Glossary

Accent colors

Contrast colors used to for room schemes

Accent furniture

A piece of furniture that stands out because it complements a room's decor. The term comes from the meaning of the word "accent," which means stress, or emphasis

Accent lighting

Decorative lighting used to draw attention to chosen objects and create mood and highlights.

Adjustable Base

A bed which has a multi-hinged lying surface which can be profiled to several different positions. Common adjustments include inclining the upper body and raising the lower body independently of each other.

Affordable

Inexpensive; reasonably priced.

Ambient Lighting

Main overhead lighting in a space providing a diffused layer of uniform illumination

Antiquing

The process of making wood or fabric look old and used. This can be done through a finish, artificial weathering, or distressing.

Applique

French for "applied." Ornaments such as carvings, turnings, lozenges, etc., which are tacked or glued to a surface rather than cut from the solid wood.

Apron

Boards that are placed at right angles to the underside of a tabletop or seat of a chair, extending between the tops of legs. On case goods furniture, it is the perpendicular face below the lowest drawer between bracket feet.

Arabesque

A kind of scroll pattern in which leaves, flowers, fruit and geometric forms are intertwined

Armoire

French term for a wardrobe frequently used to describe a French-style wardrobe.

Attached Back

Attached back pieces feature cushions that are attached and cannot be removed or flipped. Prevents pillows from being moved out of place. Attached back cushioning maintains the durability of cushioning because the back does not move or wear as it would if it were detached.

Available

Available for future delivery.

Bachelor's Chest

A small low chest of drawers which first appeared in the 18th century.

Back Splat

A section of flat, occasionally pierced wood in the center of the back of a chair

Banding

Veneer cut into narrow strips of contrasting color for decorative effect, typical of marquetry or inlay. Often used around the edges of furniture, drawers, etc.

Banquette

A long bench-like seat often upholstered and generally built into or along a wall.

Bar

A counter across which alcoholic drinks or refreshments are served.

Bar Stool

A tall padded stool for customers at a bar to sit on.

Barrel Chair

Semicircular upholstered chair with loose seat cushion. Originally made from wine barrel halves.

Baseball Stitch

Upholstered furniture containing a triple stitch seam of fabric, with two visible stitches bordering a center stitch between the two pieces of fabric. Inspired by the classic stitching on a baseball, this stitch is a design feature and often contrasts with the upholstery of a sofa, loveseat, or chair.

Beading

Decorative detail resembling a row of flattened beads.

Bedroom

A room for sleeping in.

Bed in a Box

A mattress made of memory foam, compressed and rolled up so it can be shipped and delivered in a box. When it arrives on your doorstep, you simply need to unroll it and wait for it to reinflate.

Bench Seat

A sofa or loveseat that utilizes only one long seat cushion. Bench seating is streamlined, attached cushioning. Sofas and couches, loveseats and other upholstered pieces can feature bench seating.

Bentwood chair

A chair popularized in Paris caf? culture made from wood bent using a steaming process.

Berg?re

An upholstered French armchair with outwardly rolling arms and sections of its wooden frame exposed.

Beveled Glass

Thick glass with an angled surface cut around the entire periphery.

Bleaching

The process of chemically treating wood to provide a lighter, more uniform color.

Blog

A regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

Bolster

A long, often cylindrical, cushion or pillow for a bed, sofa, etc.

Bombe

A low, usually heavily decorated chest of drawers with outwardly bulging front and sides.

Bonded Leather/ Durablend™

A polyurethane/leather blended upholstery. A composite material made of leather, polyester, cotton, and polyurethane. It contains about 17% genuine leather. Pieces of leather are applied to a polyester/cotton blend material as a backing, and then polyurethane is applied to the top to get the consistent look and feel. You gain the look and feel of leather, along with the easy maintenance, without the cost.

Bonnet top

Also called a Hooded or Dome top. A full dome or curved, covered top section.

Bookcases

A set of shelves for books set in a surrounding frame or cabinet.

Bookcase Headboard

A headboard for a bed that has space to store books, radios, clocks, and other small items. Sometimes called a storage headboard.

Book Match

A method of veneer matching where pairs of adjacent slices of veneer, as they are cut from the log, are opened up like the pages of a book, producing a mirror image of the grain pattern.

Bow front

Outwardly bowing front of an item of wooden furniture.

Box Match

A veneering pattern similar to diamond match and angled to create a series of consecutive squares radiating out from the center.

Brace Block

A piece of wood or metal fitted into an angle of a piece of furniture to add strength or rigidity.

Bracket foot

A foot resembling an “L” on its side placed at the corners of cabinet furniture.

Broadloom

Carpet woven on a wide loom.

Buffet

A buffet/sideboard without a hutch or storage cabinet on top. The French definition of the word is "a small sideboard; a place to keep dishes.”

Bun Foot

A foot shaped as a slightly flattened round ball typically used on chests of drawers or upholstered chairs.

Bunk Bed

One of two single beds usually placed one above the other.

Bureau

A desk built on top of a chest of drawers. The desk is revealed when a flap or “fall” is lowered. Occasionally a bookcase sits on top of it.

Burl

A variation (or "knot") in wood grain that creates a pattern when cut thin; often used for veneer or inlay. Burls are naturally occurring in wood and can be mimicked in manufactured pieces to add an organic appearance.

Burnishing

Hand rubbed polishing to enhance the natural color of the wood. Burnishing adds a beautifully worn look to wooden pieces and gives depth and warmth.

