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We created this glossary to help you explore the realm of furniture design with confidence. Delve into the key terminology associated with furniture materials, lighting, accent lighting, sofa design, chair design, and table design. Whether you're in search of sleek modern Scandinavian pieces or timeless classic styles, this guide will empower you to make informed decisions for your home.
Art Deco: A striking design movement from the 1920s and 1930s characterized by bold geometric patterns, streamlined forms, and the use of materials like chrome and glass.
Art Nouveau: An aesthetic style from 1890 to 1910 inspired by organic forms like flowing lines and graceful curves.
Classic Design: Influenced by ancient Greek and Roman styles, this design emphasizes symmetry and proportion.
Chippendale: An elegant style of English furniture from the 18th century, known for its camelback sofas and detailed wood carvings.
Mid-Century Modern: Recognized for its minimalist silhouettes, clean lines, and tapered legs.
Hepplewhite Style: A counterpart to Chippendale and Queen Anne styles, Hepplewhite furniture typically features straight legs and draws inspiration from classical Roman and Greek architecture.
Neoclassic: A revival of classical styles and forms.
Retro: Refers to furniture pieces, settings, or decorative elements that echo styles from the past.
Frame: The foundational structure of furniture.
Core: The inner layer of veneered panels, typically made from plywood or MDF.
Edging (Banding): A slim protective strip attached to veneer panels.
Cornice: An ornate top section of furniture design.
Molding: Decorative wooden strips added to enhance furniture aesthetics.
Slat: A slender, flat piece of wood, often used for bed slats.
Tongue and Groove: A woodworking joint designed for a flush fit.
Rabbet Joint: A joining technique that provides support for shelves and the bottoms of drawers.
Attached-Back: Cushions that are permanently fixed to the furniture frame.
Loose Back: Cushions that can be easily removed and turned over.
Baseball Stitch: A durable triple-stitch seam found on upholstered pieces.
Track Arm: A design featuring straight, squared-off arms.
Tufting & Buttoning: A method used to secure upholstery fabric.
Drop-In Coil Springs: A ready-made coil assembly used within seat frames.
Elastic Webbing: Synthetic strips that offer support for seating.
Down: Soft feathers utilized for cushioning purposes.
Fiberfill: A synthetic material used for stuffing cushions.
Pillow Top: An extra layer added to the cushions for enhanced comfort.
Sinuous Springs: "S" shaped steel springs designed to support seating.
Upholstery: The fabric that covers furniture items.
Welting: Also known as piping or cording, welting is a cord covered in material and often used to accentuate the edges of a sofa arm. It is commonly made from contrasting fabrics and provides a polished finish for defined edges, particularly on box-shaped cushions.
Cabriole Leg: A leg with an elegant S-curve, typically found in Queen Anne and Chippendale furnishings.
Fluting: Decorative shallow vertical grooves.
Lattice: A design featuring a crisscross pattern in wood or metal.
Turning: Wooden pieces shaped on a lathe.
Mount: Decorative metal elements applied to furniture.
Dust Barrier: A narrow board placed between drawers to keep dust from accumulating.
Footboard: An ornate panel located at the foot of a bed.
Platform Bed: A bed where the mattress sits directly on a sturdy base.
Sofa: A cushioned seating option designed to accommodate several people.
Glider: A chair that features a mechanism allowing for smooth back-and-forth motion.
Four Post Bed / Four Poster: A bed featuring four vertical posts at each corner, which may support a canopy above.
Futon: A versatile piece of furniture consisting of a foldable mattress on a frame, serving as both a bed and seating.
Headboard: A decorative or functional panel located at the head of a bed, typically supporting the bed rails.
Innerspring Mattress: A type of mattress constructed with a core made of springs for added support.
Credenza: A stylish, low-profile storage piece designed for dining or office environments.
Buffet (Sideboard): A functional storage unit commonly found in dining spaces.
Bureau: A combination of a desk placed atop a chest of drawers, frequently accompanied by a bookcase above.
Serpentine Front/Serpentine Chest: A uniquely designed furniture item featuring a smooth concave-convex-concave curve.
Return: The extension of an L-shaped desk that offers extra workspace.
Motion Furniture: Furniture featuring movement mechanisms, like recliners, gliders, and futons.
Self-Assembly Furniture (Knock Down, KD, Flat-Pack): Furniture that needs to be assembled by the user.
Occasional Furniture: Compact pieces such as lamp tables, coffee tables, and magazine racks.
Sofa: A spacious upholstered seating option designed to accommodate multiple people.
Loveseat: A compact sofa intended for two.
Sectional Sofa: A versatile, modular seating arrangement that can be customized in various configurations.
