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Navigate the world of furniture design with confidence by exploring essential terminology related to furniture materials, lighting, accent lighting, sofa design, chair design, and table design. Whether you're shopping for modern Scandinavian pieces or classic styles, this guide will help you make informed choices for your home.
Art Deco: A bold, geometric design movement from the 1920s and 1930s featuring chrome, glass, and streamlined shapes.
Art Nouveau: An organic, nature-inspired style (1890-1910) with flowing lines and sinuous curves.
Classic Design: Rooted in Greek and Roman influences, emphasizing symmetry and proportion.
Chippendale: Elegant 18th-century English furniture featuring camelback sofas and intricate wood carvings.
Mid-Century Modern: Known for clean lines, tapered legs, and minimalist silhouettes.
Hepplewhite Style: A peer of the Chippendale and Queen Anne style but usually with straight legs, Hepplewhite furniture was designed to imitate classical Roman and Greek architecture.
Neoclassic: A revival of the classic style and form.
Retro: A setting, furniture piece, or decorative element that revives a style or look of the past.
Four Post Bed / Four Poster: A bed with four corner posts, sometimes supporting a canopy.
Futon: A foldable mattress on a frame that can be used as seating or a bed.
Headboard: A panel at the head of a bed, often supporting bed rails.
Innerspring Mattress: A mattress with a core of springs for support.
Credenza: A low-profile storage unit for dining or office spaces.
Buffet (Sideboard): A storage unit used in dining areas.
Bureau: A desk built on top of a chest of drawers, often with a bookcase on top.
Serpentine Front/Serpentine Chest: A furniture piece with a distinctive concave-convex-concave curve.
Return: The side section of an L-shaped desk, providing additional workspace.
Motion Furniture: Any furniture with movement mechanisms (e.g., recliners, gliders, futons).
Self-Assembly Furniture (Knock Down, KD, Flat-Pack): Furniture requiring assembly by the user.
Occasional Furniture: Small pieces like lamp tables, coffee tables, and magazine racks.
Sofa: An upholstered seating piece typically big enough for more than one person.
Loveseat: A two-seater sofa.
Sectional Sofa: A modular, multi-piece sofa offering versatile seating configurations.
Track Arm Sofa: A sleek, modern sofa with squared-off arms.
Chesterfield: A leather settee with deep-buttoned upholstery and large rounded back and arms.
Modular Furniture: Furniture constructed in units that can be arranged in different configurations.
Sectional Furniture: Upholstered furniture composed of complementary sections that can be grouped in a variety of ways.
Scatter Back (or Scatter Pillow Back): A sofa with loose, moveable back pillows.
Shaped Back (or Conversational Sofa): A curved-back sofa where the outer seats face slightly towards each other.
Sofa Bed (Sleeper-Sofa): A sofa that converts into a bed.
Daybed: A hybrid between a sofa and a bed.
Settee: Another word for a sofa.
Barrel Chair: A curved, upholstered chair inspired by wine barrel designs.
Bentwood Chair: A classic café-style chair made using steam-bent wood.
Club Chair: A low-back, deep-seated armchair for lounging.
Chaise Lounge: A reclining chair that doubles as a statement piece.
Pouf: A low, upholstered stool of solid construction.
Wing Chair/Wingback Chair: A traditional overstuffed chair with "wings" extending above the arms.
Wall Hugger/Zero Wall Recliner: A space-saving recliner that moves forward instead of backward.
Bench Seat: A long, single-cushion seat with a sleek look.
Settle: A rustic wooden bench with a high back and storage beneath.
Accent Chair: A standalone chair designed to complement décor.
Ladder-Back Chair: A chair featuring horizontal slats on the back.
Sheaf Back Chair: A chair with a spindle back design resembling a bundle of wheat.
Shield Back Chair: A Hepplewhite-style chair with a shield-shaped back.
Spindle Back Chair: A chair with vertically arranged spindles in the back.
Splat: A flat, vertical piece of wood in the center of a chair back.
Windsor Chair: An 18th-century wooden chair with a solid seat and a curved spindle back.
Ottoman: A low upholstered seat used as a footrest or coffee table alternative.
Butterfly Table: A compact folding table with drop-leaf wings.
Pedestal Table: A single-column base offering unobstructed legroom.