Burr veneer

A veneer specially cut from a log to produce a highly figured, wavy pattern.

Butt Joint

This is a type of joint where wood ends meet perpendicularly at right angles without overlapping or notching.

Butt Match

Veneer arrangement similar to book match but joined end-to-end in a continuous strip.

Butterfly Table

A small folding table with splayed legs generally turned. The top has wing brackets underneath to support drop-leaf wings on either side.

Cabinet furniture

Generic name given to storage furniture.

Cabriole leg

A table or chair leg with a gentle "S" shape which curves outward at the top and then curves inward while tapering gradually. Named after an early French term for "goat" (literally "goat's leg") it is common on Queen Anne and Chippendale style furniture. Occasionally referred to as a Queen Anne leg.

Camel back

Used to describe furniture with a curve like a camel's hump along its back.

Canopy

Literally meaning a "roof", as created over either a four-post bed or protruding outwards like a hood from an item of cabinet furniture.

Cartouche

The French word for cartridge, this refers to a scroll-like ornament, often an oval shape which was frequently used as the central motif in a design, and sometimes in a corner of a coved cornice.

Case goods or Case Pieces

A category of furnishings and home accents that is not upholstered and is used for storage. Case goods typically features drawer and cabinet storage and can be used in most rooms of the home.

Casters

Wheels that allow home furnishings to roll around. Each of a set of small wheels, free to swivel in any direction, fixed to the legs or base of a heavy piece of furniture so that it can be moved easily. Casters add versatility and easy mobility to a variety of home accents and furniture pieces.

Canterbury

A portable magazine rack.

Cedar Chest

A rectangular storage chest made of sold cedar or cedar veneers to prevent moth damage on woolens.

Center Match

An arrangement of two veneer sheets of uniform size, matched in the center on a single face. Also called balance match.

Chairback Headboard

This is an open headboard style resembling the back of a dining room chair.

Chaise Lounge

A table or chair leg with a gentle "S" shape which curves outward at the top and then curves inward while tapering gradually. Named after an early French term for "goat" (literally "goat's leg") it is common on Queen Anne and Chippendale style furniture. Occasionally referred to as a Queen Anne leg.

Chamfer

To bevel and edge.

Charles of London:

A style of sofa or chair defined by its low rolling arm. Traditionally inspired by British furniture tradition, this style features dropped arms, with a classic rolled shape. Checkerboard Match.

Cheap

Low in price; worth more than its cost.

Chenille

Fabric with thick needle-punched design. Chenille is soft to the touch, durable, and found in home accents, furniture upholstery, and rugs.

Chesser

It is a cross between a chest and a dresser.

Chesterfield

A leather settee with deep-buttoned upholstery and large rounded back and arms.

Cheval Mirror

A long freestanding mirror that swivels through its center to enable full-length viewing.

Children Furniture

Furniture designed for children or small scaled rooms.

China Cabinet

A cabinet with a glass front and typically sits on a buffet or shallow cupboard.

Chintz

Printed cotton fabric, frequently glazed, used in country or casual decoration.

Chippendale

Name applied to Thomas Chippendale’s eighteenth-century furniture designs, including the camelback sofa and the wing chair.

Classic

Refers to design based in the artistic standards, principles and methods of the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Clearance

A sale in which prices are lowered in order to sell things quickly and make room for new items.

Club Chair

Low back upholstered chair with arms. Club chairs are streamlined, often scaled down, and are versatile in use. These chairs can be used in dining, or in arranging seating areas.

Coffee Table

A long, low table used in front of a sofa. Also called a cocktail table.

Coffer

A storage chest having a hinged lid.

Combing

A decorative paint technique that gives a wall a look of age and depth by layering or ‘washing’ increasingly thinner coats of paint over one another.

Comfortable

A(Especially of clothes or furnishings) providing physical ease and relaxation.

Commode

Small, low chest of drawers.

Complementary colors

Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel (i.e. blue and orange).

Concept

A comprehensive idea or generalization that brings diverse elements into some basic relationship.

Contemporary

Belonging to or occurring in the present.

Core

The inner layer of plywood or particleboard in veneered panels.

Corner Block

Triangular wood block used in the concealed structure under tabletops, inside cases, and at points of stress on upholstered furniture frames.

Corner-breaking

Taking the sharp edges off the corners on moldings, drawer fronts, doors, etc.

Cornice

Decorative section of wood that runs along the top of cabinet furniture and leans out at an angle to provide a pleasing finished appearance to the piece.

Couch

Also called a sofa; it is an upholstered seat typically for more than one person.

Coving

A curved molding connecting the ceiling and wall.

Credenza

A buffet, sideboard, or bookcase, especially one without legs. A piece of office furniture having a long flat top.

Crossbanding

A veneer banding in which one layer of veneer runs at a right angle to the next layer in order to offset shrinking, swelling, and warping.

Curio Cabinet

An enclosed glass cabinet for displaying a variety of products such as glassware and other collectibles. Sometimes simply called a curio.

Custom

To customize is defined as to make or change something to personal or unique specifications.

Cutwork

Embroidered fabric with decorative cut-out designs that are outlined in a buttonhole stitch.

Cyma Curve

A simple double-curved molding with a reversed curve as its profile. Derived from Greek meaning, “wave”.

Damask

Formal fabric with textural contrast between satiny and dull.

Davenport

a large upholstered sofa, typically able to be converted into a bed.