Track Arm Sofa: A contemporary sofa characterized by its clean, squared-off arms.
Chesterfield: A luxurious leather sofa with deep-buttoned detailing and a prominent rounded back and arms.
Modular Furniture: Furniture designed in individual units that can be rearranged in different layouts.
Sectional Furniture: Upholstered pieces made up of interconnecting sections that can be grouped in various formations.
Scatter Back (or Scatter Pillow Back): A sofa featuring loose, movable back cushions for customizable comfort.
Shaped Back (or Conversational Sofa): A sofa with a gently curved back, encouraging a more intimate seating arrangement.
Sofa Bed (Sleeper-Sofa): A sofa that easily transforms into a bed for added functionality.
Daybed: A versatile piece that serves as both a sofa and a bed.
Settee: A synonym for a sofa, often used to describe a smaller or more ornate version.
Barrel Chair: An upholstered chair with a curved shape, inspired by the design of wine barrels.
Bentwood Chair: A timeless café-style chair crafted from steam-bent wood.
Club Chair: A deep-seated armchair with a low back, perfect for relaxing.
Chaise Lounge: A reclining chair that serves as both a comfortable seat and a striking décor piece.
Pouf: A sturdy, low upholstered stool that provides flexible seating.
Wing Chair/Wingback Chair: A classic overstuffed chair featuring "wings" that rise above the arms.
Wall Hugger/Zero Wall Recliner: A compact recliner designed to move forward, saving space in your room.
Bench Seat: A sleek, elongated seat with a single cushion for a streamlined appearance.
Settle: A rustic wooden bench that offers a high back and includes storage underneath.
Accent Chair: A standalone chair that enhances the overall décor of a room.
Ladder-Back Chair: A chair distinguished by its horizontal slats across the backrest.
Sheaf Back Chair: A chair featuring a spindle back design that resembles a bundle of wheat.
Shield Back Chair: A chair in the Hepplewhite style, characterized by its shield-shaped backrest.
Spindle Back Chair: A chair designed with vertically arranged spindles forming its backrest.
Splat: A flat, vertical wooden piece located at the center of a chair back.
Windsor Chair: An 18th-century wooden chair known for its solid seat and gently curved spindle back.
Ottoman: A low upholstered piece used as either a footrest or a substitute for a coffee table.
Butterfly Table: A space-efficient folding table featuring drop-leaf extensions on either side.
Pedestal Table: A table with a single sturdy base, allowing for ample legroom underneath.
Drop-Leaf Table: A cleverly designed table with hinged extensions that fold down to save space.
Parsons Table: A simple yet stylish square or rectangular table known for its modern aesthetic.
Coffee Table: A low-profile table that serves as a focal point in living areas.
Apron: The horizontal support located beneath the tabletop.
End Table: A small table typically placed next to sofas or chairs for convenience.
Pocketed Coils: Mattress coils that are individually wrapped to provide enhanced support.
Queen Anne Leg: A style of leg, also known as a cabriole leg, distinguished by its graceful curve.
Dinette: Compact dining furniture set, usually consisting of a table and four to six chairs, ideal for kitchens or small dining spaces.
Dresser/Dressing Table: A piece of bedroom furniture featuring a low table with drawers and often a mirror, designed with a kneehole for seated use.
Kneehole: The open space beneath a desk or dressing table, intended for legroom while seated.
Leaf/Leaves: Panels used to extend a tabletop. Some are hinged and lifted to a horizontal position, while others pull out from underneath. In certain tables, the top can be separated to insert leaves for expansion.
Nesting Tables: A set of small tables designed to fit underneath one another, typically in groups of three, for easy storage and versatile use.
Sideboard: A long, waist-high piece of furniture, also known as a buffet or credenza, primarily used for serving food, featuring cupboards below and drawers above.
Side Chair: A narrow chair without arms, typically measuring 15 to 18 inches in width.
Veneer: A thin layer of decorative wood applied over a solid base.
Burr Veneer: A decorative veneer featuring a wavy, highly detailed pattern sourced from a log.
Fire Cut Veneer: A veneer showcasing a mix of straight grains and heart figure patterns.
Engineered Wood: Composite materials made from wood, including OSB, particleboard, and plywood.
Hardwood: Sturdy wood varieties such as oak, teak, and walnut.
Softwood: Wood sourced from evergreen trees, like pine, which tends to be softer than hardwood.
Plywood: Multiple layers of wood glued together for added strength.
Particle Board: A composite material crafted from bonded wood particles.
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF): A board made from compressed wood fibers.
Laminate (Lam): A synthetic surface designed to resemble wood.
