This is a quick and easy to understand guide to learn some popular information about furnitures. If you have a term or phrase that you want to learn more about, click on its beginning letter down below.
This glossary of common furniture terms may help familiarizing yourself with furnitures. It may also help improving your product knowledge on different kind of furnitures, and on furniture construction as well.
Furniture terms
Cabinet - A glass fronted cabinet intended for the display of objects and art.
Cabriole - A bowed leg that curves to a tapered foot.
Camel Back - A sofa characterized by a large central hump used by Hepplewhite and Chippendale, usually found in more traditional sofas.
Cane - Split Rattan, often used to cover chair seats.
Canterbury - A small portable magazine rack.
Case Good(s) - Any piece of furniture that is used to house (or Case) household goods and is not an upholstered piece.
Cedar Chest - A rectangular storage chest made of sold cedar or cedar veneers to prevent moth damage on woolens. A bride's hope chest in the 20th century.
Chaise Lounge - The French term is "long chair." Also has been referred to as a "fainting couch." An elongated chair for stretching out (like having an ottoman attached to a chair). Often used in bedrooms.
Channeling - a grooved or furrowed effect.
Chenille - A textured fabric featuring an evenly cut plush pile of softly woven loops.
Chesser - Combination of a dresser and a chest; narrower than a dresser and shorter than chest that can normally utilize a tilt or small mirror.
Chest - A tall, narrow piece featuring a series of drawers for clothing storage.
Chesterfield - A smaller type of sofa with the low arms and back at the same level.
Chest-on-Chest - Tall, narrow piece of furniture featuring an upper level of drawers stacked on top of a lower level of wider drawers.
Chiffonier - A tall very narrow chest of drawers (Lingerie Chest).
China Cabinet - A cabinet that has a glass front and typically sits on a buffet or shallow cupboard.
Chintz - A printed cotton fabric with a glazed, high sheen.
Chippendale - Wooden furniture featuring fretwork designed by Thomas Chippendale in 1754 with Oriental or Gothic flair.
Claw and Ball - Foot of carved animal or bird claw clutching a ball, generally terminating a cabriole leg.
Club Foot - A turned foot resembling a club usually found at the bottom of a Cabriole leg.
Coffee Table - Long, low table used in front of a sofa.
Colonial - Early American furniture design many times featuring wings and exposed wood on upholstered pieces.
Commode - A chest with drawers.
Cornice - The top or finishing molding of a column or piece of furniture.
Cottage Furniture - A type of casual furniture that is characterized by painted and/or decorated pieces, turned legs and simple forms.
Couch - A 17th and 18th century term for a daybed. Not used as a term for a sofa until recent times.
Credenza - A sideboard or buffet with drawers or doors.
Crest Rail/Top Rail - The top horizontal rail of an upholstered piece; can be very detailed.
Curio - Case piece featuring glassed in shelves and doors for displaying collectibles.
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