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American folk furniture inevitably reflected European tastes of earlier periods. A furniture style would first emerge at an English or Continental court and almost immediately be adapted by those associated with the ruling classes. It would then filter down to the lesser nobles and ultimately to the lower classes. Immigrants then brought these styles with them to the New World. The designs first enjoyed popularity in Colonial cities where they were incorporated into the patterns of the leading cabinetmakers. Finally, the basic styles were adopted by rural craftsmen, who also adapted the designs to the needs of their clientele and the materials they had available.

Nearly all country or folk furniture was painted, either to hide the fact that it was made from inexpensive types of wood, such as pine, or to disguise the fact that a number of different woods were used in the construction. Frequently, furniture decorators would paint faux finishes on the piece in imitation of the more expensive varieties of wood, often creating a beautiful grain on lumber that had an unremarkable grain to begin with. To achieve different grain patterns, the paint was often applied with a variety of materials, such as sponges, putty, leaves, and combs.