Drop-Leaf Table: A space-saving design with hinged tabletop extensions.
Parsons Table: A minimalist, square or rectangular table with modern styling.
Coffee Table: A low-profile centerpiece for living spaces.
Apron: The horizontal support beneath a tabletop.
End Table: A compact table, often placed beside sofas or chairs.
Pocketed Coils: Individually wrapped mattress coils for superior support.
Queen Anne Leg: Another name for a cabriole leg, characterized by an elegant curve.
Dinette: Small-scale dining furniture with a table and four to six chairs. Designed for kitchen use but also used in small dining areas.
Dresser/Dressing Table: An item of bedroom furniture consisting of a low table with drawers, usually with a kneehole and frequently with a mirror attached to the top.
Kneehole: A space beneath a desk or dressing table designed to accommodate a person's legs to enable them to sit comfortably when using the top as a work surface.
Leaf/Leaves: A board or panel that is used as a tabletop extension. Some leaves are hinged to the table surface and must be raised to a horizontal position, as in a Pampero or gate-leg table. Other leaves are drawn out from beneath the table surface, as in the draw table. In some tables, the top can be separated and extended so leaves can be placed in the opening.
Nesting Tables: Small occasional tables that are designed to store one under another, typically in sets of three. Nesting tables store in a space-saving way and can be separated as needed for entertaining and use.
Sideboard: A buffet or a credenza. A long, waist-high piece of furniture used for serving food. The most common arrangement is one with the cupboards below and drawers above.
Side Chair: A chair with a small seat, 15 to 18 inches wide, with no arms.
Veneer: A thin decorative wood layer applied to a solid core.
Burr Veneer: A highly figured, wavy veneer pattern cut from a log.
Fire Cut Veneer: A veneer with a combination of straight-grain and heart figure.
Engineered Wood: Composite wood materials such as OSB, particleboard, and plywood.
Hardwood: Durable wood types like oak, teak, and walnut.
Softwood: Wood from evergreen trees like pine, known for being softer than hardwood.
Plywood: Layers of wood bonded together for strength.
Particle Board: A wood composite made of bonded wood particles.
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF): A compressed wood fiber board.
Laminate (Lam): A synthetic covering that mimics wood appearance.
Burl: Characterized by a swirling, highly figured grain.
Quarter Sawn Displays: A subtle, wavy, ribbon-like pattern across the grain.
Wood Plug: Veneer cut to look like a wood plug holds two pieces of wood together.
Bow Tie Joint: Veneer cut to look like a bowtie-shaped piece of wood holds two other pieces together.
Book Match: A mirrored wood grain veneer pattern.
Butt Match: Veneer joined end-to-end in a continuous strip.
Center Match: Two veneer sheets matched in the center.
Diamond Match: A veneer pattern arranged in a diamond shape.
Box Match: A pattern creating squares radiating from the center.
Checkerboard Match: Veneer arranged in alternating squares.
Four-Way Match: A pattern combining book and butt matches.
Reverse Box Match: A veneer pattern forming a cross shape.
Reverse Diamond Match: Four veneer wedges forming an X pattern.
Random Match: A casual veneer arrangement with no symmetrical pattern.
Rotary-Cut Veneer: A veneer cut in a circular motion from the log.
Slip Match: Adjacent veneer sheets are joined side by side, matching the sides up for a uniform grain pattern.
Whole Piece: One single piece of veneer is used, with continuous grain characteristics running across the sheet.
Pleasing Match: Veneers are matched by color or similarity, not necessarily by grain characteristics.
V Match: Veneer cut and butted together to form a decorative pattern in which the wood grain radiates from the center line to form a pattern resembling a series of V's set one over the other.
Frame: The structural foundation of furniture.
Core: The inner layer of veneered panels, such as plywood or MDF.
Edging (Banding): A thin protective strip applied to veneer panels.
Cornice: A decorative top section of furniture.
Molding: Decorative wooden strips applied to furniture.
Slat: A thin, flat section of wood, such as bed slats.
Tongue and Groove: A flush wood joint system.
Rabbet Joint: A joint technique supporting shelves and drawer bottoms.
Attached-Back: Cushions attached to the furniture frame.
Loose Back: Cushions that can be removed and flipped.