Daybed

Similar to a bed but narrower and with a padded seat back at one end for leaning against. It is a versatile bed that can be used as a sofa, a sleeping bed, or a lounge area. Daybeds are common in guest rooms, as they double as seating and sleeping areas.

Delivery

The action of delivering letters, packages, or ordered goods

Density

Often used to reference the weight per cubic foot of foam. Density is independent of firmness but is an important marker of foam quality: the denser the foam, the higher quality the foam. Foam with a density of 1.8 pounds per cubic foot is less likely to "bottom out" or flatten.

Dentil molding

A decorative feature composed of rectangular blocks (“teeth”) spaced at equal intervals, typically along the length of a cornice. Favored in 18th century design.

Diamond Match

Four pieces of relatively straight-grained wood veneer cut diagonally then joined to meet in a central diamond shape.

Dinette

Small-scaled dining furniture with a table and four to six chairs designed for kitchen use, but also used in small dining areas.

Dining Room

A room in a house or hotel in which meals are eaten.

Discount

A deduction from the usual cost of something, typically given for prompt or advance payment or to a special category of buyers.

Distressing

An antiquing process that makes new wood look old and used. Usually entails surface marks and indentations that are added during the finishing process. Dovetail- A type of joint generally used to join the front and sides of a drawer by having wedge-shaped projections on one piece of wood interlock with grooves in another piece of wood.

Diversity

Variety and multiformity. The opposite of unity and just a little adds interest.

Doorbuster

A special discount price available for a limited period, typically during special early-opening hours.

Double Pedestal

A tabletop supported by two supporting columns. The two supporting columns, or pedestals, allow sturdiness and give the table a distinctive, symmetrical style.

Dovetail

A type of joinery using interlocking wedge shapes, often used in drawer construction. They are associated with quality of drawer construction.

Dowel

A round grooved wooden pin, peg, or rod that is fitted into the holes in two pieces of wood to hold them together.

Down

Soft, fluffy feathers from very young birds or from the undersides of older birds or fowl. This is used for stuffing pillows and cushions, often combined with polyester fibers.

Drawer Guide/Slide

These strips of wood or metal are placed under the center or on the outside of drawers to serve as a track on which they are drawn back and forth.

Dresser/Dressing table

An item of bedroom furniture consisting of a low table with drawers, usually with a kneehole and frequently having a mirror attached to the top.

Drop leaf table

A table with hinged leaves which can be lowered to save space when not in use. The leaf is an extension piece, and on a drop-leaf table, hinges are to be lifted as needed to put the extensions in place.

Drop-in Coil Springs

A pre-made wire assembly usually containing coil springs, which is inserted into the seat frame below the deck to provide a desired level of seating comfort and elasticity. These springs add structural support and maintain seat height.

Durapella? & Duraplush™

High-tech fabrics that consist of 100% MicroDenier polyester suede. Also called microfibers.

Dust Panel

A thin, horizontal board between two drawers in a chest to diminish dust accumulation.

Eclecticism

A style in which furnishings and accessories of various periods and styles are deftly and harmoniously combined.

Edging

A method of protecting a veneer panel by applying a thin strip of solid wood, metal, or plastic at the edge of the panel. Also called banding.

Eight-way, hand-tied

A marker of high-quality furnishings, these are the hand-tied springs in a sofa to hold the supportive springs in place. In today’s furniture, most sofas feature metal clips and wires that keep coils in position.

Elastic Webbing

Interwoven synthetic and nylon-blended strips that provide a foundation for upholstered furniture in the arms, backs and seats. Replaces sinuous springs or eight way hand tied coils. As alternative, elastic webbing provides support for cushioning along all seating areas of sofas and couches, loveseats, accent chairs, and other upholstered pieces.

Electric Fireplace

An electric fireplace is an electric heater that mimics a fireplace burning coal, wood, or natural gas.

Embossing

A type of design that is produced on a surface by hammering, stamping, pressing, or molding.

Embroidery

The art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver, or other material, upon any woven fabric with a needle.

Emphasis

Directing special attention or effort to a specific object or area.

Enamel Finish

A coating of paint that can be brushed and sometimes rubbed to a high gloss.

End Table

Small side table that may be used at the end of a sofa or beside a chair.

Engineered Wood

Any restructured composite of wood, including oriented strand board, particleboard, and plywood.

Entertainment Center

A piece of furniture designed to house consumer electronic appliances and components, such as televisions.

Etagere

A free-standing open cabinet having several shelves used for display purposes.

Fall Front

The hinged front of a bureau that lowers to reveal the desk inside.

Fan Pattern

A section of flat, occasionally pierced wood in the center of the back of a chair

Fauteuil

A French upholstered chair having open sides.

Faux

Literally French for “fake”, this term is used to describe things that appear to be of one material or finish, but in fact are not.

Fiberfill

A soft, synthetic material used as cushioning in upholstered furniture, bedding, and comforters. Polyester fibers are most commonly used.

Filigree

Ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design that is usually done in gold or silver wire.

Financing

To provide funding for furniture purchase with convenient monthly payments.

Finger Joint

A process by which the ends of pieces of lumber are machined and fastened together by using glue. The machined edge looks like a series of fingers. The objective is to reclaim short unusable pieces of lumber into longer useable pieces.

Finial

A decorative knob that caps the top of a bedpost or lamp. Finials are a traditional design element but have been modified for use across various styles. Finials can additionally be found on accent pieces.

