans with a low price to convince you it\u2019s just the right furniture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid them. Impulse buys are attractive with their low prices and promises, but living with less and only investing in things of quality that will last reduce waste and the stress that waste causes the environment. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Work
Hard at work in an Amish woodshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

3. Take Your Time and Shop Slow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decide against making a rushed decision regarding your new\nfurniture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slow furniture won\u2019t be part of the mass-produced pool that\nlooks like everyone else\u2019s. Take your time shopping. You can find something\nunique with a story while enjoying the process of discovering new styles and\ndeciding what look you wish to create. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Boulder Mission Chair<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At DutchCrafters, solid wood furniture is built by hand in\nAmish woodshops located across Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. Wood is sourced\nfrom sustainably managed forests. There\u2019s careful selection, cutting, hand\nsanding, refining and weeks of work to produce each piece. Custom pieces\ninvolve the customer a lot more, creating even more of an investment and\nconnection to your furniture. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"A
A scene from Amish country.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Spend time thinking about the item you plan to purchase. A\nlarge part of the Slow Furniture Movement is not only the quality product\nthat\u2019s produced but the enjoyment that comes from searching for it, selecting it,\nbuilding it and acquiring it. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Amish<\/a>
The Amish Bridgeport Mission Leg Table<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\"American<\/a>
The American Mission Hall Console Table<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

4. Look for Furniture That Can Be Used Multiple Ways<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When shopping for slow furniture, you want to select pieces\nthat you\u2019ll be happy with for a long time. (With Amish furniture, we are\ntalking about wood furniture that lasts generations!) Tricks to ensure you\nwon\u2019t tire of it include selecting pieces that have many functions and then\nusing them in different ways. Making the most use out of a piece cuts down on\nthe \u201cthrow away\u201d culture that has been steadily developing and harming the environment\nwith piles of plastic showing up in the landfills. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Working
Working in an Amish woodshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A sofa table can serve in the living room and easily move to the foyer or hallway for a fresh look. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a>
The Amish Heritage Mission Sofa Table<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

A server hosts the party food and adds storage. Moving it\nfrom one room to another after years of use can refresh a room and make it feel\nlike a new piece of furniture. <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/a>
The Amish Strobile 62″ Server<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

5. Shop Locally<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With slow furniture, the story behind the furniture counts.\nThe craftsmanship, care and time spent to make it right make a difference as\nthe furniture becomes part of your story. Learn about your local furniture\nstores, artisans and find out about their stories.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Building
A pedestal table base is refined in an Amish woodshop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What do they care about? What do they stand for? And what\nare the details they put into their furniture that matter to you? When you feel\ngood about the company you\u2019re getting your furniture from, you can enjoy it\neven more and knowing their backstory can help take the sting off waiting for a\nquality piece of furniture versus one that is mass produced in a hurry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being Part of the Slow\nFurniture Movement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We understand in today\u2019s world things move fast. It\u2019s not easy to slow down. But more and more people are realizing the true cost of all this rushing. When you join the slow movement<\/a> with a slow furniture find, you\u2019re benefiting and<\/em> helping in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n