Burl: Noted for its swirling and intricately patterned grain.
Quarter Sawn Displays: A discreet, wavy, ribbon-like grain pattern.
Wood Plug: Veneer shaped to resemble a wood plug, used to connect two wooden pieces.
Bow Tie Joint: Veneer cut into a bowtie shape, intended to unite two wood pieces.
Distressed Wood: Crafted to appear aged, providing a rustic appearance.
Burnishing: A finish achieved through hand rubbing that deepens the wood's color.
Antiquing: A technique used to give materials an aged and weathered appearance.
Distressing: A method that creates surface imperfections for an aged look.
Book Match: A veneer pattern that mirrors the wood grain.
Butt Match: Veneer strips joined end-to-end to form a continuous look.
Center Match: Two sheets of veneer aligned at their centers.
Diamond Match: A veneer layout featuring a diamond-shaped design.
Box Match: A pattern creating squares that radiate outward from a central point.
Checkerboard Match: Veneer arranged in an alternating square pattern.
Four-Way Match: A combination of book and butt matches to create a complex pattern.
Reverse Box Match: A veneer design that forms a cross shape.
Reverse Diamond Match: Four wedge-shaped sections of veneer arranged in an X pattern.
Random Match: A casual arrangement of veneer with no symmetrical design.
Rotary-Cut Veneer: Veneer that is sliced in a circular motion from the log.
Slip Match: Adjacent veneer sheets placed side by side, aligning perfectly for a consistent grain.
Whole Piece: A single veneer piece showcasing uninterrupted grain patterns across the surface.
Pleasing Match: Veneers selected for color or similarity, rather than by specific grain features.
V Match: A decorative pattern created by cutting and butting veneer, forming a series of overlapping V shapes with the grain radiating from the center.
Sheen: The level of shine on a finished surface.
Finish: A coating applied to wood for protection or visual appeal.
Lacquer: A tough varnish available in different gloss levels.
Staining: The method of adding color to wood.
Patina: A sheen or aged look that develops over time.
Monochromatic Scheme: A palette consisting of one color in different shades.
Accent Colors: Contrasting colors that enhance the overall look of a room.
Complementary Colors: Colors that are positioned opposite each other on the color wheel.
Hue: The general name of a color.
Secondary Colors: Colors made by blending two primary colors.
Symmetry: A harmonious arrangement that mirrors itself in design.
Texture: The tactile or visual quality of a material.
Bonded Leather/Durablend™: A combination of leather fibers.
Leather Match: Upholstery featuring leather in the seating areas and vinyl in other parts.
Olefin: A strong synthetic fiber used in upholstery.
Pile: A fabric texture characterized by three-dimensional loops or cut fibers.
Drawer Guide/Slide: Mechanism that facilitates the movement of drawers in and out.
Steel Band Base: A metal support structure for upholstered furniture.
Quirke: A channel that distinguishes molding from surrounding elements.
Serial Numbers: Unique identifiers for products, manufacturers, and suppliers.
Hardware: A broad term that refers to any metal fittings attached to furniture, such as handles, locks, hinges, and escutcheons.
Joint: In furniture making, this term refers to the point where two pieces of wood come together to provide support or create closure.
Dovetail Joints: A type of interlocking joint shaped like wedges, commonly used for building sturdy drawers.
Mortise and Tenon Joint: A traditional woodworking method known for creating strong and durable furniture.
Finger Joint: A robust joinery technique that features interlocking pieces of wood, often seen in Scandinavian designs.
Drawer Slides: Mechanisms designed to enable drawers to move in and out smoothly.
Dowel: A cylindrical, grooved wooden pin or rod that fits into holes in two wooden pieces to join them.
Miter Joint: An angled joint created by two pieces of wood, it is a straightforward connection used in various woodworking projects.
Pull: A handle used for opening the drawers or cabinet doors.
Accent Lighting: Emphasizes particular features, like artwork or architectural elements.
Ambient Lighting: The main source of light within a space.
Task Lighting: Concentrated light intended for specific activities, such as reading or cooking.
Track Lighting: A flexible lighting system perfect for customizable overhead lighting.
Chandeliers & Sconces: Ornamental lighting that enhances the overall design of an interior.
From sofas and chairs to lighting and furniture materials, every detail in furniture design is essential. Whether you appreciate classic craftsmanship or sleek modern Scandinavian styles, our carefully curated collection guarantees that you'll discover stunning and functional pieces that suit your taste.
Additionally, shopping at Dania Furniture means you'll benefit from expert guidance, smooth delivery, and resilient designs built to endure. Experience the perfect harmony of style and quality-explore Dania Furniture today.