Finish

A treatment that is applied to wood to protect the surface and to make it more durable and resistant to stains and burns, to accentuate the natural grain, to lighten or deepen the color, to make a dull or glossy surface, or to change the color completely as by painting, lacquering, polishing, antiquing, distressing, etc.

Fire Cut Veneer

A combination of straight-grain and heart figure veneer produced by slicing half of a log directly through the center or heart.

Flared Arm

An upholstered arm that rolls out away from the midline of the sofa or chair. Flared arms resemble scrolls that move outward and draw the eye away from the seating area of the piece.

Flat packed furniture

Also called KD, flat-pack or self-assembly furniture. Refers to furniture that is to be assembled by the end user.

Flock

Short fibrous particles that are applied by various processes to the surface of fabric, paper, or wood to give the appearance and feel of velvet or suede.

Floor Model

An item such as a car, appliance, or piece of furniture that is used for display or demonstration to potential buyers of products of its kind, often later offered for sale at a reduced price.

Fluting

Shallow vertical grooves, usually parallel, used to ornament a surface. Often used on columns or pilasters in classical architecture.

Fly Speckling

A technique of antiquing that makes tiny spots in the staining process.

Folk art

A broad category of handmade art objects, new or antique, that display a charmingly na?ve, unsophisticated quality.

Footboard

A supporting piece at the foot end of a bed, sometimes decorative.

Form

Fills the space and defines the area. A good Visual Merchandiser will also look at the negative void areas as well.

Four Post Bed / Four Poster

A bed having a post at each corner supporting a canopy.

Four Way Match

A veneer pattern produced by the combination of book matches and butt matches.

Frame

The supporting structure of a piece of furniture.

French Provincial

A term describing countrified versions of formal French furnishings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; often referred to as “provencal” today.

Fretwork

Interlaced ornamental woodwork, usually in a complicated repeating, geometric pattern. This is often used in backs of chairs, beds, in china cabinet doors, or on table aprons and legs.

Fringe

A decorative border of thread, cord, or the like, usually hanging loosely from a raveled edge or separate strip.

Furniture

Large movable equipment, such as tables and chairs, used to make a house, office, or other space suitable for living or working.

Futon

A folded mattress on a frame that can be folded up for seating or down to form a sleeping surface.

Gate Leg Table

A drop-leaf table whose leaves are supported by extra legs that swing outwards like gates.

Glider

A mechanism that allows the chair to glide back and forth on a hinged or ball bearing assembly. Often coupled with swivel and reclining motion, gliders allow for a smooth horizontal motion.

Gilding

A technique for applying gold to furniture and other surfaces.

Grain

Variations in color and texture made by the size and arrangements of cells and pores of a living tree and is revealed when wood is cut through the trunk in an essentially horizontal direction.

Grommet

A plastic, metal, or rubber ring that is inserted into a hole made through another material. They may be used to reinforce the hole, to shield something from the sharp edges of the hole, or both.

Hardware

A generic term used to describe any metal fitting that goes onto furniture i.e., handles, locks, hinges, escutcheons, etc.

Hardware

A generic term used to describe any metal fitting that goes onto furniture i.e., handles, locks, hinges, escutcheons, etc.

Harmony

The feeling created when tools are used together to provide a look that is pulled together.

Hardwood

A general term for the lumber of broad-leafed or deciduous trees in contrast to evergreen or coniferous trees, which are termed softwoods.

Headboard

A panel rising above mattress at the head of the bed. Often supports the bed rails.

Heat Transfer Printing

The technique of printing a fabric by transferring a printed design from paper onto fabric via heat and pressure.

Highboy

A high chest of drawers.

Home

The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.

Home Accents

Add spice and color to your space, giving you a chance to show off your unique personality and style. From the kitchen and dining room to the guest bedroom, home decor accents make a house feel specially made for you.

Homespun

Originally, this was a fabric loomed by hand at home, but now the name of a loose, coarsely woven, power-loomed fabric that uses textured and bulky yarns to create a hand-woven look.

Hope Chest

Synonymous with a cedar chest and dowry chest.

Hot Buy

Low Everyday Hot Buy Price

Hue

The common name of a color. It indicates the color’s position in the spectrum or in the color circle. It is determined by the specific wavelength of the color in the ray of light.

Hutch

A two-part case piece that usually has a two-door cabinet below and open shelves above, originally dating from seventeenth-century England.

Hybrid Mattress

A hybrid mattress is a multi-layer bed that combines memory foam, latex, or gel along with an innerspring system. Sleepers can experience both the pressure relief of the foam layers and the sturdy feel of a classic spring mattress. Talk about the perfect blend!

Illumination

Impacts the perception of space, form, line, texture and color by creating shadows and color. The intensity of hue will be affected by illumination. Strong dark colors absorb light while light tints reflect light.

Inlay

A cut ornamental setting of a contrasting material (such as marble) in wood. Inlays are a popular design feature in tabletops and add visual interest. Inlays can be stone, tile, glad, or two-toned wood to contrast with the base layer of the furnishing.

Innerspring Mattress

A mattress with a center core of springs for buoyancy and resilience. A protective pad surrounds the springs.

In Stock

In stock for fast express delivery

Iridescent

Brilliant, lustrous, or colorful in effect or appearance. In fabrics it is a changeable effect due to the color arrangement in the warp and filling yarns to provide contrast and interest.

Jacquard

A formal, highly decorative fabric that includes damasks, tapestries, brocades, and all cloths with elaborate figures woven on a jacquard loom.

