Interior Design Schools

Glossary of Interior Design Terms

ACCESSIBLE - approach and use by physically handicapped people
ACCORDION FOLD - tailored pleated fabric with uniform exterior and interior appearance
ACCESSORY - complimentary decorative objects of art, lighting, plants, area rugs and wall hangings added to an interior space to enhance the design
ACRYLIC COATED - fabric coated with resin for waterproofing
ADAPTABLE DESIGN - accessible features changing the appearance and use of the design
ARCHITRAVE - lowest section of an entablature, placed just above a column capital, or a series of moldings surrounding an opening
AREA - typically refers to the length x the width of floor space CUBIC AREA refers to length x width x height
AREA RUG - a man-made or hand-woven textile of cotton, wool, silk, nylon, plastic or other materials created to cover a specific area of a floor
AUSTRIAN SHADE - fabric shade with vertical rows of swags from the head rail to hem
AWNING - lightweight roof structure typically constructed of fabric or metal installed over an exterior opening, such as a doorway, porch or balcony to provide shelter
AWNING STRIPE - heavyweight canvas fabric with evenly spaced stripes of contrasting colors and often whites
AXIS - single or multiple imaginary or drawn lines bisecting major interior or architectural components in a space

BAY WINDOW - typically composed of three windows joined together at an angle to each other, projecting out from an exterior wall
BEADED FABRIC - fabric embroidered with beads
BEADING LACE - machine-made lace with openwork to accept decorative ribbon
BEAM - horizontal structural support/large spools used to create woven fabrics
BEARDING - fiber fuzz on loop pile carpets
BEDDING - custom handmade or manufactured bedding materials
---Bedspread (Full-length), Coverlet (To Dust-Ruffle) / Quilted
---Comforter, Coverlet, Duvet Cover (Comforter Cover)
---Bed-Skirt or Dust-Ruffle, (Lined, Split Corners, Gusset Corners) Box Spring Cover
---Bed Pillows, Fitted or Flat Sheets, Blanket (Higher thread counts indicate tighter, softer, finer weave)
---Pillow Shams or Decorative Pillows (Bolster, Continental or Custom with Ruffle, Flange, Banding, Cording, Tassels, etc.)
BOARD and BATTEN -
BOLT - rolled length of fabric or wall covering
BOX PLEATS - evenly spaced pleating technique folded, stitched and flattened into box shapes
BROADCLOTH - tightly woven cotton fabric with a smooth finish
BULLION FRINGE - long twisted multi-ply fringe often used on window coverings and upholstery

CABRIOLE LEG - curved leg swelling outward at the knee and inward at the ankle
CAD/CADD - computer aided drafting and design
CAFE CURTAIN - window treatment typical gathered, stationary, hung from rods and rings installed half-way in a window
CURIO CABINET - slender display cabinet, typically with glass shelves
CURLY - undulating grain in wood
CURTAIN - partial or full length fabric screen
CUSHION - soft pillow or padding
CUT LENGTH - distance from top to bottom of drapery plus hems and top headings

DACRON WRAP - wrapping foam cushions with a synthetic polyester layer or layers
DADO - decorative treatment on the lower portion of an interior wall between the baseboard and the chair rail
DIRECT DYES - dyes needing no fixatives to adhere them to fabric
DIRECT GLUE DOWN CARPETING - gluing broadloom carpet directly to sub-floor without padding
DISTRESSED - finishing technique creating an aged, patina or uneven finish
DOBBY- a mechanical attachment on a loom for weaving geometric figures

EAVE - lower edge of a roof extending beyond the exterior wall
ECLECTIC - utilizing elements from multiple sources and styles
EPERGNE - ornamental centerpiece with stand supporting several individual dishes for displaying fruit or flowers
ERGONOMICS - science analyzing human beings and how we function in conjunction with a variety of equipment, products, methods and circumstances to improve our health, safety and welfare

FABRICATION - the process of creating an object
FABRIC CONSTRUCTION -construction information regarding a specific fabric piece including width, weave, stitches per inch, weight
FACADE - the face of a building given special architectural treatment
FIBERBOARD - board of compressed wood shavings and glue
FILAMENT - single strand of any kind of fiber
FILLET - thin decorative inlay used to embellish wood carving; ridge between fluting on a column

GABLE - triangular shaped section of an end wall
GALLERY - narrow exterior porch or balcony; succession of rooms to display art; thin wood or metal trim detail placed along the outer edge on cabinetry
GARLAND - decorative real or silk garden elements interwoven
GATE LEG TABLE - table with drop leaves and a movable leg, which can be swung into position to hold the leaf upright or retracted to allow the leaf to remain down
GROS POINT - warp-looped, non-directional fabric made of wool or synthetic fibers resembling needlepoint
GROUT - thin mortar used to fill in spaces between tiles, bricks or other surfaces

HAND - the feel of a surface or fabric
HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY - allowing an individual to visit and utilize a building without assistance
HANDRAIL - rail to be used by hand installed as a support or guard on a balcony, stairway, porch, etc.
HIGHBOY - tall chest of drawers supported by legs
HIGH LOW - multi-level pile heights
HIGH-STYLE - any style, fashion or design considered most up-to-date, often costly