Baseball Stitch: A triple-stitch seam on upholstered furniture.
Track Arm: A straight, squared-off arm design.
Tufting & Buttoning: A technique for securing upholstery fabric.
Drop-In Coil Springs: A pre-assembled coil system in seat frames.
Elastic Webbing: Synthetic strips providing seating support.
Down: Soft feathers used for cushioning.
Fiberfill: A synthetic stuffing material for cushions.
Pillow Top: An additional comfort layer on cushions.
Sinuous Springs: "S" shaped steel wire springs for seating support.
Upholstery: Fabric covering for furniture.
Welting: Also called piping and cording, welting is a material-covered cord typically used to decorate the edge of a sofa arm. Welting is often made with contrasting fabric. Welting is a formalized finish to a defined edge and is needed in places like a box-shaped cushion.
Cabriole Leg: An S-shaped leg common in Queen Anne and Chippendale furniture.
Fluting: Shallow vertical grooves for decoration.
Lattice: A crisscross wooden or metal design.
Turning: Shaped wood components made on a lathe.
Mount: Ornamental metalwork on furniture.
Sheen: The degree of luster on a finished surface.
Finish: A treatment applied to wood for protection or aesthetics.
Lacquer: A durable varnish with varying gloss levels.
Staining: The process of applying color to wood.
Patina: A developed sheen or aged finish over time.
Monochromatic Scheme: A single-color palette in varying tones.
Accent Colors: Contrasting colors used to enhance room aesthetics.
Complementary Colors: Colors opposite each other on the color wheel.
Hue: The common name of a color.
Secondary Colors: Colors created by mixing two primary colors.
Symmetry: A balanced, mirror-image arrangement in design.
Texture: The feel or visual appearance of a material.
Dust Panel: A thin board between drawers to prevent dust buildup.
Footboard: A decorative panel at the foot of a bed.
Platform Bed: A mattress resting on a platform base.
Sofa: An upholstered seating piece for multiple people.
Glider: A chair mechanism for smooth horizontal movement.
Distressed Wood: Artificially aged to create a rustic look.
Burnishing: A hand-rubbed finish enhancing wood color.
Antiquing: A process to make materials look aged and worn.
Distressing: A technique to create surface marks for an aged effect.
Bonded Leather/Durablend™: A blend of leather fibers.
Leather Match: Upholstery with leather in seating areas and vinyl elsewhere.
Olefin: A durable synthetic fiber for upholstery.
Pile: A three-dimensional fabric texture with loops or cuts.
Drawer Guide/Slide: Tracks guiding drawers in and out.
Steel Band Base: A steel support system for upholstered furniture.
Quirke: A groove separating molding from other components.
Serial Numbers: Identifiers for products, manufacturers, and vendors.
Hardware: A generic term used to describe any metal fitting that goes onto furniture i.e., handles, locks, hinges, escutcheons, etc.
Joint: When making furniture, this would be the junction at which two pieces of lumber unite to form a support or make a closure.
Dovetail Joints: Interlocking wedge-shaped joints for sturdy drawer construction.
Mortise and Tenon Joint: A classic woodworking technique for durable furniture.
Finger Joint: A strong interlocking wood joinery method found in Scandinavian furniture.
Drawer Slides: Mechanisms that allow drawers to glide smoothly.
Dowel: A round, grooved, wooden pin, peg or rod that is fitted into the holes in two pieces of wood to hold them together.
Miter Joint: A diagonal joint formed by two pieces of wood. A miter joint is a simple joint type and can be used in a variety of wood constructions.
Pull: A handle to open drawers or doors of cabinets.
Accent Lighting: Used to highlight specific features, such as artwork or architectural details.
Ambient Lighting: The primary source of illumination in a space.
Task Lighting: Focused lighting designed for specific tasks like reading or cooking.
Track Lighting: A versatile lighting system ideal for adjustable overhead illumination.
Chandeliers & Sconces: Decorative lighting that elevates interior design aesthetics.
From sofa design and chair design to lighting and furniture materials, every element of furniture design matters. Whether you're drawn to timeless craftsmanship or modern Scandinavian aesthetics, our curated selection ensures you'll find beautiful, functional furniture to match your style.
Discover furniture that blends style and quality, explore Scandinavian Designs today.