Joint

When making furniture, this would be the junction at which two pieces of lumber unite to form a support or make a closure.

Kiln Dried

Wood that has been dried in a control-heated chamber, as opposed to air dried, and is more likely to warp because the drying is less even.

Kitchen

A room or area where food is prepared and cooked.

Knee Hole

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.

Knitted Fabrics

Fabrics that are formed by knitting. The interlocking of loops of yarn rather than interlacing two sets of yarn as in weaving.

Knock Down Furniture

Also called KD, flat-pack or self-assembly furniture. Refers to furniture that is to be assembled by the end user.

Lacquer

A durable varnish applied in several layers to protect furniture’s surface. Finishes can vary from matt to glossy.

Ladder Back Chair

A style of country chair with horizontal slats in the back that resemble a ladder.

Lamp

A device for giving light, either one consisting of an electric bulb together with its holder and shade or cover, or one burning gas or a liquid fuel and consisting of a wick or mantle and a glass shade.

Laminate or "Lam"

Applied covering to boards, which provide different appearances such as colors and grains (see also paper, vinyl). A synonym for “replicated.”

Lattice

An openwork crisscross or fretwork made of thin, flat strips of wood or metal. Usually found on chairs and headboards.

Layaway

A system of paying a deposit to secure an item for later purchase. (Not offered at this time)

Lazy Susan

A revolving tray or stand of wood or metal.

Luxury Furniture

The state of great comfort and extravagant living.

Leaf

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 other tables, the top can be separated and extended so leaves can be placed in the opening.

Leather

Leather is a durable and flexible material created by tanning animal rawhide and skins. The most common raw material is cattle hide

Leather Match

Upholstery that features top-grain leather in the seating areas with skillfully matched vinyl everywhere else.

Leather “Top Grain”

The second highest grade of leather and has the outermost layer of the hide removed.

Leather “Full Grain”

Full grain leather is the highest quality grade of leather money can buy.

Lift Chair

Chairs that feature a powered lifting mechanism that pushes the entire chair up from its base and so assists the user to a standing position.

Lissere

A delicate, multi-colored jacquard woven floral stripe.

Living Room

A room in a house for general and informal everyday use.

Loft Bed

A single bed that is elevated from the floor requiring stairs or a ladder. Loft beds save on space, and free up floor space for additional storage. Loft beds are ideal for students and children.

Loose Back

An upholstery furniture piece in which the back pillows are detached from the back frame. Specifically allows for cushions to be flipped. Loose back cushioning on sofas and couches, loveseats and other upholstered pieces is versatile and allows cushions to be flipped and moved as needed.

Loveseat

A two-seated sofa.

Loveseat “Console”

Two-Seated Couch with Console in the middle

Lowboy

A small table with drawers on cabriole legs.

Low Price

Offering inexpensive goods or services.

Lumbar support

Refers to furniture that provides extra support to the lumbar region to keep the spine aligned in its natural curvature.

Made In USA

Furniture manufactured in the United States of America

Mantel

The complete facing around the opening of a fireplace, including any shelf used above it as well as any part that projects from the wall.

Marquetry

Heavy use of inlays over a large surface to create a panoramic picture.

Massage Chair

Chair designed for massages. Traditional massage chairs allow easy access to the head, shoulders, and back of a massage recipient, while robotic massage chairs

Mattress

A fabric case filled with deformable or resilient material, used for sleeping on.

Medallion

A round or oval ornamental motif.

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

This is made by breaking down wood chips into fibers, mixing glue, and fusing the resulting mixture under heat and pressure to produce a board.

Miter

A surface slanted to another surface; it is called a miter when the angle is 45 degrees.

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.

Modern

Relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past.

Modular

Furniture constructed in units that can be arranged in different configurations.

Modular Carpet

A round or oval ornamental motif.

Moire

Fabric, usually silk, with a rippled, wavy pattern that gives a watered appearance or wood grain.

Molding

Decorative strips of wood applied to furniture for visual effect.

Monochromatic Scheme

A color scheme limited to one color in various tones. The value and intensity of the hue are used to provide contrast.

Mortise and Tenon Joint

Method of joining two pieces of wood where the projecting tenon of one piece fits into the opening of the other. Also called Tongue and Grooved.

Motion Furniture

Any furnishing that feature movement or mechanisms that allow for motion is a motion piece. Recliners, swivel chairs, rockers, gliders, lift chairs, sleeper sofas, futons, and folding pieces are each examples of motion furniture. Motion pieces can be power or manually operated.

Mount

Ornamental metalwork applied to furniture

Muslin

This is a plain-weave fabric that may be bleached or unbleached.

Nail head trim

An ornamental trim of metal tacks that gives the illusion of nail heads. It is often found on the edge of leather and upholstered sofas, chairs and ottomans.

Neoclassic

A revival of the classic style and form.

Nesting tables

Small occasional tables that are designed to store one under another, typically in sets of three.

Nightstand

Occasional table, sometimes with cabinet, drawer, or shelf, used beside a bed to hold such items as a lamp, clock, or telephone. May also be called a night table or bedside table.

Non-woven

Fabrics that are produced by the bonding or interlocking of fibers, or both. The non-woven fabric is made by mechanical, chemical, thermal, or solvent means, or with an adhesive, or any combination of these, as distinct from weaving, knitting, or tufting.

Occasional Furniture

A generic term used to describe small pieces of furniture such as lamp tables, coffee tables or magazine racks.