INDOOR AIR QUALITY - measuring the number of contaminates suspended in the air we breathe
INLAY - to set one material into the surface of another creating a decorative pattern
INSIDE MOUNT - installation of window coverings inside the window frame

JABOT - side portion of a window treatment where fabric is draped in soft folds vertically
JACOBEAN - 17th century stylized floral imitating embroidered crewelwork
JACQUARD FABRICS - all fabrics intricately woven on a jacquard loom including damasks, tapestries, brocades, matelassé

KD - acronym for "Knocked-Down" furniture sold unassembled
KEMP - coarse white fiber not accepting dyes well
KEYSTONE - originally the center structural wedge-stone of an arched opening, but may simply be decorative trim in the shape of a wedge capping an arched opening

LACE - handmade or manufactured open work fabric formed by a system of threads
LACQUER - synthetic coatings drying to form a protective film
LAYOUT - defining spaces for specific purposes
LINOLEUM - natural flooring made of linseed oil, cork dust, wood flour, tree resins, ground limestone and pigments
LINTEL - horizontal wood member used structural to span an opening
LISSERIE - jacquard stripe simulating silk and embroidery

MARBLEIZED - faux finish technique imitating real marble
MARKETING - advertising methods implemented to promote accomplishments and attract additional clientele
MARQUETRY - decorative wood veneer inlay
MINI-PRINT - small-scaled fabric patterns
MITERED CORNER - any material including wood or fabric used to create a 45% angle
MOHAIR - wool-lie fiber made from Angora goat hair

NAP - small raised, directional fiber ends found in woven fabrics and flooring affecting the appearance, pile
NAIL-HEAD TRIM - upholstery detail using a series of decorative tack
NICHE - recessed wall area, often arched at the top and used to display sculptures
NON-RAILROADED - fabric patterns parallel to selvage

OBELISK - slender, tapering Egyptian stone monument with pyramid top, often reproduced as an accessory
OCCASIONAL TABLE - generic term for any small table
ORNAMENTAL - decorative objects or designs
OTTOMAN - heavy fabric with pronounced crosswise ribs / upholstered furniture piece used as a foot rest, typically upholstered
OUSIDE MOUNT - installation of window coverings placed on the wall beyond the window frame

PADDING - fabric or materials used to provide cushioning
PAISLEY - intricate interlocking curvilinear pattern originating in India
PATINA - lustrous, aged finish
PATTERN - arrangement of design or decoration
PATTERN REPEAT - increments between horizontal or vertical patterns repeated in fabric, wall coverings or flooring

QUARTER-SAWN - logs cut in quarters lengthwise to reveal intricacies of wood grain
QUILT - layers of cloth filled with batting decoratively stitched by hand or machine used as a bedspread or decorative wall covering

RAFTER - slopping beam supporting a roof
RAIL - structural support used in various applications including stairs, balconies, doors, windows (top rail, bottom rail, side rail)

SAIL CLOTH - plain weave fabric where the majority of the fabric face is composed of warp threads
SATIN WEAVE - a majority of warp threads are interlaced with filling threads to create a smooth appearance on fabric
SERGING - over-sewing finished edge of carpet
SELVAGE - narrow outer edge of woven fabric; the warp edge of woven goods also referred to as "raw edge"
SERVER - furniture utilized in a dining area for storing utensils and table service; sideboard

TABBY - plain weave where fibers of the same size are constructed with one warp thread passing over and under a single weft thread
TABLETOP - Top surface of a table, which can be made of wood, glass, stone or any manmade materials
---Beveled Edge - Slanted edge detail
---Ogee Edge - Multiple S-curved edge detail
---Bullnose Edge - Thick rounded edge detail
---Pencil Edge - Narrow rounded edge detail
---Flat edge - Perpendicular edge detail
TAPESTRY - machine or man-made woven wall hanging with a tapestry weave
TAPESTRY WEAVE - intricate woven textile with several sets of filler yarns on a single warp to produce elaborate multi-colored pictorial designs

UNDER COUNTER LIGHT - placed beneath upper cabinets to provide additional task lighting
UNDER LAMENT - smooth undersurface to help prevent expansion and contraction of wood sub-floors
UNIVERSAL DESIGN - items and spaces which can be used by the majority of people regardless of their abilities or disabilities
UPHOLSTERY - materials used to make soft seating including wood or metal frame, springs, foam, batting, cording, fabrics

VALANCE - shallow drapery treatment placed at the heading of a window concealing hardware (Rod pocket, Board Mounted, Box-pleated, Kick-pleated, Stagecoach, Shirred-Balloon, Shaped, etc.)
VAULTED CEILING - ceiling forming an arched canopy

WAINSCOTING - decorative paneling or other materials applied to the bottom third of an interior wall lining the bottom third of a wall
WALLCOVERINGS - flexible materials such as paper, vinyl, foil, fabric, felt cork, carpet or veneers applied to a wall
WING-BACKED CHAIR - high-backed wing-shaped upholstered chair with upholstered arms, often with exposed carved Cabriole legs
WEAVING -interlacing yarns to produce a woven cloth.

YARD - a unit of length equal to 3'0" or 36"
YARN - continuous strand for tufting, weaving or knitting