Turned Wood Is the Old-School Home Trend Making a Comeback

Shaping wood into sculptural curves and grooves dates back centuries, but this decorative detailing is back in a big way. Often sporting candy colors and unexpected finishes, today's turned wood furniture and accessories put a modern spin on this ancient technique.

The term refers to wood that was historically carved and shaped using a lathe. Similar to a potter's wheel, this tool continuously rotates the piece of wood, allowing it to be cut into sculptural forms using hand-held tools. The earliest wood lathes were used in ancient Egypt and Rome, and the technique later spread throughout Europe and across the globe. Today, woodturning is typically done completely by machine instead of by hand, but the results are similarly impressive.

Turned wood often appears on furniture legs and accessories like candleholders, but perhaps the most famous example is the Jenny Lind bed. Featuring a curved headboard, footboard, and turned wood spindles, this spool bed became associated with the Swedish opera singer and stylemaker in the late 19th century. Lind's sold-out performances during her 1850s American tour caused such a stir that towns, soups, and her preferred bed style were all named after her. If you're lucky, you might be able to snag a vintage Jenny Lind bed at flea markets or antique shops, but modern reproductions also abound. Here are some ways to try the turned wood trend at home (including a gorgeous Jenny Lind bed!).