Ottoman

A long, low upholstered seat with no back: used with a chair as a footrest. If over scaled, can be used in place of a cocktail table.

Outdoor Furniture

A type of furniture specifically designed for outdoor use.

Outlet

A place from which goods are sold or distributed.

Overlay

A piece of decorative trim applied to a flat surface. An overlay can be a veneer and is an aesthetic addition to enhance the look of a surface. Overlays can be found on refurbished or reclaimed pieces, or on new furniture as a design touch.

Palette

A term used by artists and designers to describe a range of colors.

Panel

A surface set off from the surrounding surface by being raised, recessed or framed.

Panel Bed

Designed to support a traditional box spring and mattress. They also typically feature a headboard (and sometimes a footboard), plus a basic, four-wall frame that makes them sturdy enough to hold both a box spring and a mattress.

Parquetry

Furniture inlaid with geometrical designs.

Parson's Table

A square or rectangular table with wide, straight legs.

Patina

A luster or shine that develops with use over time, characteristic of antique furnishings. Burnishing, or rubbing, a surface creates a patina over time. Antiquing and faux finishes can add patinas to a piece of furniture to give it a timeworn look. Metal, wood, and leather can have a patina.

Pattern

A repetitive component to a surface that can be used to modify scale, color or texture. They can be used to unit or clash with other items.

Pedestal Table

A table supported by one or more cylindrical columns or “pedestals”.

Pediment

A decorative crest found at the top of tall pieces of furniture to achieve a pleasing finish.

Pembroke Table

A small rectangular drop leaf table.

Perspective

A means of showing a solid object on a surface so as to make it appear to have a third dimension. To make it convincing to the eye, sizes of distant objects are reduced; parallel lines tend to converge.

Pickled Finish

The result of rubbing white or off-white paint onto previously stained and finished wood

Piecrust Table

A table, usually with a round top, that has an edge that is raised, scalloped or fluted; frequently a tilt-top table.

Pier Mirror

A tall mirror designed to be hung above a pier table.

Piercing

Decorative detail achieved by cutting shapes through thin wood such as chair splats.

Pilaster

A flattened column-like detail applied to furniture, bookcases, etc. as a decorative feature.

Pile

This is cut or uncut loops that stand up on the face of a fabric, making it thick and three-dimensional, in contrast to flat-woven cloth.

Pillow Shams

Covers for pillows to match bed coverings, when pillows are propped on top of the bed.

Pillow Top

Seat cushions or arm pads including an additional section filled with a poly-dacron material to add a level of comfort. Synonymous with comfort, pillow top accents add comfort to the arms, seatbacks, and seating areas of sofas and couches, loveseats, chairs, and other upholstered pieces.

Plain Weave

This is a basic weave in which the warp and weft are the same size and alternate under and over each other in a regular manner.

Platform Bed

A mattress that sets on the top of a wood or plastic platform or pedestal. Sometimes the mattress may recess into a frame on the top of the platform, and there is a shelf that may go partially or completely around the perimeter.

Plush

Made of a thick soft fabric.

Pocketed Coils

Cylindrical innerspring mattress coils, individually enclosed in separate flexible fabric pockets, attached together to create support. Pocketed coils are common in sofas, chairs, and other upholstered seating pieces. They add durability and lasting firmness to furniture.

Polyester

A synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by ester groups, used chiefly to make synthetic textile fibers.

Polyfoam

This is a synthetic resin that simulates latex foam rubber and is used for upholstered furniture, pillows, mattresses, etc.

Polyurethane

The ingredient of synthetic foam used in seat cushions. It is used to create the high-density foam associated with top quality furniture and is known for durability. Made to wear well over time, polyurethane is a man-made material common in a variety of high-end upholstery and furniture.

Pouf

A low upholstered stool of solid construction.

Power Tilt Headrest

Adjusts to give you superior comfort and support.

Primary Colors

Red, blue and yellow, from which all other colors are derived.

Print

A surface having a pattern imposed with ink or dye by means of stencils, rollers, blocks, or screens.

Pub

A tavern or bar.

Pull

A handle to open drawers or doors of cabinets.

Profile

The style of an edge.

Queen Anne Leg

A table or chair leg with a gentle "S" shape which curves outward at the top and then curves inward while tapering gradually. Named after an early French term for "goat" (literally "goat's leg") it is common on Queen Anne and Chippendale style furniture. Occasionally referred to as a Queen Anne leg.

Quilted Fabric

Two layers of fabric that has padding between the layers, held in place by stitches that usually follow a definite pattern.

Quirke

A narrow groove channel separating molding from adjoining members.

Rabbet Joint

A joining technique for supporting shelves or drawer bottoms in vertical units. The edge of the vertical piece of wood fits into a groove in the horizontal piece. Also known as a dado joint.

Rail

A generic term used to describe a long section of wood serving a functional purpose in furniture. Examples are the top rail in the back of a chair and the rails, which connect the headboard and footboard of a bed.

Rain or Bubble Glass

Glass with air bubbles throughout the piece. Rain or bubble glass is common in home accent pieces for its visual interest and design appeal. Rain or bubble glass is common in vases and decorative bowls and adds texture.

Random Match

In veneering and decorative surfacing, a casual, unmatched effect with no attempt at a symmetrical or a repetitive pattern.

Reclining

Leaning or lying back in a relaxed position with the back supported.

Reeding

Close, parallel rows of convex moldings.

Relief

A carved decoration, which stands proud of the surface on which it appears.

