Amish homes, for the most part, are simple. Instead of focusing on technology and its products, Amish homes are more focused on family and daily work.
If you are wondering how they look like, below are some of their most common features.
Simple design
As mentioned, Amish houses are designed with simplicity in mind. Most of them are painted in brown, green, white or blue. These shades represent nature’s colors.
Inside, you’ll find more colorful designs, such as their quilts, shades, and curtains. Despite possessing more colors, however, they remain simple and modest. Most of their designs are nature-related, such as trees, birds, and flowers.
They also make most of their own stuff from scratch, including furniture. Because of the simplicity and uniqueness of their handcrafts, Amish furniture has already become a trend in the U.S. for years now.
Large kitchen
Amish life revolves around farming and preserving food items the entire year. The families work hard to grow produce which they can sell to outsiders and use to feed themselves. They like preserving fruits and vegetables and they do the same for meat products.
Because of what they do, Amish families need a big kitchen which can accommodate all the people required in processing and bottling their preserved items. In addition to that, large kitchens also enable them to gather families and friends.
Unlike modern kitchens, you won’t find automatic dishwashers in Amish kitchens and that doesn’t cause any inconveniences for them. Amish children are more likely to help around the house and wash dishes than a lot of contemporary kids.
Since electricity isn’t permitted, old wood stoves are typically used for cooking.
Huge porches
Because Amish families tend to be big, they often find indoor space a bit limited. This is one good reason why most of them have big porches. They serve as an ideal spot to chat with friends, relatives, and neighbors. The porches also allow them to spend time with and be closer to nature.
Porches, for Amish homes, are more favored for their functionality and not for their curb appeal. They are painted with simple colors, like white and natural shades, so that they don’t look too flashy or too loud.
Basement
Amish homes have basements not just for aesthetic reasons but because they serve different functions for the family.
For one, basements are a great place to store their canned goods and preserved items. They are also the best spot to do their laundry or do a quick workout.
Basements can also serve as a place to gather a lot of people, making them ideal to use as a functional place for church. And for kids, they make a good and safe play safe.
The basement also creates an extra living space.
You see, Amish houses don’t have thermostats and air conditioning. During the warmer months, they move downstairs to the basement to remain cool. And for the colder months, they stay in the basement to keep warm.
This is why most Amish have basements that are designed with sinks and miniature kitchens.
The basement can also serve as a sleeping area or a spot to hang clothes during the rainy season.
Lighting
They rely on different lightings. Some of them rely on natural gas lighting. Others choose battery-powered lighting which includes LED lighting and flashlights.
For the more conservative Amish houses, they prefer kerosene lamps. They produce less heat and glow which may or may not be ideal depending on what season it is. Some houses, on the other hand, are built with a propane tank with wheels which enable families to move it where light is most needed.
Now, with the increased fire risk that comes with such traditional lighting methods, solar is becoming more and more popular among Amish homes. It enables families to get access to proper lighting without compromising their culture or their values.
You see, the Amish community doesn’t really consider electricity as a bad thing. It’s just that for them, having direct access to it will just tarnish their culture and way of life.
Refrigerator
Much like lighting, Most homes refrigerators that are powered by natural gas or propane. In areas where they aren’t allowed, ice-based cooling is the next best option.
Conventional Washing Machine
Some Amish homes still rely on classic washing machines to wash their clothes. Others, meanwhile, are now using conventional washing machines that are run by diesel generators.
Amish families hang their clothes to dry which isn’t totally a bad thing. Apart from that it helps save money, line drying also creates fewer wrinkles in clothes. It enables the fabric to last longer, too.
Conclusion
Amish homes are not that different from your home. It’s just that they have a different set of values which they like to preserve and strictly adhere to. They have made adjustments in their daily lives, including the way they design and use their homes, just to make sure that those values remained untainted and followed.
