Furniture Terms

An upholstered piece with 2 seat cushions under 2 back cushions.

An upholstered piece with 3 seat cushions under 3 back cushions.

Term for a trio of tables, one cocktail and two end tables, that is shipped in one box.

An upholstered seat for one person, typically matching or complementing the accent pillows of the sofa and loveseat.

A piece of furniture that stands out because it complements a room's decor. 

A table that stands out because it complements a room's decor. 

A decorative embellishment that has the look of wood, sometimes with carving, typically found on the arms or back of upholstered pieces.

A set of 5 table top accessories, that accent off of one another, and come in one box.

A small upholstered seat without arm rests. Depending on the item, it can be used as a free standing piece or to add additional seating to a sectional.

A style of back of an upholstered piece, where the back cushions are stitched to the fabric of the sides and back.

A style of leg or foot of an upholstered piece, in the shape of a wood block, with a very minimal taper.

A long, narrow rectangular pillow. Also known as a kidney or lumbar pillow.

A style of leg or foot of an upholstered piece, with a straight upper corner edge and curved inner edge.

A decorative border of thread, typically found on pillows, hanging loosely like the fibers found on a dust broom.

A style of foot of an upholstered piece, in the shape of a flattened sphere. HISTORY - The bun foot has been a part of formal European furniture styles since the 1600s, and was a very popular choice in the William and Mary style of English furniture. William was Dutch, and he brought many Dutch furniture traditions with him to England, and this is likely part of that tradition. The bun foot found its heyday in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

An arched back of an upholstered piece, with peaks at the center and/or sides. HISTORY - First found in the 18th century and attributed to the design studios of Thomas Chippendale. Chippendale was an influential British furniture designer and cabinet maker at the fore of fine craft. The Chippendale style, associated with various forms of furniture, was the first style to be named after a designer rather than a monarch.

An upholstered seat for one person.

An over-sized upholstered seat that is wider than a chair but narrower than a loveseat.

An upholstered chair, with or without arms, used for lying back in a resting position, typically with a seat lengthened to form a complete leg rest. HISTORY - Chaises have existed in some form in ancient cultures across the world. From Egyptian to Olmec, artifacts depict gods or nobility lounging on bench-like daybeds. Greeks called their chaise longues ‘klines’ and Romans used their long chairs for dining. In the Victorian Era, chaises were also known as fainting couches, and used by women who were feeling faint from wearing corsets.

An upholstered multi-piece seating arrangement, similar to a sectional sofa, with a lengthened seat.

See Chofa.

A sloping arm of an upholstered piece with a dip and a peak. Typically pleated, and found on traditional and vintage styles.

A sofa with a chaise attached, typically one long cushion that is reversible and flippable.

A foot stool with a flat or rigid top that can be used with a tray for holding items like a cocktail table.

A large, low table typically placed in front of a sofa. Also known as a coffee table.

A tall cabinet with storage.

A small cube that is upholstered on all sides, typically used as a stool, foot stool or as a table when paired with a tray. Also known as a cube ottoman, and sometimes a pouf.

An upgraded accent or toss pillow which is filled with feathers, as opposed to a poly fill.

A small table typically placed on the side of a sofa.

An arm of an upholstered piece that angles outward.

A tall decorative light.

An upholstered piece with fabric on the arms and back that is differs than the fabric found in the seating area.

Upholstered furniture made up of modular units capable of use separately or in various combinations, where, when standing and looking at the piece, the chaise is on the right.

A small upholstered seat with a back and arms, typically for no more than two people. HISTORY - The double wide seat was designed to accommodate a single woman, circled by the wide skirts in fashion in the 1800’s. As fashions changed, the loveseat was made more comfortable, and expanded to encourage close seating for two.

An upholstered multi-piece seating arrangement, similar to a sectional sofa, with the ability to build and rearrange to fit in nearly any space.

A decorative embellishment that has the look of decorative metal tacks.

An arm of an upholstered piece with an added top layer of foam and/or fiber creating additional comfort. In many cases, this arm can be enough to support someone’s head who is lying across a sofa.

A multipurpose occasional table with added functionality like hidden ottomans.

An upholstered seat cushion with an added top layer of foam and/or fiber creating additional comfort.

A style of back of an upholstered piece, with a plush double back cushion, supporting the upper back and lumbar.

Upholstered furniture made up of modular units capable of use separately or in various combinations, where, when standing and looking at the piece, the chaise is on the right.

An upholstered, rocking armchair that can be tilted backward, with a footrest that simultaneously extends from the front.

An arm of an upholstered piece that curves outward, almost giving the impression of the arm curling over itself.

A floor covering of thick woven material, made of natural or synthetic fibers, typically not extending over the entire floor.

A style of back of an upholstered piece, where several large pillows are used for back support.

An upholstered seat for one person, with wood or faux wood arms, legs and accents.

An upholstered piece with fabric around the bottom that drapes over the legs/feet, hiding what’s underneath .

A long upholstered seat with a back and arms, for two or more people, with a mechanism under the seat deck that houses a folded mattress with a spring decking. HISTORY - 1899 saw the emergence of the first center fold bed. The Murphy bed followed in 1908, a pivoting mattress that folded into the wall. But it was the 1930’s that saw Bernard Castro, an Italian immigrant to America, invent the modern sleeper sofa. The hallmark of his designs was that his sofas retained the sleek appeal of high end furniture, with mattresses seamlessly hidden from view. 

A long upholstered seat with a back and arms, for two or more people. HISTORY - The word “sofa” dates back to 2000BC in Egypt, and is derived from the Arabic word “suffah” which roughly translates to “bench”. 

A tall, long table typically placed behind a sofa.

A style of foot of an upholstered piece, in the shape of two differently sized flattened spheres, with on top of one another .

An upholstered foot rest with a removable top and room for storage.

An upholstered chair with a seat able to be turned on its base to face in any direction.

An upholstered chair, with or without arms, used for lying back in a resting position, with the ability to be turned on its base to fit any direction.

An upgraded seat cushion for an upholstered chair, loveseat, chaise, chair or sectional, having front extensions to fit around an arm or both arms in a ”T” Shape..

A small decorative light with shade to be placed on an end table or nightstand.

A style of taller leg of an upholstered piece, where the leg gets gradually thinner in thickness as the leg gets closer to the floor.

A small blanket, often in decorative colors and patterns, that can be used for decoration in the living room or elsewhere.

A small, decorative upholstered bag stuffed with soft material, constructed from a range of fabrics and textiles. Also known as a throw pillow or accent pillow.

An arm of an upholstered piece that is sleek, straight and without any curvature. Typically found on modern styled furniture.

A style of back of an upholstered piece, where the back cushions have stitches or buttons sewn through the item, adding a decorative pattern while also used to keep the stuffing inside from bunching or shifting.

A style of leg or foot of an upholstered piece which flares upward and outward from a narrow base, often capped with a dome, .

An accent or toss pillow which is decorated with a textile that includes words, writing or script.

An arm of an upholstered piece that angles out slightly less than a flair arm.

Name for the decorative wood or showood trim that accents either the front bottom, or all sides of the bottom of an upholstered piece.