Reproduction

New furniture which is a copy of an antique.

Restoration

Work carried out on furniture to bring it back to its original condition.

Retro

A setting, furniture pieces or decorative element that revives a style or look of the past.

Return

The part of an L-shaped desk that is at right angles to the main work surface, providing additional workspace.

Reverse Box Match

A decorative veneer technique similar to a reverse diamond match, and aligned to create a cross-patterned center with right-angled patterns going off in four directions.

Reverse Diamond Match

Four wedges of wood or veneer set together to form an X at the center with consecutively smaller V's radiating out from the center in all four directions. May also be called butterfly match.

Rhythm

The alteration of strong and weak elements to create movement. We want the eye to travel around an area.

Rocking Chair

A chair mounted on rockers or springs, so as to rock back and forth.

Rolled arms

The flared arms of a chair or sofa that "roll" back in to meet the sides. Rolled arms are traditional but found across a variety of styles.

Roll Top Desk

Desks with a tambour cover which rolls back to reveal the writing surface.

Rotary-Cut Veneer

A slice of veneer made by cutting a log in a circular manner around the circumference.

Rug

A floor covering of thick woven material or animal skin, typically not extending over the entire floor.

Runner

A rail used to support additional leaves on an extending dining table.

Sale

A period during which a retailer sells goods at reduced prices.

Sateen

A strong, lustrous, satin-weave cotton fabric. May be bleached, dyed, printed, or made with woven patterns.

Scale

A term referring to the size of objects in relation to each other.

Scatter Back (or Scatter Pillow Back)

An upholstery furniture piece in which the back pillows are loose and can be arranged in any manner. This adds design and style versatility to sofas and couches, and loveseats. As

Sectional Furniture

Upholstered furniture composed of complementary sections that can be grouped in a variety or arrangements or used separately.

Secretaire

A sideboard with false drawers that drop forward to reveal a desk and work surface.

Semainier

A tall, narrow seven-drawer chest introduced in the Louis XV period, with one drawer for each day of the week. Also called a lingerie chest.

Serial Numbers

Numbers that identify product (i.e., identifies vendor and manufacturer).

Serpentine Front

An item of furniture that has a curved front that is first concave, then convex before becoming concave again.

Server

A relatively slim, much like a sofa table, and is meant to be placed along the dining room wall. As the name suggests, this piece was traditionally used to stage food before it was served to guests.

Serving Table

A long narrow table with drawers.

Settee

Another word for a sofa.

Settle

A rustic wooden bench having a high back and solid arms. The seat is often hinged to reveal storage space beneath.

Shade

The darker values of a color obtained by mixing the color with black.

Shaped Back (or Conversational Sofa)

An upholstery furniture piece that has a curved back, making the two outer seats face slightly towards each other.

Sheaf back

This style of back is common to dining chairs. The spindles on the chair’s back gather in the middle, join at a connecting plank, and flare at either or both ends.

Sheen

In wood finishing, this is a degree of luster of a dried film.

Shield Back Chair

A section of flat, occasionally pierced wood in the center of the back of a chair

Short Rail

Displaying a bed’s headboard and footboard using 6 inch rails.

Sideboard

A buffet or a credenza. A long, waist high piece of furniture used for serving food. The most common arrangement is cupboards below and drawers above.

Side Chair

A chair with a small seat (15 to 18 inches wide) and no arms.

Sinuous Springs

Steel wire bent into a continuous "S" shape used for the support system in upholstered furniture. These h5, sculpted springs provide resilient support, and enhance the durability of upholstered pieces

Sisal

A strong natural fiber originally used for rope; now often used to make rugs; sometimes blended with wool in carpet.

Skirt

A fabric valence around the base of an upholstered chair, sofa, etc., to hide the legs and wood construction of the seat.

Slat

Any thin, flat section of wood. Examples are bed slats which are used to support a mattress and horizontal back slats in a ladder-back chair.

Sleeper Sofa

A generic term referring to a variety of sofas with mechanisms that allows them to convert from a sofa to a bed. Also called a sofa sleeper or convertible sofa.

Sleigh Bed

A popular French Empire-style bed having a high scrolled headboard and footboard, creating the impression of a sleigh or a boat (also called “lit bateau” or “boat bed”).

Slipcover

A removable fitted cover made to protect upholstery fabric, cover worn upholstery or to provide a change for a new season.

Sofa

Also called a couch; it is an upholstered seat typically for more than one person.

Sofa Bed

A generic term referring to a variety of sofas with mechanisms that allows them to convert from a sofa to a bed. Also called a sofa sleeper or convertible sofa.

Sofa Table

A console table is a table whose top surface is supported by corbels or brackets rather than by the usual four legs.

Softwood

Wood from an evergreen tree such as the pine with needle-like, scale-like, or coniferous leaves.

Space

Interior space is the shaped volume defined by various architectural forms such as ceiling, floors, walls and other architectural elements.

Special

Limited quantity reduced for quick sale.

Spindle Back

A chair having vertically arranged spindles in the back.

Splat

A flat, vertical piece of wood found in the center of a chair back.

Staining

For wood finishing, this is the process of applying coloring matter to the outer surfaces of wood to enhance the grain, provide uniform overall color, or to imitate or match other cabinet woods.

Stationary

Standing still; not moving. having a fixed position; not movable.

Steel Band Base

Trademarked by Flexsteel, these durable steel bands are an advanced support system for your upholstered furniture.

