A Brief History of North Carolina Furniture

A Brief History of North Carolina Furniture

The history of North Carolina furniture is many ways the story of America itself.

From humble handcrafted roots to the peaks and valleys of industrial scale and global competition, the legacy of North Carolina furniture has shaped how American homes are experienced — and how design communities connect across the world.

For homeowners and design enthusiasts who value craftsmanship, heritage, and provenance, understanding the rich history of North Carolina furniture enriches not only our appreciation of furniture itself, but our relationship to the spaces we inhabit.

Humble Beginnings

Long before North Carolina became an industrial powerhouse, the region’s furniture tradition began in local communities where woodworking was a necessity. Starting in the early 1800s, settlers such as Moravian cabinetmakers in areas like Salem, North Carolina and Quaker artisans in Randolph and Rowan counties, blended European techniques with local materials and sensibilities to produce solid, functional pieces. These items were prized for their careful construction and simplicity of design, and today many are sought after as antiques and museum pieces.

The abundant supply of timber — from oak and pine in the Piedmont to hardwoods across the Appalachian foothills — provided the raw material foundation for an industry that was both practical and artisanal.

An Industrial Transformation

North Carolina’s transformation from cottage craft to industrial production began in earnest after the Civil War. The rebuilding of rail infrastructure enabled the transport of lumber and finished goods, positioning the state’s towns as ideal sites for furniture factories. The city of High Point, North Carolina (named for being the highest point on the North Carolina Railroad) became pivotal in this shift. Its first furniture factory began operating in the 1880s, signaling the birth of what would become a uniquely concentrated furniture economy.

By 1900, the area around High Point, North Carolina — including neighboring cities like Thomasville, Lexington, Hickory, and Greensboro — housed more than 40 furniture factories, collectively producing in the millions of dollars annually. It was during this period that many of North Carolina’s most influential furniture companies were founded — firms that would go on to define American interiors for decades.

Companies such as Bernhardt, founded in Lenoir, North Carolina in 1889, and Thomasville Furniture, established in 1904, helped transform furniture making from a regional trade into a nationally recognized industry, while the region’s abundance and variety of hardwoods, state of the art rail infrastructure, local labor market, and entrepreneurial spirit helped demonstrate that furniture produced in North Carolina could compete on quality, scale, and design.

High Point: The Epicenter of Furniture Design

As North Carolina’s furniture industry transformed from cottage trade to industrial scale, the town of High Point, North Carolina solidified its place at the epicenter of the American furniture industry in 1909, when local furniture manufacturers and sales leaders united to host the first Southern Furniture Market, laying the groundwork for what would become the High Point Market — the largest home furnishings trade show in the world.

Originally conceived to compete with established Northeast markets, High Point, North Carolina’s strategic location amid dense production clusters allowed it to become the center of furniture manufacturing and marketing in the South and, ultimately, the entire country.

Following World War II, the regional industry’s dominance was undeniable. An estimated 60% of all furniture in the United States was made within about 150 miles of High Point, North Carolina, and the city’s semi-annual markets grew into global wholesale events attracting designers, retailers, and manufacturers from around the world.

By the mid-20th century, an extraordinary concentration of furniture manufacturing existed within roughly 150 miles of High Point, North Carolina, with companies like Broyhill Furniture, founded in Lenoir, North Carolina in 1926, growing into household names by producing furniture at a scale previously unseen.

Alongside large manufacturers, deeply craft-driven firms flourished. In Hickory, North Carolina (a town that became synonymous with upholstery and fine finishing), companies such as Hickory Chair — founded in 1911 — developed reputations for meticulous handwork, custom finishes, and designer collaboration. These makers served a different market: one that valued tailoring, comfort, and longevity over mass replication.

Later entrants such as Century Furniture continued this tradition, bridging heritage craftsmanship with contemporary design sensibilities. Their success illustrates an important truth: North Carolina furniture has always adapted without losing its soul.

Globalization of Design

North Carolina’s furniture industry was not just about craft; it was a major economic force. At its height in the early-to-mid 20th century, furniture production was second in the nation, behind only traditional Northeastern centers like New York.

But the economic arc wasn’t always smooth. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, global competition and changing trade dynamics (particularly the rise of lower-cost furniture imports from China) significantly disrupted the industry. Between 1999 and 2009, North Carolina saw over half of its furniture manufacturing jobs disappear as production shifted overseas and domestic facilities consolidated or closed.

This contraction reflected broader structural shifts rather than a loss of skill or design heritage. Today, surviving makers focus on high-value niches, customization, rapid delivery, and luxury craftsmanship, seeking to differentiate themselves in a global market where quality and provenance matter more than ever.

Why Heritage Matters

For the design enthusiast, North Carolina furniture is more than a provenance tag — it’s a story of continuity between maker and inhabitant. Pieces conceived in the Piedmont are deeply tied to ecological, economic, and cultural histories. They remind us that the items we live with daily are part of an ongoing craft tradition shaped by place and people.

High Point, North Carolina continues to host designers from across the globe, connecting past and future through innovation and shared appreciation for good design.

When planning a home — especially one that blends thoughtful architecture with bespoke interiors — considering local and regionally crafted furnishings and decorative elements adds enriching layer of meaning.