Entrance to the Carmel Mission, California
The Mission style arose from two major design influences. It's namesake: The Catholic missions of the American West, and the Arts and Crafts movement that originated in England in the late 1800s. The Arts and Crafts movement honored simple, handmade objects. The plain furnishings of the California missions, designed by the austere Franciscan monks that founded them, were a perfect philosophical match with The Arts and Crafts movement's ideals. Does this Spark an idea?
Mission Furniture
Mission furnishings have little ornamentation and are primarily composed of straight lines and square and rectangular shapes. They are generally made of solid hardwoods and are stained, not painted. Most fine Mission furniture features wood with heavy grain patterns. These pieces are stained in light and medium colors to allow the wood grain to show through. Some Mission pieces are simply waxed or oiled and not stained in any way. Mission furnishings are generally joined with wood dowels, as opposed to metal screws. Seeing these dowels in a finished piece is a sign of the piece's authenticity. Mission furniture usually has fixtures of darker wrought iron.
Decorating Your Bedroom
Mission-style furniture is plain but can still be a source of drama. Often, this drama arises from the size and weight of the furniture. Many Mission pieces are quite large. If your bedroom is large, choose a strong Mission bed with headboard and foot board to dominate your space. An armoire or large chest can also make a statement in your bedroom. In a smaller space, choose Mission nightstands with a less imposing bed frame---perhaps one with delicate iron scrolling, and a bookcase or smaller item in the Mission style as an accent. The walls of your Mission-style bedroom should be a warm natural tone: cream or off-white. Textured plaster is the perfect backdrop for Mission style.
Accessories
The accessories in a Mission-style bedroom should accentuate the rich wood tones of its furniture. Lighting fixtures appropriate to the style generally have golden or off-white glass. If you would prefer a splash of color, Tiffany-style stained glass lights are particularly attractive with Mission furniture. The relatively plain nature of Mission furniture allows you to add colorful accessories and linens. Consider adding colorful Persian rugs, Indian silks or African Kente fabrics to your design.
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