Stretcher

A horizontal arrangement of rails used to connect the legs on tables and chairs to provide structural strength. Common stretchers include the "H," "X," boxed, serpentine and arched forms.

Stylized

A design that has been done according to the rules of a style rather than according to nature.

Sunburst

Figured wood grain in which rays radiate outward from a central point. Also called pie match.

Symmetry

Formal balance created by arranging objects, so they form mirror images on either side of an imaginary line that goes through the middle of a grouping of objects.

Taffeta

A medium-weight or light-weight fabric of acetate, nylon, rayon, or silk, usually smooth, crisp, and lustrous, plain-woven, and with a fine crosswise rib effect.

Tapestry

Thick woven fabric with pictorial design.

Task Lighting

Lighting needed to perform a specific task. i.e., desk lamp.

Tassel

A pendent ornament consisting commonly of a bunch of threads, small cords, or other strands hanging from a round knob or head, used on clothing, in jewelry, on curtains, etc.

Television Stand

A cabinet on which a television set is placed or in which it is encased.

Texture

The characteristic of a material that can be felt or seen. You can achieve the perception of texture by lighting and the surface materials of the items. Smooth

Ticking

A striped cotton or linen fabric, originally used for mattress covers but now used decoratively, as well.

Tilt Top Table

A small, often round table with a hinged top, which can be raised when not in use.

Tint

The lighter values of a color obtained by mixing the color with white.

TOB

An abbreviation for Top of Bed. TOB sets usually contain a comforter, pillow shams, and a bed skirt.

Tone

The darkness or lightness of a color; different colors may be of the same tone.

Tongue and Groove

A flush wood joint in which a long, straight projection of one board fits into a corresponding groove in another board.

Torchere

The French word for candelabra. These are often large, sometimes standing on the floor. A floor lamp that directs the light upward.

Track Arm

A straight, squared off arm, usually found on more contemporary sofas and armchairs. Described as sleek, track arms are lower-profile and scaled down.

Traditional

Existing in or as part of a tradition; long-established.

Trestle Table

A rustic rectangular table with a top supported by two wide boards or "trestles" at either end. The two trestles are joined by a single stretcher.

Trundle Bed

A low-profile bed that rolls away, or slides under another bed when not in use. Trundle beds can be on casters for easy mobility and are designed to discreetly store away between uses.

Tufting and Buttoning

A classical, traditional technique for securing stuffing to upholstery by pulling out material through the fabric at evenly spaced intervals, then securing those material pulls with upholstered buttons.

Turning

An ornamental or structural part of furniture made by rotating a cylindrical piece of wood on a lathe and shaping with cutting tools.

Tuxedo Arms

Slightly flared arms that are the same height as the back. Tuxedo arms are a sleek, streamlined style. Tuxedo arms are more common in contemporary and modern interior design.

Twill

Tightly woven with a diagonal ridge such as denim or herringbone fabrics.

Unity

The combination of elements to support a concept. It is achieved through the repetition of elements such as color, pattern or shape. Unity is a narrower definition of harmony.

Unique

Being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

Upholstery

Generic term used to describe any item of sitting furniture that is covered in fabric.

Uprights

Term used to describe any vertical structural component i.e., “The uprights in the back of that chair”.

Value

The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something.

Velour

This is a soft pile upholstery fabric, generally woven in a satin weave or plain weave, resulting in a short, thick pile.

Velvet

Formal elegant fabric with fur-like feel and a cut pile.

Velveteen

A pile fabric often of cotton or rayon with a short, nappy surface.

Veneer

A thin layer of wood cut from a log in such a way as to maximize the beauty of the grain pattern. Veneers are then glued onto a solid substrate, which is then made into furniture

Vinyl

Another type of laminate that is thicker and more durable than paper laminate (see also “laminate”).

Vitrine

French term for a display cabinet with glass doors.

Wall Art

The finishing element that can help pull a space together and make it feel complete. The key is to choose a piece of art or another wall hanging that fits in with the decorating style that you've already chosen for the room.

Wall Art

The finishing element that can help pull a space together and make it feel complete.

Wall Hugger/ Zero Wall Recliner

Also known as a wall saver or space saver, wall huggers are recliners that can be placed minimum of 3" of clearance between the wall and the back of the recliner. The reclining mechanism will flow away from the wall to avoid damaging contact with the wall behind the chair.

Warranty

A written guarantee, issued to the purchaser of an article by its manufacturer, promising to repair or replace it if necessary, within a specified period of time.

Weave

A process of making fabrics by interlacing warp threads with weft or filling yarns.

Webbing

Strips of tightly woven plastic, nylon, rubber, elastic, or metal used in upholstery construction as a support for, or in place of, springs under the cushions.

Welting

A material covered cord typically used to decorate the edge of a sofa arm; often made with contrasting fabric. Welting in a formalized finish to the defined edge is needed as for a box shaped cushion.

Wicker

Strong woven matting of willow, reed, or rattan cut into different diameters then used to construct furniture, often for outdoor use.

Windsor Chair

A popular 18th century wooden chair having a solid seat and a back formed from a bent wood hoop and vertical spindles.

Wing Chair/ Wingback chair

This is a traditional style of chair that’s often overstuffed, and fully upholstered. "Wings" come from the back of the chair, and extend above the arms on both sides to protect the sitter from drafts.

Yarn Dyed

Fabric where the yarn is dyed before it is woven or knitted.

Youth Furniture

Furniture designed for children or small scaled rooms.